"IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL NEW M SERIES OWNERS"

[riptides]

It seems your dealer is handling it?

No the dealer is NOT "handling it".

I see no fix for the dash lights other than "complain to Kubota".

If bought anything that did not work as the manual stated it should, especially if there was a known issue that the factory refused to fix, I would be looking into a lawsuit.

Oh my, here comes the law suit again. Sorry but in my opinion, this is a dealer prep issue, and the dealers if aware are selling something that does not work. I'd be all over my dealer on this, telling them to go get a fix from Kubota. What, we are into a year of operations and all of a sudden people are noticing stuff is not working?

Do all of you follow the RTV threads? Similar problems cropped up with "issues", my dealer made it right, and it did not take a law suit to get Kubota involved.

I can understand the cylinder designs not right in field use. But wiring harness issues should have never gotten off the lot to the consumer.

-Mike Z.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

A couple suggestions on how to go about this.

1st - Under no circumstance should you lapse on your payments. Kubota is a big company and when credit see's your not paying, they are not going to check with service and see what the problem is. They'll hit your credit report with a no pay, and thats not somthing you want to mess with.

2nd, emailing Japan is not going to get you too far. Kubota has a USA contact address on their website, use that. Believe it or not those messages are looked at and they do make it to the product managers and service reps. It may take a few days if its somthing they can take action on. These people are on the road most of the time so it can take awhile to see action.

3rd, you can't do this on your own. You can kick and scream all you want - but you'll sound like white noise without your dealer going to bat for you. Kubota does not have people sitting around waiting to help customers, they are a vendor and are not the first line when it comes to handling issues. Any dealer worth their salt will get this straightened out. We've not seen this problem, but if its what you say it is you should have no issue getting it straightened out,there is no gray area if this is a real issue or not.

 

[RobJ]

Minus 10 degree here in Nebraska, I really need the light to work so I'm not cranking on the start switch while the glow plugs are on. And maybe on that long day of grading 3 residentail homes in a row, I might need the low fuel warning light!!!

I would bet that when the key is in the crank position the glowplug circuit is open. Just like cars with the AC and stuff.

But I agree on averything else, at 42k I'd want everything to work!

 

[Muleskinner]

A couple suggestions on how to go about this.

1st - Under no circumstance should you lapse on your payments. Kubota is a big company and when credit see's your not paying, they are not going to check with service and see what the problem is. They'll hit your credit report with a no pay, and thats not somthing you want to mess with.

2nd, emailing Japan is not going to get you too far. Kubota has a USA contact address on their website, use that. Believe it or not those messages are looked at and they do make it to the product managers and service reps. It may take a few days if its somthing they can take action on. These people are on the road most of the time so it can take awhile to see action.

3rd, you can't do this on your own. You can kick and scream all you want - but you'll sound like white noise without your dealer going to bat for you. Kubota does not have people sitting around waiting to help customers, they are a vendor and are not the first line when it comes to handling issues. Any dealer worth their salt will get this straightened out. We've not seen this problem, but if its what you say it is you should have no issue getting it straightened out,there is no gray area if this is a real issue or not.

I have a call in to "Ron" the area service rep for So California. My pitch to him will be, I paid for it, it's supposed to be that way, and I want it right. If he gives me the run around, I will then throw it in my dealer's lap.

Also for the guy who commented that I am a year into this without noticing the problem, yes I noticed the light issue from day one. I told my dealer about it, but due to the fact that this tractor is on a job site six days a week, I waited until winter when it it slow to have it fixed.

 

[Muleskinner]

I would bet that when the key is in the crank position the glowplug circuit is open. Just like cars with the AC and stuff.

But I agree on averything else, at 42k I'd want everything to work!

The preheat comes on only for about five seconds in the coldest weather.

 

[john_bud]

Because it's a lot of work and Kubota didn't suggest it. I would think that adding a few wires to fix the problem would be much easier than rewiring the entire tractor. As an owner it might disrupt my tractor less.

