Is this acceptable quality on a brand new Kubota?

[PILOON]

I wonder if Kubota actually builds the loaders?
Or are they subcontracted to a local fab shop?

The snow blowers and other attachements sure look 'jobber supplied' in many cases and possibly to be able to claim USA content (or Canadian) status they do just that!
I know that on some brands the cabs are locally built.
Importation taxes and duties are a strong motive to strive for 'content' status.

No matter, it is not an excuse for poor quality control.

Also I believe that rather than 'pre-delivery inspections' many agencies prefer to wait for the actual client complaints as the thought is that most will not be bothered to complain and ergo a better bottom line profit.
The dealer banks the 'flat rate' pre delivery fee and literally gambles that there will be no come backs and if there is they make a warrantee claim.

 

[BANDAMAN]

Just from a devil's advocate view, I wonder if someone is waiting for you to calm down or the loader to be too used to be returned? I wonder if corporate Kubota is even aware of your problem? I would wonder where "in the works" this is? Georgia? Japan? The back room? Decesions like this are made in 15 seconds. If I'm waiting for a train, I want to know it's coming.

I am way too pushy but have been in your shoes before and the longer I waited, the harder things went. In my view sufficient time has elapsed to pony up with a new loader or the cash. Just my two cents.

I see your point, sometimes you have to make a ruckus to make things happen....been there before and it should never be necessary, but unfortunately its goes that way sometimes.

I don't think they are waiting for me to calm down, because I have been calm the entire time....I have been yelled at before and it didn't necessary make me go any faster...mostly just pissed me off....somethings just take time. I'm not sure how long this should take, I've never been in this situation before. Maybe they build the loaders in batches, maybe by models and only do certain sizes every few weeks? I don't know....It took several weeks to get the tractor when I ordered it, so I figure it would be similar, plus I'm sure things moved slowly up until the first week or so of the new year when everyone was back in position from the Holidays. Kubota Corporate does know about this issue and I have personally spoken to someone at KTC here in the states. They told me that future communication would come from my dealer, so that is what I expect. I have never been contacted by the local Kubota rep. I am pretty sure my contact at the dealer is traveling this week, possibly on vacation. I assume a decision has been made, a new loader is being prepped and will be shipped to my dealer, but those are all things that may or may not be happening...its their choice to keep me in the loop or not. I would appreciate knowing exactly what is happening all the time, but its not totally necessary. What I am looking for is the end result of me having a properly built loader with nice looking welds to complement my excellent so far new tractor. I was copied on an email discussing new loader booms, so quite possibly they plan to take mine apart and replace the booms (and the bucket) and use all the other parts. Fine with me if everything looks and works the way its supposed to. I would think the easiest way is to swap the entire loader out since its only two pins and the hoses to connect/disconnect, but I trust they know what they are doing and will make the right decisions. I am making a few assumptions, because it has not been spelled out exactly to me what will happen and how or when it will happen.

Like it has been mentioned before, this looks like it is an isolated case....no one else has complained or posted pictures like mine...this slipped out the door. I am sure the hundreds of thousands of Kubotas out there working fine will continue to work fine. If this was a sign of bad things starting to happen, then I bet it has been nipped in the bud and the current and new stuff will be back on track or better then before. hey I'm an optimist!

I am enjoying my new tractor... once they gave me the ok to use it (I have it in an email)....I've got about 10 hrs of seat time moving snow....we've had lots of small snowfalls but have added up to over 40" so far this year. Its been a blast and the tractor works great. Yea, it disgusts me to look at those welds, but It has not broke yet (snow is not too taxing on the loader) and I'm just being patient while they do the right thing.

Everyone take a deep breath.

Thanks again for the support!

 

[greenmule]

I'll bet your right,but thats the trouble nowadays,who knows where it was built,bet it wasn't japan. Thats probably the reason he can't get a quick resolution on this.

If worse comes to worse on this,alls he's got to do is get a couple cans of that special kabota paint and hire a good welder for a few hours and that loader will be like it ought to be. He could than do all kinda fun things with the many copies of the bill for that he made.

 

[WaxMan]

That's ridiculous!

They have to pull a brand new loader out of the warehouse and ship it to the dealer. Guess what - dealers don't get one machine or one attachment shipped out special just for them in most cases - they get whatever they get that fits on a load, be it a full load to one dealer, or a full load to a number of dealers in the area.

Who really cares how long it takes to get it in, so long as it gets taken care of? They told Bandaman to go ahead and use the loader until the new one comes in. Yes, those welds may eventually fail, but I doubt they will fail in a month or two of use.

