GR2100 right rear wheel won't freewheel

[NewEnglandCliff]

I purchased my GR2100 in Sept. '05 and have been pretty satisfied with it. It only has 135 hours but lately while in a right turn the right rear wheel stays engaged and tears up turf. It's supposed to freewheel while in a right turn. I suspect this is the glide steer cable problem I've been reading about in the forums. Could this just need an adjustment, and is it user serviceable? As far as I know, I'm not having transmission trouble. One post said that only occurred on units with a serial number less than 10015 and was addressed on later units. Mine is over 11000. I do have leaking around the mower deck gear box.

Thank you.

 

[art]

We had one with that issue and it was the cable that was the problem.

 

[NewEnglandCliff]

Did the cable just need adjustment, or did you have to replace it? Did you do that yourself?

Thanks,

Cliff

 

[Yankee Clipper]

Cliff,

You can see if the cable moves enough with the tractor jacked up (all four corners) and turning the wheel to the extreme right - in the forward mode. Be sure to be safe so it does not fall off your stands! If the cable is stretched or misadjusted, it may be moving in the sheath but not enough to disengage the RH side. I assume the left side does disengage when turning right.

If no respond when turing lef is seen, turn the RH crank on the transaxle (where the cable ends) by hand with a pair of vise grips and see if that does the trick. If so, the clutch is doing it's thing - if not, you need to have it looked at internally. I would also take a look at your fluid and filter beofre going inside.

If your machine is not 4 years old, you have extended warranty on the transaxle only - your dealer can verify this before repairs are begun.

Good luck!

 

[NewEnglandCliff]

Thank you very much. I've got 50 days of that extended warranty left so I'm just going to take it in and have them check it out. I wonder if they'll do the upgrade to the tranny if it hasn't failed yet.

Cliff

 

[art]

IT just neded to be adjusted.

 

[Ob1kubota]

I purchased my GR2100 in Sept. '05 and have been pretty satisfied with it. It only has 135 hours but lately while in a right turn the right rear wheel stays engaged and tears up turf. It's supposed to freewheel while in a right turn. I suspect this is the glide steer cable problem I've been reading about in the forums. Could this just need an adjustment, and is it user serviceable? As far as I know, I'm not having transmission trouble. One post said that only occurred on units with a serial number less than 10015 and was addressed on later units. Mine is over 11000. I do have leaking around the mower deck gear box.

Thank you.

Like Art said its an adjustment but if it won't release after adjustment the crimped all threads have mechanically slipped loose in the swedge socket meaning a replacement cable will be needed. The wet spot is the breather valve in the top of the gear box to check it out, clean it off check the fluid level (no drippage from the lower threads whatsoever) and after two hours of mowing check it again and if back wipe again mow another two hours and if back you have a pressure problem internally or a defective breather. My serial number is 11263 and I hate this aluminum gear box its too slow for adequate blade tip speed or else my PTO clutches are slipping even though the external spring bell crank linkage is to spec. Kubota knows there is a problem with adjustment spring pressures as designed. This whole GR series is still under development for better reliability mechanically. The newer GR2110 warranties have dropped off compared to the older GR2100s. Less leaks now hydrostatically, but Dealers are still reluctant on stocking up their floor plans with GR series tractors. It's a great design and thousands less than Deere' true all wheel drives in this market.

 

[hilleyja]

If your still within your 4 year extended warranty and have yet to have it serviced do go to you dealer without passing go.

My GR2100, which I purchased in April of 2005, had a hydro leak for years (can see the stains on my storage shed). Well, about 3 weeks ago my mower deck drive suddenly failed, the transmission was 2 quarts low but the travel gears were not effected, it could still climb a 30 degree hill. The dealer replaced the Clutch Pack assembly attached to the mower drive shaft and supposedly fixed the leak ($845.00). Since my machine was outside the 4 years Kubota would not warrant it, even though the hour meter only had 135 hours. They assigned the task to a junior repairman and he literally went to school on my machine. I had to call them out 3 times before they finally got it adjusted so the mower would work consistently. Initially they tried to tell me I was mowing grass too high for the lawn tractor. After explaining to him I expect an $8500.00 lawn tractor to perfom better than a $2500 Cub Cadet (my previous lawn tractor) and that I had no problems in the 1st four years, they finally backed off.

