robstaples
Gold Member
I just tried regen 4 times. 2 on auto and twice parked. All failed. I have just 59 hours on B3350. I've had one non-dealer regen in its life while snow blowing. Going back to dealer.��
Kubota B3350 tractor regeneration problems
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bumperm
Veteran Member
How is it failing when it's doing an auto regen. what is the failure mode? Not sure which version you have, does the tractor default to auto regen enabled or do you have to push a button to allow auto regen? Is the auto regen button in enabled? And you are keeping rpm above 2000 while the tractor is doing an on-the-fly regen?
When doing a parked regen, do you have the machine parked with brake on, trans in neutral, at idle, and with parked regen button pushed? What is the failure mode.
Not meaning to suggest you are doing anything wrong, just wondering what's happening - I've only done a couple of parked regens and a whole bunch of "while operating" regens - no problems with any.
robstaples
Gold Member
Thanks in advance Bumper
How is it failing when it's doing an auto regen. what is the failure mode?
Nothing changes and auto regen light doesn’t clear.
Not sure which version you have, does the tractor default to auto regen enabled or do you have to push a button to allow auto regen?
Push button to autogen. 99 percent of time , button is pushed and lit up.
Is the auto regen button in enabled? And you are keeping rpm above 2000 while the tractor is doing an on-the-fly regen?
The only time it’s done an auto regen is when I was snowblowing about 12” of snow . the engine was working hard. If I went too fast, the blower lugged the engine down. PTO pump and hydraulic blower on front.
When doing a parked regen, do you have the machine parked with brake on, trans in neutral, at idle, and with parked regen button pushed? What is the failure mode.
The “auto” I tried was parked and rpm at 2500. ( the “parked autoregen” Light would not come on until after 2 attempts at “auto”) My normal task of cutting grass with blower/catcher doesn’t load tractor very much. I ran around yard and then stopped and left the engine at 2500 for about 30 minutes. Regen light did not clear. And red exclamation light came on. After second attempt ( next day) “parked regen” came on.
Followed the book, parked, neutral, and computer took it up to 2500 for x minutes and then back down. Turn off and back on and same Parked regen request.
From previous testing of problem, dealer computer would say not getting DPF fuel,.. not hot enough. ( something like that)( last February)
Unit was in dealer in April/May ish with all the latest revisions….. Dealer picking up
Burned 4 gal trying to regen. Over half my hours(total hrs=58) are regen attempts.
PS I love my L39TLB. Wish I could say the same for my B3350
How is it failing when it's doing an auto regen. what is the failure mode?
Nothing changes and auto regen light doesn’t clear.
Not sure which version you have, does the tractor default to auto regen enabled or do you have to push a button to allow auto regen?
Push button to autogen. 99 percent of time , button is pushed and lit up.
Is the auto regen button in enabled? And you are keeping rpm above 2000 while the tractor is doing an on-the-fly regen?
The only time it’s done an auto regen is when I was snowblowing about 12” of snow . the engine was working hard. If I went too fast, the blower lugged the engine down. PTO pump and hydraulic blower on front.
When doing a parked regen, do you have the machine parked with brake on, trans in neutral, at idle, and with parked regen button pushed? What is the failure mode.
The “auto” I tried was parked and rpm at 2500. ( the “parked autoregen” Light would not come on until after 2 attempts at “auto”) My normal task of cutting grass with blower/catcher doesn’t load tractor very much. I ran around yard and then stopped and left the engine at 2500 for about 30 minutes. Regen light did not clear. And red exclamation light came on. After second attempt ( next day) “parked regen” came on.
Followed the book, parked, neutral, and computer took it up to 2500 for x minutes and then back down. Turn off and back on and same Parked regen request.
From previous testing of problem, dealer computer would say not getting DPF fuel,.. not hot enough. ( something like that)( last February)
Unit was in dealer in April/May ish with all the latest revisions….. Dealer picking up
Burned 4 gal trying to regen. Over half my hours(total hrs=58) are regen attempts.