It sounds like Kubota and the dealer are going to take care of Bandaman. Man, some of you guys are out of control! It's one freakin' loader that we've heard of on TBN, and you're ready to start a personal crusade to try to bring down the entire company. It's obvious based on all the other replies from Kubota owners that this is a rare instance of something substandard slipping through the cracks.

I really don't think it's grounds for Kubota being run through the ringer just yet. But since you are so upset over this massive injustice, maybe you should show them you mean business and get rid of your Kubota, since the mere thought of the company disgusts you so, and since you think their overall quality has completely disappeared.

Meanwhile, Bandaman can continue to enjoy his new machine, with the substandard FEL welds while he waits for a new FEL with nice, clean welds.

Hey lets go easily on Harvest Moon he's not the bad guy here, No one ever said there going to ship out a loader. What Harvest Moon said makes sense, just because Kubota is a big Company doesn't mean it's going to take two years, It may take awhile to actually ship a loader out to him But it shouldn't take more then a day, yes 1 day to call the customer and say one will be shipped out in the near future as soon as whatever but almost 2 months is too long with no definite word one way or another.

Kubota can come back a month from now and say, We decided were not going to get you another loader we will extend the warranty , As far as I'm concerned Bandman told them right after he got the tractor 4 days i think it should of been handled much sooner, big company or not. No excuse.
The squeaking wheel get the grease.
If I was told they are going to send me a new one i'd wait a year for it no problem, But don't keep me hanging on as to what is going to happen, that's poor business.
Lets not all come down on Harvest Moon for making sense.

 

[sixdogs]

BANDAMAN--

Sounds like you have a handle on this and know what you are doing. Good.
It just frosts me to see good people taken advantage of. As well, the loader was almost certainly built in Georgia and if not is almost certainly built in the USA. I have never seen a modern Kubota CUT loader built elsewhere.

Assuming that is correct, look at the angst and aggravation of a product built by the guys who are---or used to be----the standard of qualtiy for the world. Now examine the Kubota tractor itself--inch by inch--and I'll bet not a one of us can find a quality or appearance problem on it. What on earth has happened?
I really want to buy American but look at the damage this one thread on this one board has done to American consumer confidence. How many of us will now look at an American-made loader (if it is US built) with a lessened opinion? How many of us will choose to "buy American" if given the weld quality compared with the weld quality of a foreign maker?
I am 60 years old and have lived through import junk being just that and watched as we gave away our manufacturing capacity as their quality improved. Your dealer should be all over this like a cheap suit, not presumably on vacation.

I recently called my John Deere dealer to talk about buying a new 5525 with cab and loader ($55,000) and the guy said, (Uh, no we don't have one.) They can't find one elsewhere? I got a card in the mail offering me $50.25 cash just to consider one.
I bought a new 5520 from them a few years ago. In the interim I called to check on a smaller tractor as well. Oh, they will call back. No call, so I bought a Kubota L4300. Again--- later on a mower tractor. The guy was on vacation and later said he could order whatever I wanted but wasn't real familiar with smaller tractors. Wasn't sure of features and benefits so I bought a Kubota B7800. And I'm an easy sale and buy the same day I look.
God save us from ourselves.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

I'll bet your right,but thats the trouble nowadays,who knows where it was built,bet it wasn't japan. Thats probably the reason he can't get a quick resolution on this.

Kuota builds the loaders themselves... Kubota builds everything in house pretty much.

 

[sixdogs]

Kuota builds the loaders themselves... Kubota builds everything in house pretty much.

In Georgia?

 

[Mustangous]

What on earth has happened?

I am part of a welding forum and one persons quote in the signature is this, "The difference between an average person and a true professional is that the true professional will do a really good job..even if they don't want to..OR have to"

This whole thread reminds me of his quote and fully believe it. they must of let some amateur give it a try on that one then grabbed the mig gun back from him.... who knows, maybe the last one built on a friday?

But still no excuss...

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

In Georgia?

Yup. At KMA - Kubota Manufacturering of America.

 

[greenmule]

Well stuff happens I guess down there in kobota america in ga.,[and everywhere else],but q.c. slipped up on this one,maybe they need to go to japan and get more training?

Welders in those type places generally ain't the best,even the best welders will make a bad one every now and than,but you take a rod burner getting paid what rod burners get[in this case wire burners],they don't care alotta times,so if your using rod burners to make a product,than you really got to inspect it before it goes out the door,if you want a quality product.You can't inspect quality into a product but you can make sure it ain't accepted till it is quality.