Is this acceptable quality on a brand new Kubota?

[boxygen]

After reading one too many of these threads I cant help it anymore. GET OVER IT! You didnt buy a Ferrari. Grease on the zerks, what is the world coming too. Did they have the nerve to put fuel in the tank also? I can understand complaining about a scratch on the wheels. I mean, that means they probably drove around in brush or gravel and what kind of uncivil person would do that with a tractor?

 

[Harvest Moon]

Wow, I can weld better than that and I've only got about 20 hours experience... I can't believe that. The welds around the bushings on my loader are SOOO smooth I've often though of posting a "how'd they do that" thread, I couldn't have done better with a tube of caulk and my finger!

The welds on your loader are unbecoming of a consumer product. More akin to a backyard project.. the kind you need beer for.

That said, if you want to live a happy and fulfilled life it may be best to note your concern, drink a beer for the welder and forget about it. I'm loosing faith in Kubota.

 

[BANDAMAN]

Scratches???

Oh man. I feel another tractor waxing thread coming on...

Sorry you do not like your new tractor. If you dent it a couple of times I promise the scratches seem minor. Grease on zerks are a high-class problem. The sales people can't do anything about the welds.

UNLESS you break one, then Kubota will care deeply.

yes I will wax the machine.....nothing wrong with having a little pride in what you spend you hard earned cash on is there?

Didn't say I didn't like the machine, just dissapointed in the few things I mentioned....give ya a bitof a sour feeling about spending the money to replace a perfectly good machine...I had my reasons for trading, but I also gave up a very nice machine that did not have these issue when new.

I know it will get scratched....maybe a dent (hope not) but my purchase price earns me the right to put the first scratch on it, not the factory or the dealer.

The grease, i was happy about....wiping up the access was no biggie, just annoying that people are careless.....people who care enough to do things right are dying everyday.....seems not many are coming up to replace them.

 

[BANDAMAN]

After reading one too many of these threads I cant help it anymore. GET OVER IT! You didnt buy a Ferrari. Grease on the zerks, what is the world coming too. Did they have the nerve to put fuel in the tank also? I can understand complaining about a scratch on the wheels. I mean, that means they probably drove around in brush or gravel and what kind of uncivil person would do that with a tractor?

You've missed the entire point, but thanks for pointing out that I didn't buy a Ferrari.

 

[4shorts]

As far as I can see everything you've said and pointed out is justified. Ok. I'll admit I'm a bit picky but this is a new tractor and you should expect to see it look like new. Where in the **** is quality control here. If my welds looked as bad as that I wouldn't make a dime welding in my business. Try and get a new FEL. It's justified my friend. Gees, I'm mad just reading this. Good luck sir.

 

[N80]

I have mixed feelings about all this. One the one hand, its a tractor, and we've heard that sentiment expressed many times and to a certain extent, I agree. Its a machine made to use in the dirt and to do dirty rough things with.

However, several other things come to mind. First, these small tractors are not being sold to county highway departments or corporate fleets. They're being sold to individuals and are really, when you get down to it, luxury items. Most of us don't make a living with then and don't have to have one. We could as easily buy a Harley, or boat. Many of us drive pick-ups with stereos, leather seats, AC and power everything. It's just a truck for hauling things but if there was a big old scratch or an ugly weld we'd have something to say about it. Right? Kubota, the small tractor king, has got to know this. People shelling out that much cash for a small tractor are not going to accept this sort of things. Dealers need to be aware too.

Bandaman, I don't know what I'd do in your situation. My tractor had a few dings. A little rust flake here and there. It didn't bother me much but its a bigger, less fancy machine than yours so I didn't worry about it. And I'll admit, any one of the things you showed wouldn't bother me either. But taken all together, I agree, pretty low care and/or quality.

My tractor now has a dent in the hood. It is very small. I did it. And I hate it. So I can sympathize.

The welds are probably perfectly fine, but they look like something you'd see on a Belarus.

 

[WayneB]

I think a lot of this depends upon the dealership! I believe they should do everything in their power to make sure the product they sell is of top notch quality. There isn't much they can do about the welds, but any paint problems should be taken care of at the dealership prior to the tractor leaving their lot.

I purchased a 2002 Tahoe and we finalized the deal around 5PM. The salesman wanted me to pick up the vehicle that night so we went out to eat and came back around 7 PM and the vehicle was ready to go. I walked out and looked at the side and there was a washrag stuck in the Tahoe logo. I was a bit upset and they removed it indicating that there was no damage. Then I got into the vehicle and looked at the windshield and the Preferred Customer sticker was placed upside down. I decided to just take the vehicle and write up a list of things I would want checked, fixed or replaced as needed. Salesman agreed and we drove home. The next morning I am looking over the vehicle and I notice the outside mirrors are different. Once is properly color coded and the passenger side mirror is black! We were taking off to go north for a week so I called the dealer and told him I had a short list and would turn it in the following week. Going north I noticed the computer display was not functioning darn near ran out of gas.

This was not a cheap vehicle, listed for over $43,000 and I couldn稚 believe it made it through quality control, dealer prep, and inspection and then to me the buyer. Just another case of poor quality control and one should complain to the highest level you can get to. The dealership took care of the shortcomings, but it certainly left a bad taste in my mouth.

So with your tractor failures you should go above the salesman to the dealer ownership and request the items be taken care of. No you are not picky you are the person that laid out the hard earned cash for a new tractor.

 

[Deano]

Bandman can complain if he wants....it was his purchase. I agree with the wheels being tore up. They should not be. Shipped loose??? What, in a spinning dryer?? Welds...crappy but probably structural.

Bandman, if you HAD noticed this before you drove away, would you have gone through with the purchase???

Deano

 

[Harvest Moon]

Reputation for quality was one of the reasons that I bought a Kubota. Lately it seems like Kubota cashing in on the reputation they've earned.... Sure these things are cosmetic but they still reflect quality.

Some may wonder how ugly welds affect performance, but those who have seen Toy Camry's L3400 videos or Teg's for that matter, are not wondering how a half *** position control valve affects performance. If Kubota is willing to produce welds like that, what corners are they cutting where we can't see?

In 10 years, are 2008 Kubotas going to be the same durable, time tested machines that 1998 Kubotas are? ... and I miss spoke about the welds, I probably can't weld better but prettier, I'm not sure who couldn't.

 

[IRNCTY]

I agree with the "weld quality" complaint. It looks as if it was done by hand, with a rod. I would've thought it would've been an auto mig procedure. We always called welds like is in your pictures a Gorilla weld. Big, ugly, and strong. Not very good craftsmanship for sure!