PS I love my L39TLB. Wish I could say the same for my B3350
bumperm
Veteran Member
Rob,
Sorry you're having those problems. Obviously something wrong there, as from your post it doesn't seem as if you are doing anything wrong.
BTW, mine has had no problem doing a auto-regen as long as the rpm's are above 2000.
I just called the dealer and he said that my tractor was hooked up to the computer getting the updates and it was at about 55% done - - slower than an old dial up modem I guess. Hope it doesn't come back all screwed up.
good luck with yours,
bumper
Sorry you're having those problems. Obviously something wrong there, as from your post it doesn't seem as if you are doing anything wrong.
BTW, mine has had no problem doing a auto-regen as long as the rpm's are above 2000.
I just called the dealer and he said that my tractor was hooked up to the computer getting the updates and it was at about 55% done - - slower than an old dial up modem I guess. Hope it doesn't come back all screwed up.
good luck with yours,
bumper
ljvsdk51
New member
Hello Rob,
What is the serial number of your B3350? I suspect based upon everything you have described that your tractor's serial number would be on Kubota's list. Did your dealer give you a detailed list of the actual updates they performed on your B3350 back in April/May? Also, did your dealer know that there was a major revision to the original Kubota Service Bulletin first released in the Fall of 2014 & that they needed to be following the protocols & instructions provided in Service Bulletin PSB-2014-060-A Rev. 52-1 March 06, 2015? (In your dealers defense, if they do not have an active & aggressive Kubota Regional rep covering their territory, they may not have known about the bulletin revision).
This all being said, if they had been referring to the most current bulletin revision, which details the final evolution of the Kubota mandatory campaign that all Kubota dealers must follow to correct the Reformer DPF Regeneration operation failures on B3350 model tractors - if your serial number was in this bulletin, they should have reprogrammed the ECU (Engine Control Unit), replaced the thermostat to one that will allow the engine to run hotter thus allowing exhaust gas temperatures to more consistently run high enough to allow for "free regeneration" (i.e. hot enough to burn out some of the soot produced before it ever reaches the filter) and if when performing the detailed regen test, the test fails - then per Kubota specifications they must replace the entire Reformer unit (all of which - parts and labor) are fully covered by Kubota. Even if your tractor's serial number does not appear among those listed in the bulletin, the March 06, 2015 version of this bulletin specifically instructs the dealer to still go ahead and confirm that the ECU has the correct control software package loaded, to change the thermostat, and then do the regen test - and once again if the regen test fails, replace the entire Reformer unit. Based upon the error codes the dealer saw back in February, I suspect that even if the dealer did update the ECU and replaced the thermostat, they would have had a difficult time getting a successful regen test as the Reformer unit in your tractor is one that needed to be replaced as an entire unit. I hope this helps.
What is the serial number of your B3350? I suspect based upon everything you have described that your tractor's serial number would be on Kubota's list. Did your dealer give you a detailed list of the actual updates they performed on your B3350 back in April/May? Also, did your dealer know that there was a major revision to the original Kubota Service Bulletin first released in the Fall of 2014 & that they needed to be following the protocols & instructions provided in Service Bulletin PSB-2014-060-A Rev. 52-1 March 06, 2015? (In your dealers defense, if they do not have an active & aggressive Kubota Regional rep covering their territory, they may not have known about the bulletin revision).
