There is an ID label on the frame, right side of tractor (if sitting in seat) just above the right front tire. It says Georgia on it....I just assumed that is where final assembly was completed. My old machine said Japan on it. Not sure where the Loader was built, once again, just assumed it was at the same plant in Georgia, but with today's business practices, it is likely that it may be outsourced.
Is this acceptable quality on a brand new Kubota?
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There is an ID label on the frame, right side of tractor (if sitting in seat) just above the right front tire. It says Georgia on it....I just assumed that is where final assembly was completed. My old machine said Japan on it. Not sure where the Loader was built, once again, just assumed it was at the same plant in Georgia, but with today's business practices, it is likely that it may be outsourced.
If all the orange people are done, I would like to give you my perspective.
I bought a brand new tractor, (a red one), and realized it also was not perfect. However; I did notice the "flaws" before I bought it.
I myself, spent my whole life repairing cars, trying to achieve perfection. Repairing a $50,000 or more, car after it has sustained major damage, and satisfying the customer is challenging. This has led me to also look for perfection when I buy.
Putting it in perspective: A high end automobile is built to a very high standard of quality. Though they too have flaws, the concept is built around perfection, and the price tag affords the details.
This is not always the case, when your buying anything else. My tractor which cost roughly $15,000, is not marketed to be a show piece. The concept was to market a piece of equipment that would be capable, and affordable.
While some will say $15k is not cheap, consider that a good lawnmower, is now $5k-10k and more. I think, to be able to sell a capable tractor, loader, & backhoe Well under $20k is amazing. Consider that the same thing, in a full sized machine is $70k-110k.
Every detail adds to the price, and makes the machine less affordable. Does it cost more to make every weld perfect? Guys who weld perfectly, may so no. But, in manufacturing, it does cost more. i.e. Better equipment, more training, higher qualification of employees, more inspection, more scraped parts.
Would I rather they had done more to make it more "perfect"? Added a few bells and whistles I had to add my self? Well, how much would it cost then? Could I still buy it then? Would it be worth it, for most people to pay enough for a "perfect" machine considering how most will look in a few years. (A lot of people use a tractor as a tool, while they appreciate it, they don't wax it).
While I would not like the welding job on your FEL either, in the future I highly recommend you: Inspect, rather than expect. Check the quality of anything you buy, beforehand. You will be a lot happier.
Nothing is truly flawless.
I bought a brand new tractor, (a red one), and realized it also was not perfect. However; I did notice the "flaws" before I bought it.
I myself, spent my whole life repairing cars, trying to achieve perfection. Repairing a $50,000 or more, car after it has sustained major damage, and satisfying the customer is challenging. This has led me to also look for perfection when I buy.
Putting it in perspective: A high end automobile is built to a very high standard of quality. Though they too have flaws, the concept is built around perfection, and the price tag affords the details.
This is not always the case, when your buying anything else. My tractor which cost roughly $15,000, is not marketed to be a show piece. The concept was to market a piece of equipment that would be capable, and affordable.
While some will say $15k is not cheap, consider that a good lawnmower, is now $5k-10k and more. I think, to be able to sell a capable tractor, loader, & backhoe Well under $20k is amazing. Consider that the same thing, in a full sized machine is $70k-110k.
Every detail adds to the price, and makes the machine less affordable. Does it cost more to make every weld perfect? Guys who weld perfectly, may so no. But, in manufacturing, it does cost more. i.e. Better equipment, more training, higher qualification of employees, more inspection, more scraped parts.
Would I rather they had done more to make it more "perfect"? Added a few bells and whistles I had to add my self? Well, how much would it cost then? Could I still buy it then? Would it be worth it, for most people to pay enough for a "perfect" machine considering how most will look in a few years. (A lot of people use a tractor as a tool, while they appreciate it, they don't wax it).
While I would not like the welding job on your FEL either, in the future I highly recommend you: Inspect, rather than expect. Check the quality of anything you buy, beforehand. You will be a lot happier.
Nothing is truly flawless.
RichT
Silver Member
As you say, with 0hrs there should have been no scratches and such. Good point on the welds - thats something I ALWAYS look at with tractors.
Another perspective, though not directly relevant to your situation: When I inspected my new B26 with 6hrs at the dealership, I noticed some touchup paint on both the loader and backhoe buckets. Of course this suggested the B26 had been used beyond just a break-in procedure, likely doing some stuff around the dealership. One of the repair techs delivered it, so I got to talking with him. This was the first B26 they had at the dealership with a BH thumb. He admitted they "played with it" some. The glass half full perspective: since they flexed out the major appendages for a couple hours, any early problems or such would have likely surfaced and been remedied, saving me a return trip (~100mi). Now with 85hrs its working perfectly (knock knock knock).
