Kubota B series Weakness?

gkk2001 · Jun 8, 2003

I know the Kubota tractor line is really very very good in many ways but I wonder, if you were to pick one thing that should have been designed differently or maybe where bota scimped on cost, what would that be? Be honest, there must be something. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I ask because eventually I would like to scale up from the JD 4100, am seriously looking at the B7800. I don't see me buying a JD4210 or 4310. I don't like the heavy use of electronic components that 3-5 years from now will cause problems..no question in my mind about that.
Currently have a JD4100 Its 3 pt hitch is its weak link, in my view. And I have, no real choice for a BH. I guess thats not a weakness, thats just the way it is.
Comments please.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 8, 2003

I'll be able to have a better opinion soon as my B7800 comes in this week! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif From my observances I already know that I probably will not care too much for the turnbuckle setup on the 3 PH on the B7800. The B2910 had a much more user friendly set up here. But I need to be $$ conscious at this time as this is a big step for me. I did follow a recent thread on the BX2200 on this very same subject. In that thread the discussion centered around being able to pull the user friendly parts from an "upscale" model. When my 7800 comes in I might just see if my dealer is willing to give me the 3 PH setup from the B2910. Never hurts to ask.

GregJ · Jun 8, 2003

I have one complaint. The parking brake. It is hard to engage and the mechanism feels a little light duty. It has never failed, but I don't really trust it all that much. If I park on a hill, I always turn my wheels in the direction I would want it to roll if it failed.... Like away from the house and cars. Other than that, it is a very rugged, durable and well designed machine.

Greg

Rick Jay · Jun 8, 2003

gkk2001,

Hmmmm...you got me thinking real hard on this one.

I guess I'm not crazy about the fuel tank filler location. I find the loader cross support tends to block access to the tank. However, the right funnel combination seems to have cured that problem. Lifting a 6 gal. fuel can is a bit of a problem, but there are other solutions to that. Personally, I only go through 3 or 4 tankfuls of diesel every year, so it's not a major problem.

I also think that the entire B-series should have the same extendable lower links and telescoping sway adjusters that my B2910 has. If not standard, they should be readily available as a published option.

I personally don't have much of an issue with the brakes, although I've heard that complaint from others. The cruise control lever on the B2910 can sometimes inhibit the hydro pedal from going into reverse if it's accidently pushed by the operator.

I guess most of this really sounds like nit-picking. I really am thrilled with the over-all performance and features of the B2910.

~Rick

heith · Jun 8, 2003

You won't find much to complain about a Bota.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 8, 2003

sure, they are it,thats why you have this tore it up page,right? I mean they are good little tractors but you guys need to come on down,and be...... RICHARD GAUTHIER

frank_f15 · Jun 8, 2003

are their things about my tractor that i would like differnt? sure there are, but not sure i would classify them as defects in engineering or scrimping to cut cost. think of it this way, if i gave you $50k and told u to buy the tractor of your dreams, do u not think in a few uses ,u would not find something u did not like?not trying to be funny here, but nothing is perfect. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

gkk2001 · Jun 8, 2003

Thanks all very much for the comments.
The turnbuckle style 3 pt is definitely something I will avoid on my next tractor but I will make do with the one I have for now.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 8, 2003

( Thanks all very much for the comments.
The turnbuckle style 3 pt is definitely something I will avoid on my next tractor but I will make do with the one I have for now. )

This is easily rectified on the B-series tractors that don't have the "premium" lift arm adjuster design...and only about $60 in parts to deal with it as well as a few minutes of time. I put the 2710 parts on my BX-22 in about an hour...and I never used a grinder on metal before!

r0GuE · Jun 9, 2003

On the BX (c'mon... it's got a B in it)
I don't like the steering wheel (like a toy)
I don't like the ratcheting gut cutting seat belt
I wish the deck were molded such to shed water rather than direct it straight to the bearings
I REALLY wish it had a tach
I don't need the hood ornament
I like the round headlights on the B's better (yeah.. I'm nit picking BIG time)

Overall though... I LOVE MY BX

heith · Jun 9, 2003

Yea,a tach would be nice on the BX,but totally not needed,i run mine wide open and tear the ground a new A-HOLE. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Egon · Jun 9, 2003

My B7100 has this very lovely well engineered system of attaching the rear wheel hubs to the axel. I'm at the point where I use shims and duct tape to hold it all together.