Andy

Andy, with due respect, to me that is not an acceptable solution. The #1 problem with electrial failures has been shown to be environmental exposure. That either causes corrosion in the wires, shorting in a circuit board or other similar symptoms. To correct this, manufacturers have spent billions on connector technology over the past 25 years. Slapping in a wire may make the circuit work today, but it will corrode and fail. Remember, this is essecially a marine application as the tractor is exposed to all weather conditions. The only acceptable solution is one that restores the full functionality and reliablility that was expected and purchased with the "KUBOTA" name.

Muleskinner,

Don't get all uppity with the dealer. As you said he is a nice guy that wants to fix the problem. Work with him. More flies with honey and all that.

jb

 

[Muleskinner]

I picked up the M today. I now have .4 of an hour on the hour meter. I could not remember how many hours it had on it when I took it in, so the tech now has to figure out how to fire up the cluster to show the hour reading.

 

[m7040]

so muleskinner is it fixed and what did the dealer do to repair it??

 

[riptides]

I picked up the M today. I now have .4 of an hour on the hour meter. I could not remember how many hours it had on it when I took it in, so the tech now has to figure out how to fire up the cluster to show the hour reading.

Great.... that's not good.

-Mike Z.

 

[Landshaping]

2nd, emailing Japan is not going to get you too far. Kubota has a USA contact address on their website, use that. Believe it or not those messages are looked at and they do make it to the product managers and service reps. It may take a few days if its somthing they can take action on. These people are on the road most of the time so it can take awhile to see action.

A lot you know! YES emailing Japan got me vary far.
I received an email today from tech support directly from JAPAN, haha
They are working out a modification.

PS, Being stationed in Japan while in the military, living close to the plant, and having my best friend as a plant VP got me farther...

 

[Muleskinner]

All issues have been repaired except the dash light concern. I'm waiting for a call back from the area Kubota rep. I will wait to find out what he has to say. Quite frankly the dash warning light issue is not that big a deal with me. I was concerned with the preheat light, as I live in cold country and wanted to make sure my preheat system was working. That light is fixed and the actual preheat system always worked with or without the light working. I now have the actual hours off of my old dash so I can now figure out my service times.

 

[AndyMA]

Andy, with due respect, to me that is not an acceptable solution. The #1 problem with electrial failures has been shown to be environmental exposure. That either causes corrosion in the wires, shorting in a circuit board or other similar symptoms. To correct this, manufacturers have spent billions on connector technology over the past 25 years. Slapping in a wire may make the circuit work today, but it will corrode and fail. Remember, this is essecially a marine application as the tractor is exposed to all weather conditions. The only acceptable solution is one that restores the full functionality and reliablility that was expected and purchased with the "KUBOTA" name.

John

I wasn't implying just "slapping in a wire", but a correctly applied patch. It's a common "fix" used in all types of equipment/automotive retrofits. I stand by it. I have extensive experience with mobile electronics having been the lead engineer on the original Bose car stereo system and am fully aware about the environment that is experienced by electrical equipmment in mobile environments. I also spent considerable time working with the engineers who designed the type of connectors used today in moblile electronics. If it were my tractor I would actually prefer that the main harness not be removed since that opens up the system to much greater exposure. A correctly applied patch should be more reliable than the original system.

Andy

 

[Blksim]

Muleskinner,
Be sure and let us know exactly which warning or indicator lights we should or should not have after speaking with the Rep.
Thanks, fitz

 

[Glowplug]

Glowplug will probably be interested in this. Don't think his new machine would be an earlier version though.

Well I am interested in this. It is good to know. But I haven't experienced any of these problems. Admittedly I haven't put quite 150 hours on it so I don't know if I'll have problems with the loader cylinders in the future. But the dash lights work fine. At first I didn't know if the preheat light came on because I never saw it. But when it is quite cold it does come on for a split second. I finally saw it when it got to the 20s. All the other "test mode" lights work fine. My 4WD indicator light works fine too. I guess I'm kinda lucky I waited a few months so the "bugs" could be worked out. But when I take the tractor back in to the dealer to have my extra hydraulics installed you can rest assured that I am going to ask him about the FEL cylinders.