This all being said, if they had been referring to the most current bulletin revision, which details the final evolution of the Kubota mandatory campaign that all Kubota dealers must follow to correct the Reformer DPF Regeneration operation failures on B3350 model tractors - if your serial number was in this bulletin, they should have reprogrammed the ECU (Engine Control Unit), replaced the thermostat to one that will allow the engine to run hotter thus allowing exhaust gas temperatures to more consistently run high enough to allow for "free regeneration" (i.e. hot enough to burn out some of the soot produced before it ever reaches the filter) and if when performing the detailed regen test, the test fails - then per Kubota specifications they must replace the entire Reformer unit (all of which - parts and labor) are fully covered by Kubota. Even if your tractor's serial number does not appear among those listed in the bulletin, the March 06, 2015 version of this bulletin specifically instructs the dealer to still go ahead and confirm that the ECU has the correct control software package loaded, to change the thermostat, and then do the regen test - and once again if the regen test fails, replace the entire Reformer unit. Based upon the error codes the dealer saw back in February, I suspect that even if the dealer did update the ECU and replaced the thermostat, they would have had a difficult time getting a successful regen test as the Reformer unit in your tractor is one that needed to be replaced as an entire unit. I hope this helps.
guardrail22
New member
I'm gonna just keep looking at non tier 4 units. I've seen too many emails like this from Ford to ever own another DPF. Too complex, too little benefit all misapprehended by tree hugging bureaucrats.
oldpilgrim
Elite Member
Boy, am I glad I bought my tractor when I did. I might not have gotten a new one if I'd waited a year and read stuff like this.
BigBoyToys
Gold Member
What an EYE-OPENER!!! 
Being new to tractors and just joining this forum, I had no idea of what was going on with the latest Tier 4 requirements and "REGENs". I thought about a new B2650/B3350 tractor, leaning towards the 3350, but decided to look a little longer and just picked up a nice 06 B3030. I didn't join this forum until after I purchased it and now finding a lot of threads for "Regen" problems. One thread I read on a JD 5055E was a nightmare. The 3030 only has 242 hours and in great condition, I'm hoping his thing lasts me a VERY LONG TIME!
I really hope the manufactures get there act together and get these issues resolved!!! Software updates sound like fixes to deal with design deficiencies. For guys who rely on there equipment to make a living, this is unacceptable.
Looking at this article it seems Mahindra took the right approach and started from the ground up with a new engine design to deal with the diesel emissions. Ahead of the Curve: Small Tractor OEMs Embrace Tier 4 | 2014-10-01 | Farm Equipment
Being new to tractors and just joining this forum, I had no idea of what was going on with the latest Tier 4 requirements and "REGENs". I thought about a new B2650/B3350 tractor, leaning towards the 3350, but decided to look a little longer and just picked up a nice 06 B3030. I didn't join this forum until after I purchased it and now finding a lot of threads for "Regen" problems. One thread I read on a JD 5055E was a nightmare. The 3030 only has 242 hours and in great condition, I'm hoping his thing lasts me a VERY LONG TIME!
I really hope the manufactures get there act together and get these issues resolved!!! Software updates sound like fixes to deal with design deficiencies. For guys who rely on there equipment to make a living, this is unacceptable.
Looking at this article it seems Mahindra took the right approach and started from the ground up with a new engine design to deal with the diesel emissions. Ahead of the Curve: Small Tractor OEMs Embrace Tier 4 | 2014-10-01 | Farm Equipment
robstaples
Gold Member
LJ,
I visited my dealer to check what had been done. The above mentioned Service Bulletin PSB-2014-060-A Rev. 52-1 was completed including the thermostat replacement and the re-programming. They have picked it up and I will wait the testing results with the computer interface. My low use of lawn cutting (~30 min/wk) results with months between regens. The engine doesn’t work very hard cutting grass and it’s a short job so the Auto regen doesn’t do what it would do with harder/ longer engine tasks . Maybe a new reformer will be required.
I visited my dealer to check what had been done. The above mentioned Service Bulletin PSB-2014-060-A Rev. 52-1 was completed including the thermostat replacement and the re-programming. They have picked it up and I will wait the testing results with the computer interface. My low use of lawn cutting (~30 min/wk) results with months between regens. The engine doesn’t work very hard cutting grass and it’s a short job so the Auto regen doesn’t do what it would do with harder/ longer engine tasks . Maybe a new reformer will be required.
MikeBo
Member
I mow my grass at 2400 rpm's with my tractor? Should be plenty to get a regen!