The throttle linkage can be activated when applying the brakes.

Can't adjust the creep out of the HST.

Hard to tell what the level is in the fuel tank. Ran out several times because of this.

Now on the bright side: 2000 hours and aside from regular service have replaced the dynamo, two hydraulic hozes and the two front tires [ abuse in sharp rocks ] .

I have no real pressing complaints.

Egon

MJB · Jun 9, 2003

I don't have a B series Kubota, but I did look at them pretty close when I was shopping. I know my opinion will not be real popular with the Kubota guys but here goes. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif To me the biggest "design flaw" I saw was the placement of the turning brakes on the same side as the hydro pedals and the inclusion of a foot clutch on the hydrostatic models. I know many others will chime in that they never use their turning brakes but I use mine all the time on my 4300. When I mow across a side hill I find that lightly riding the brake on the uphill wheel greatly reduces the scuffing of the front wheels which would otherwise need to be turned uphill to keep the tractor heading straight across the slope. The pedal setup looks to be a cost reduction on the part of Kubota. Keeping the clutch and brake setup the same as the gear models requires less design work and fewer parts to make and keep in stock. We do this kind of cost versus benefit type analysis all the time at work. Kubota came down on the side of lower cost. You Kubota guys go easy on me now... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rick Jay · Jun 9, 2003

MJB,

( You Kubota guys go easy on me now... )

O.K....I'll go easy on you. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I mostly agree. I only occasionally use brake steering, usually while moving snow with the loader when the front wheels don't have enough traction to steer. However, on the B2910, I can use the cruise control lever to control forward speed while using the brake pedals to steer.

Without the cruise control lever, it would be very hard to effectively use the brakes for steering, unless one had 2 right feet. Come to think of it, personally speaking, I'd be better off if all the pedals were on the left side 'cause I've been accused by quite a few ladies that I have 2 left feet! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

~Rick

looch · Jun 9, 2003

I use my brakes for steering when I'm snowblowing (turf tires, 500Lb snowblower, and no weight on the front). It is a bit of an art form. I use my heel to operate the HST pedal while using my toes to brake-steer.

What I don't like isn't Kubota-specific: sheet metal where there should be plate steel and plastic where there should be sheet metal. I miss the old cast frame of my B5100.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 9, 2003

( I don't have a B series Kubota, but I did look at them pretty close when I was shopping. I know my opinion will not be real popular with the Kubota guys but here goes. To me the biggest "design flaw" I saw was the placement of the turning brakes on the same side as the hydro pedals and the inclusion of a foot clutch on the hydrostatic models. )

Heh, heh. I don't have one either. In fact, the only hydro I own at the moment is a lawn tractor, but when I was planning my tractor purchase, a buddy of mine insisted I drive his older Kubota so that I could "learn" how great a hydro was.

I drove the Kubota and was not impressed. The hydro was jerky, and the brakes were on the same side as the hydro pedals. It made no sense to me, so I asked my buddy how he was supposed to operate the brakes and the hydro pedal at the same time--without having two right feet. He couldn't come up with an answer.

That was several months ago. I saw him again recently and reminded him of the question. I'm still waiting for an answer. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

In all fairness though, I hear the jerkyness has been cured--just not the need for the extra right foot. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

SnowRidge

Boone · Jun 9, 2003

The brake should be set up with one on each side like a real John Deere. Then get rid of the wide front and go to the tricycle/row crop front tires. With this you don't even need to touch that steering wheel as you do 180's /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Ok, the wide front is much safer and power steering is nice. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

therrien · Jun 10, 2003

The main problem with using the criuse control is it does not operate when your'e going in reverse.
Backblading using the steering brakes is a great if you can do it

B7500 · Jun 10, 2003

"I have one complaint. The parking brake. It is hard to engage and the mechanism feels a little light duty."

GregJ, I agree! After a day's work my thumb hurts. I wish it was a full blown handle that you could use to set the brake. Still, my 'Bota is the (second) love of my life.
-T

mdbarb · Jun 10, 2003

My only complaints with the B21 are mainly ergonomic:
Its awkward to fill the tank
The parking brake handle is wimpy
flipping the seat back and forth from backhoe to driving position
lights are useless down behind the loader
over all just little things....