Is this acceptable quality on a brand new Kubota?

[bx24]

If I was running the Kubota factory, my first priority would be the ultimate performance of the product. I don't disagree that given the cost of these machines, the fit and finish should be better, but I would expect most of us focused on the reputation (for durability and long term value), size and cost. The defects are sad, but if paint and sloppy welds are my only long term problems, then I won't mind too much.

There is no way around it, a homeowner looks at these machines with pride, a contractor looks at these machines like tools that completes a job. For a contractor, if a patio or what ever other project comes out looking good, no one remembers what the machines looked like that accomplished the task.

Now that my machine has 300-400 hours on it and is out of warranty, I treat it a lot more any other tool (maintain it, but don't get hung up on cosmetic issues)

 

[blueriver]

Either tools or machines .... The last time you bought a new automobile, that bady shined, is that not what as a consumer we expect? If not ... maybe its time we all take a stand.

 

[lawn_king]

If i was the kubota rep that came out to inspect this situation, i would tell you to call your doctor to increase your meds!

 

[Gator6x4]

I don't think with the price of tractors rivaling that of an automobile one should be delivered a scratched and dented unit and have someone say, "What Did You Expect, It's A Tractor". My response to a dealer one time was to write the dealer a check for $5,000 less than the agreed on price and when he questioned where the rest of his money was, my response was "Why Do You Expect, Me To Pay An Agreed Upon Price When You Did Not Deliver An Agreed Upon Tractor". Needless to say the tractor was picked up and when it came back it did not have dents, dings and scratches.

I have no problem with the quality someone else expects for money spent. I, on the other hand expect the same from an automobile or tractor dealer that they demands of us as consumers. They would not accept something from us being sold as new damaged, so why should we accept damaged goods.

 

[Mike Costello]

Excluding the welds, most of the "minor" damage appears to be crappy prep work. What kind of dealership would turn a piece of equipment over to its new owner in that condition? Myself, I'd be furious over the whole thing. Bandman has a right to receive a tractor in good working & cosmetic condition--no excuses.
I am fortunate my dealer took the time to carefully prep my L4400HST. The service manager spent close to 2 hours going over the tractor with me from end to end, explaining everything for me. Being new to tractors, it was an invaluable education. Believe it or not, they even waxed the unit too!
Would I use that dealership in the future--you betcha! Because they care about their custmers. It's that simple.

 

[JerryG]

If i was the kubota rep that came out to inspect this situation, i would tell you to call your doctor to increase your meds!

 

[CHDinCT]

Bandaman,

Well I'll have to go check my loader welds next time I use my 1860, but since this is my first Kubota and FEL, I probably wouldn't know what to expect quality wise unless one broke (that's a bad thing I think ). I do think the scratches on the rims should be fixed by the dealer as they probably caused them more than likely.

The only issue I've noticed on mine (so far) is some subtle flat spots on the top of the hood near where the hood meets up to the dash panel. On both outside corners (just before where it bends to each side) are slight flat sections not consistent with the overall form of the hood. At first I thought the dealer flattened a section during prep, then I saw a matching one on the other side. I concluded that it occurred during manufacturing and however Kubota bends the hood into shape caused the issue. Take a look at yours at an extreme angle when sitting in the seat (look down the hood at eye level into the sun) and let me know if yours is the same. Kind of bothered me for a few minutes, then I got over it (well until I see it again on occasion).

 

[some zilch]

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.

hmmm, i tend to agree here. These type of tractors are not being sold to be used on a farm, they are homeowner luxury toys, for the most part. I know where i work, we will sell a new skidsteer to a "well-off" homeowner, and he will complain about every little thing, grease, scratches, smoke at start-up; come on, you bought a skid steer, not a cadillac. Not to be offensive to anyone, but if i were a tractor salesman, i think i would find your average happy-homeowner buyer to be a pain in the rear, and personally, i would not want to deal with it. Kubota should realize the type of person who is buying these BX tractors, and what they expect out of the machine.

On the other hand, when i got my new L4400, i put the rear blade on, and the TPH did not work. I called the service dept, and he told me to check out some hyd hoses underneath the tractor. Two of them were switched. After switching them, all was well. Great quality control, and i'm glad to see the tractor passed a cheif inspection, and thorough dealer pre-delivery prep.
Following that, i noticed that the rear rim was missing two bolts where the wheel center bolts to the rim itself (where you adjust rear wheel spacing). they were never installed, as the paint under where they should have been was perfect.

 

[Botabill]

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?

Some people wouldn't mind if they found rat crap in their soup. Others expect a higher standard. My experience with a new Kubota 5 years ago was that the welding, fit and finish were of a higher standard than on the new Bota I just bought. Companies will let quality slide to make money if customers allow them to do that. If Kubota is listening I hope they will take customer concerns seriously and kick some ***** in quality control. Hey we love these Botas but were not blind.

 

[WaxMan]

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.

I just recently bought a snow blade for my B3030 from one dealer that had new stock on hand, it was all scraped up from being moved around the yard for a year.
After I got it home and cleaned it up I thought I could just touch it up with some Kubota paint but the color was way off from my tractor and the touch up paint. I brought it back the next day and got my money back.
I then I ordered a brand new blade from another dealer 50 miles away, a week later when it came in I went to pick it up still in the crate brought it home opened it up. The paint was so bad and so thin, all the welds had so much spatter you wouldn't believe. They painted right over heavy rust you could take your finger nail and scrape the paint off the rust.
I remembered that the dealer said he was ordering two blades, one for the town and one for me. I call the dealer the next day and said I wanted to look at the other blade.
Brought this second blade back to the second dealer and exchanged it for the other one which was much much better but not perfect.
I know you're all saying it's just a tractor and it's just a snow blade. But my tractor is for life and my snow blade is for life. I just paid 2550.00. I want it New and in nice shape with NO RUST when I say rust I'm not talking about a place where the paint was scraped and it's rusted I'm talking about painting over a heavily rusted snow blade.
if I were you I would go back to the dealer look at another fel and if the welds are different from yours demand that they exchange it. It's just two pins and the loader comes right off. There is always someone that doesent care what it looks like let them have it since they don't care. Why should you have any less quality if the other welds on another loaders are fine. If all the other loader welds are the same then you're going to have to live with it but I doubt they are. As for the scraped up rims your better off just touching them up yourself at least you know what you have there , I would rather have a little scrap here and there then have some kid repaint the rims without sanding or cleaning them first.
When I took the plow back to the second dealer he said the town would not care about the poor paint job and gladly exchanged it.
That's my point for the people that don't care let them get the crap and for those of us that do care we have to buy and exchange until we get the better quality product.
I won't settle for less and you shouldn't either.

You know I told a freind of mine I go on the internet and post about my Kubota he called me a donkey and said people that go home at night and post about their tractors are all donkeys , He said a real operater that uses his tractor for a living goes home at night and drinks and doesn't post on the internet.
I thought that was funny.