Hitting all the common BX problems

NY_Yankees_Fan · Dec 8, 2004

Finally /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gifKubota will pay for the leaking tank sending unit problem. After going around and around with my dealer I went direct to Kubota and they agreed to pay for the replacement part and installation. So if your dealer will not go to bat for you, call Kubota, they may take care of it after all it is a design defect.

NY_Yankees_Fan · Sep 18, 2005

Guess we can add cracks in the front axle as another known problem for the BX /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Will this be the end to the list of known problems????, I hope so. My 3 warranty was up in March of 05, it is on my $$ now for anything that can/will go wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif Can you recall any other Kubota product with so many problems???

Axle cracks

Junkman · Sep 18, 2005

Many have a loose nut behind the steering wheel.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

kubby · Sep 18, 2005

My BX1500 is a 2003, and has been very reliable overall. At 280 hrs, the only problems have been:

1-fuel leaking from both hose connections at tank. Not sure if the 1500 has a sending unit since it only has a fuel idiot light, but there are two hose connections, one lower rear and one upper front under the fender. They are plastic and seemed to not be tightened enough at the factory. I just pulled the clamps back down the hoses a bit and tightened each fitting several turns, without removing the hoses. End of problem.

2-broken air filter bracket. I welded it, but now that I hear there is a redesigned one, I'll make sure the dealer upgrades to that when I take it in for the cracked axle housing.

3- cracked axle housing leaking oil, per my recent post. I'll be alerting the dealer about this right away so he can order parts, but I need the tractor a lot for a few weeks so won't bring it in till the rain starts here in California.

Other than these things, the tractor has been incredible and I would not hesitate to buy it again. It seems obvious that Kubota does upgrade things when problems appear, it just takes some time for enough reports to reach them and the improvements to happen.

-Bill

valleydweller1 · Sep 18, 2005

Some of the problems addressed by my dealer upon delivery:

1. Front Axle weepage; the oil it comes with is "break-in" oil. Replace it with 90W at 50 hrs.

2. Temp guage high when mowing; you're probably running it in high range with little throttle input. Run it in low range with higher throttle input to achieve the same speed.

Greg

kubby · Sep 18, 2005

( Some of the problems addressed by my dealer upon delivery:

1. Front Axle weepage; the oil it comes with is "break-in" oil. Replace it with 90W at 50 hrs.
Greg )

Thicker oil may reduce leakage, but in my opinion that is treating the symptom, not the problem. The original oil is not "break-in oil"; SUDT is what my manual recommends as standard. If the oil was the problem, all units would leak from both sides all the time. They don't. What they really need is a vented axle, and possibly a better seal design. The first time I changed my axle oil, the drain plug shot out about three feet from the internal axle pressure (should have stood to the side!)
-Bill

Junkman · Sep 18, 2005

It isn't vented because they want to keep moisture out of the unit. If it shot oil out when you opened the dipstick, then the unit must have been hot or overfilled. I haven't had one problem with the differential on my BX. I also agree that installing 90W gear lube will eliminate the problems of leakage, but will it protect the gears as well? There has to be a reason that Kubota installs Super UDT in the differential at the factory. 90 W gear lube would cost a lot less. I am not certain why they even recommend it for the replacement lube.

kubby · Sep 18, 2005

( It isn't vented because they want to keep moisture out of the unit. If it shot oil out when you opened the dipstick, then the unit must have been hot or overfilled. )

Nope, it was cool and the level was correct. A couple of weeks after changing it, I removed the dipstick and got air pressure again. (Gee, maybe the oil is fermenting in there!) Also, when the dealer drained it to replace the seal the first time, he said it had quite a bit of pressure then too - that was before I vented it. They experienced the same thing on another unit as well.

I'm skeptical that proper venting would cause a significant moisture problem. I ran about 3 ft of fuel line up under the hood, ending with a lawn mower fuel filter. I doubt much air exchange will occur through that. Also, the transmission case appears to be vented, as are most automotive gear cases and axles I've seen.

By the way. the dealer recently mentioned getting a service bulletin from Kubota showing, in his words, their mickey mouse answer to the need for venting: a plastic vent plug that stands up a couple of inches above the top plug, ready to break off as soon as you hit some brush.

jim_wilson · Sep 18, 2005

One of the reasons why there may be more problems reported with BX series tractors vs. other Kubota products is just the sheer numbers of them out in the field. I recently put a post up asking how many BX tractors had been manufactured - a couple of dealers responded that they hold sold "hundreds" and my dealer as well has said that they have sold "hundreds". From the serial #s that were posted in that thread there is a minimum of 15,000 or so BX23's alone out in the field. I doubt that Kubota sells as many in numbers of their other model lines as they do of the BX series. The numbers alone will skew the problems that are reported so I would take all of this with a big grain of salt. Maybe Messick would have some insight into the reliablility of the BX's vs other tractors?

MessickFarmEqu · Sep 18, 2005

( Maybe Messick would have some insight into the reliablility of the BX's vs other tractors? )

I'm with you, we have seen most of these problems at one time or another, but I would say that most are not chronic. I'd say the biggest problems with the BX's are the filter bracket and a hood latch thats never been ideal. Like you said, Kubota has probably sold more BX series tractors than the entire sales volume of many other companies. Given the volume of machines out there I'd expect to see a wide range of experiences.