Another perspective, though not directly relevant to your situation: When I inspected my new B26 with 6hrs at the dealership, I noticed some touchup paint on both the loader and backhoe buckets. Of course this suggested the B26 had been used beyond just a break-in procedure, likely doing some stuff around the dealership. One of the repair techs delivered it, so I got to talking with him. This was the first B26 they had at the dealership with a BH thumb. He admitted they "played with it" some. The glass half full perspective: since they flexed out the major appendages for a couple hours, any early problems or such would have likely surfaced and been remedied, saving me a return trip (~100mi). Now with 85hrs its working perfectly (knock knock knock).
Oldtrout
Silver Member
bandaman, in my case I spent a year looking at Kobota tractors of various sizes,at several different dealerships,I looked at new and used,and it became apparent to me that the workmanship has gone down hill in the past few years. Well to make a long story short I went to the Kioti dealer and bought a new CK25,with FEL,BH and a few other toys ie chipper,box blade,landscape rake,and rough cut mower. The dealer wouldn't deliver it to me untill I made the trip to his dealership,than he and I went over every sq. inch of the equipment.
Later that day he delivered it to me,he unloaded it off the trailor and than spent an hour with a rag wipeing off the road dust,I said man its a tractor and is going to get dirty and a few dings, his response is its new and I want it to look that way when I leave,I couldn't ask for more. Now after almost 300 hours it has a few scratches,but they are mine.
One more thing I noticed that the back of the seat was coming apart at the top,an easy fix,mentioned it one day to the dealer telling him its no biggy and I will fix...his response was ...next time you are here bring it in I will give you a new seat no need to fix its under warrenty.
Now I am in the landscaping business and provided we don't sink to deep in this recession I will be looking for another tractor in late 2009,in the 50-60 hp. range. Guess where I will be shopping?
Now I am not knocking Kubota just giving my experiences...
Later that day he delivered it to me,he unloaded it off the trailor and than spent an hour with a rag wipeing off the road dust,I said man its a tractor and is going to get dirty and a few dings, his response is its new and I want it to look that way when I leave,I couldn't ask for more. Now after almost 300 hours it has a few scratches,but they are mine.
One more thing I noticed that the back of the seat was coming apart at the top,an easy fix,mentioned it one day to the dealer telling him its no biggy and I will fix...his response was ...next time you are here bring it in I will give you a new seat no need to fix its under warrenty.
Now I am in the landscaping business and provided we don't sink to deep in this recession I will be looking for another tractor in late 2009,in the 50-60 hp. range. Guess where I will be shopping?
Now I am not knocking Kubota just giving my experiences...
Well, at least us amateur weldors know where we can go ask for employment.
Ya think they'd actually HIRE someone who wants to do GOOD work ?
\R
(amateur, but fair to good welder)
Ya do KNOW about there being more than one GEORGIA, right ?
SnowRidge
Elite Member
Thanks for the geography lesson....let's pretend for a minute that I did not mention where the machine was built. Do the welds look nice or not, do they make a statement of pride and quality? We have already established that they are probably strong....good....but I still am not satisfied with the workmanship. Yes, it is possible to make a weld strong and still look nice, I have done thousands myself.
I really do not care where it was built.....Tiawan, Japan, Mexico, Russia, or the US....Kubota put their stamp of approval on it, and I am not satisfied with the welds on the loader. My expectations for the quality are based on my previously owned Kubota, and the ones I see in the brochures, on the website and the hundreds I have looked at in the dealerships over the years, not on a Cadillac, Ferrari or a Rolex watch....
I really do not care where it was built.....Tiawan, Japan, Mexico, Russia, or the US....Kubota put their stamp of approval on it, and I am not satisfied with the welds on the loader. My expectations for the quality are based on my previously owned Kubota, and the ones I see in the brochures, on the website and the hundreds I have looked at in the dealerships over the years, not on a Cadillac, Ferrari or a Rolex watch....
Oldtrout, heck of a good dealer you have there! I had similar experiences when I bought my BX2230 5 years ago from a small dealer in MI...If I still lived there, I would have dealed with him, unfortunately I moved 8 hrs away from him. He was kinda of a one man show.....and I dealt directly with him. I have nothing but nice things to say about them,a nd even though they were out of my way, I always bought my service items from them for the 4 years I lived in that area. I have nothing bad to say about my current dealer yet, just giving them an oppurtunity to do the right thing.