Having read a lot of these forums I feel my problem originated as part of the general design issue but my dealer never broached the subject and never notified me that Kubota had extended the transmission warranty to 4 years. They took no special notice that each time they serviced my machine the transmission oil was low; they even charged me extra for service to top off my transmission fluids.

I would like to find out how to complain to Kubota but have been unable to find a way to contact them without going through my dealer. I'm now thinking on going to another dealer and have them go to battle with Kubota on my part.

 

[Yankee Clipper]

Hilleja,

The back page of your operators manual has the listing of the 4 Division offices where you can speak with the Division Service staff. It depends where you live.

Or you can call the Corporate office and speak with Customer Satisfaction Department. That number is 310-370-3370.

Good luck!

 

[NewEnglandCliff]

Here is the actual Warranty Bulletin explaining the transaxle warranty extension. It also refers to a previous bulletin that apparently had only covered certain GR's, whereas this one covers all the GR2000 & Gr2100's.

I took my GR2100 in for a leaking transaxle, leaking mower deck gear box, and the previously described problem where the right rear wheel wouldn't freewheel. I also asked that several routine service items be performed. I'd already ordered a glide steer cable for $26 since I'd determined that that was causing the freewheeling problem.

After 2 weeks I went back to the dealer to see how it was going. They let me back into the shop to see the tractor and I couldn't believe how fully disassembled the tractor was. Everything behind the steering wheel was gone. There were just the two frame beams plus a bunch of wires and cables dangling out. It looked like "Alien" after it had been blown up. The new transaxle (complete with new case) and old transaxle were both there in different states of dis-assembly. Apparently they were required to use some of the internal parts of the old unit in the new unit and had to transfer them over. The mechanic showed me the new bearings and other parts that were being installed. It was quite a major job and I can't understand why Kubota doesn't just have them install a complete new unit. Seems like it would save a lot of labor cost.

A week later I received the tractor and they didn't charge me a penny! All I paid was the $26 for the glide steer cable since I'd ordered and paid for that myself in advance. They covered the installation of that plus all the other work, including the regular service items and dis-assembling, resealing, and reassembling the mower deck gear box.

They forgot to resharpen my mower blades but later said they would send a guy to my place to do that and only charge for the sharpening, not the travel time. Plus the tractor rolls now when I remove my foot from the accelerator pedal. It should stop, so that needs to be adjusted. Overall though, it was exceptional service and the tractor works great. The transaxle seems quieter now, as well, and there seems to be less whining when the deck is raised.

The glide steer cable, it turns out, had been completely severed inside the sheathing. Much of the glide steer problem stems from the sharp angle of the cable where it mounts to the front axle. This has been addressed in the GR2010 & GR2110 by reducing that angle. New mounting brackets were developed with a couple minor hardware parts where they mount. These can be purchased and retrofitted to GR2000's & GR2100's, I'm told, and easily installed by the user. A new front axle dip stick (the rubber plug for the front axle fluid reservoir) is required, as well, since the original design will be in the way of the new cable. The new rubber plug is shorter. The mechanic also said that installing the older cables is a bear the way they have to be fitted through the frame, etc. and on toward the rear to the rear axle. The new setup is supposed to be easier with less bending of the cable. The cost of the newer brackets and related hardware bits is minimal so if I ever have to replace another cable I'm going to install the new parts. I'm not sure if the cables themselves are different or not.

I've taken pictures of the new setup at the front axle and will post those at some point.

The attached warranty page shows "Page 1 of 2" at the bottom, but the second page has no further info., it's all there on the first page.

Thanks for all the help.

Cliff