 

[Muleskinner]

Muleskinner,
Be sure and let us know exactly which warning or indicator lights we should or should not have after speaking with the Rep.
Thanks, fitz

I will advise after I speak with him. So far I have not heard from him.

 

[Muleskinner]

Well I am interested in this. It is good to know. But I haven't experienced any of these problems. Admittedly I haven't put quite 150 hours on it so I don't know if I'll have problems with the loader cylinders in the future. But the dash lights work fine. At first I didn't know if the preheat light came on because I never saw it. But when it is quite cold it does come on for a split second. I finally saw it when it got to the 20s. All the other "test mode" lights work fine. My 4WD indicator light works fine too. I guess I'm kinda lucky I waited a few months so the "bugs" could be worked out. But when I take the tractor back in to the dealer to have my extra hydraulics installed you can rest assured that I am going to ask him about the FEL cylinders.

i'm happy you got one that the "Bugs" have been worked out of. I got one with "Bugs." My confidence level in this tractor is not where it should be and I now wish I had bought an L48 instead. My 05 L39 was a new product when I bought it and I have had no problems with it. It is a great tractor. As for the FEL curl cylinders your model may have the new design, but I would still have the dealer check it out.

 

[Muleskinner]

Just an update, as of today's date I have still not heard anything from Ron Kubota's west coast service rep. I guess he's just to thinly spread to help the little guy Kubota owner.

 

[john_bud]

John

I wasn't implying just "slapping in a wire", but a correctly applied patch. It's a common "fix" used in all types of equipment/automotive retrofits. I stand by it. I have extensive experience with mobile electronics having been the lead engineer on the original Bose car stereo system and am fully aware about the environment that is experienced by electrical equipmment in mobile environments. I also spent considerable time working with the engineers who designed the type of connectors used today in moblile electronics. If it were my tractor I would actually prefer that the main harness not be removed since that opens up the system to much greater exposure. A correctly applied patch should be more reliable than the original system.

Andy

Andy,

I hear ya! YOU indeed know what you are doing, I have no doubts about that. But, having seen many many tractors, boats, cars and trucks with corroded wires, shorted wire, open wires due to the use of 3M scotchloks, twist on wire nuts, twisted wire with electrical tape, etc there seems to be a number of people that don't know what they are doing. At this point I will respectfully agree to disagree.

jb

 

[m7040]

On the instrument panel when turning on the key to the first position I get light on for oil pressure and charging and when cold enough I get the preheat coil. These are the only ones I see. Should I have more?? In the middle of the panel I see faint outlines of other alarms but they never light up. Is that normal or what?? Also my dealer repaired the curl cylinders that leaked and they are much improved but still settles slowly while running. May be the pallet forks will tip down a few inches after 4 to 5 mins. Is that to be expected?

 

[Glowplug]

On the instrument panel when turning on the key to the first position I get light on for oil pressure and charging and when cold enough I get the preheat coil. These are the only ones I see. Should I have more?? In the middle of the panel I see faint outlines of other alarms but they never light up. Is that normal or what?? Also my dealer repaired the curl cylinders that leaked and they are much improved but still settles slowly while running. May be the pallet forks will tip down a few inches after 4 to 5 mins. Is that to be expected?

It sounds like your "checker" lights are working according to plan. At least I hope they are; that's what mine do also. The only time I see the preheat coil is when it's down in the 20s or below. Some have stated that they do not have the 4WD light come on. Does your green 4WD light come on when in 4WD? I haven't noticed any leak down in the loader cylinders on mine. But I haven't tried to keep them in a stationary location for a period of time. I'll have to try and see. I did ask my dealer about the loader cylinders yesterday. He came out to my place to give me some "complimentary" Kubota SUDT oil. He looked at the serial number on mine and said that I would probably be okay since it was such a very late (new) serial number. He told me to let him know if I have any problems.