Kubota BX series ridiculous transmission

[Bobcar]

When im on a hill I learned to youse my foot under the foward control and pick it up.I seem to have a little more control on reverse that way.

 

[manonthehill]

two years from now we'll have a transmission that stops slowly and then we'll have posts about people crashing though the garage walls because the darn tractor did not stop... (actually we've two customers do that.). You just can't win.

You're off base, you can win. MTD, AYP (Craftsmen, etc.), Troy-Built and other lower end brands can build a functional hydro transmission. Why can't a premium brand like Kubota do it?

 

[BX24FOR5]

I agree, Kubota engineered, designed and manufactured a poorly functioning HST.

Stop covering for them!

 

[James Loehr]

two years from now we'll have a transmission that stops slowly and then we'll have posts about people crashing though the garage walls because the darn tractor did not stop... (actually we've two customers do that.). You just can't win.

If Kubota spent the time fixing this instead of training there reps and dealers to make a silk purse out of a sows ear.this thread would not even have happened and I would still respect this company and there dealers. Too bad

 

[ELMO67]

Well, I have watched this thread for a while and find it interesting that SOME people that have replied don't even own or have ever ridden on a 50 series. I have a BX1850 and HATE the way it jerks backing up- especially when backing down a hill! My BX only has 27.2 hours on it and I'd trade to a 60 series in a heartbeat if it made financial sense. I guess that is what Kubota banks on, like most major equipment or automobile manufacturers, people who won't complain because of the $$$ it will cost them. As far as not knowing how to operate a hydro trans, I also have an L3010 that I've been using since new that will not, and does not, jerk AT ALL when backing up with or without any implements, front or rear installed, at maximum speed or minimum speed and it stops almost immediately from any speed.

 

[TripleR]

My father in law had an older model John Deere that did the same thing. You could ameliorate the severity by really taking your time and holding your tongue right, but I hated driving that thing. I have driven tractors of all sizes all of my life, so it can't always be blamed on the operator.

 

[KeithInSpace]

two years from now we'll have a transmission that stops slowly and then we'll have posts about people crashing though the garage walls because the darn tractor did not stop... (actually we've two customers do that.). You just can't win.

There is more truth in this statement than folks are getting, it seems. I speared my garage door trim in the first month because the tractor didn't stop when I THOUGHT it was going to stop...when I lifted the treadle.

If others are like mine, it seems that my series of tractor (BX1500/1830/2230/23) had a very SLOWLY responding treadle, especially when cold. My machine has over 250 hours and I actually scared myself not a week ago when it didn't stop on a dime.

Every machine made has certain peculiarities. If not in the drivetrain, then in the hydraulics. If not there, then in vibrations. Something that someone isn't going to like. I've noticed recently that it will actually build up a small amount of hydro pressure in either forward or reverse if left in drive and my foot off the treadle...it will actually start creeping very slowly if I don't have the brake on.

It seems Kubota instituted an "overzealous" fix to the lawsuit-waiting-to-happen trait of my tractor stopping lazily. I've driven my friend's BX1850. The trait is a little annoying, but nobody forced him or anyone to purchase the tractor. And the trait doesn't show up at 50-or-so hours...it's there when you buy it.

My friend isn't part of TractorByNet and I told him I had heard of the "problem". His response? "Problem? Really? Never thought it was a problem...just excited about stopping is all. Really? You think it's a problem?" Point being, sometimes these things become "frothy" because there a bunch of folks with the exact same concern. The internet is wonderful, but the manufacturer's probably hate it sometimes for just this reason.

I HATE the way my Expedition feels when I need to panic-stop...the brake pedal feels pullled to the floor and very difficult to modulate...the kids are very uncomfortable when their heads jerk forward in the unfortunate event of a panic stop in that truck. Class-action lawsuit? Hardly. Rotten posts in every forum? Not likely. Just one of those things I've learned to deal with in an otherwise exceptional vehicle.

Not saying it doesn't stink. The quick stopping feels a little uncomfortable, I have to admit. I'm just saying that this single event hardly constitutes certain death or disability. You won't mind it so much when it saves the life of your child who unexpectedly crosses your path behind your tractor.

And for the record, the video is laughable...that happens to my 2230 if I'm dumb enough to lift off the treadle on a steep slope with a full load in the bagger. Guess what I did to fix it? I don't lift my foot off the treadle on a steep slope with a full load in the bagger..

 

[milkman]

There is more truth in this statement than folks are getting, it seems. I speared my garage door trim in the first month because the tractor didn't stop when I THOUGHT it was going to stop...when I lifted the treadle.

If others are like mine, it seems that my series of tractor (BX1500/1830/2230/23) had a very SLOWLY responding treadle, especially when cold. My machine has over 250 hours and I actually scared myself not a week ago when it didn't stop on a dime.

Every machine made has certain peculiarities. If not in the drivetrain, then in the hydraulics. If not there, then in vibrations. Something that someone isn't going to like. I've noticed recently that it will actually build up a small amount of hydro pressure in either forward or reverse if left in drive and my foot off the treadle...it will actually start creeping very slowly if I don't have the brake on.

It seems Kubota instituted an "overzealous" fix to the lawsuit-waiting-to-happen trait of my tractor stopping lazily. I've driven my friend's BX1850. The trait is a little annoying, but nobody forced him or anyone to purchase the tractor. And the trait doesn't show up at 50-or-so hours...it's there when you buy it.

My friend isn't part of TractorByNet and I told him I had heard of the "problem". His response? "Problem? Really? Never thought it was a problem...just excited about stopping is all. Really? You think it's a problem?" Point being, sometimes these things become "frothy" because there a bunch of folks with the exact same concern. The internet is wonderful, but the manufacturer's probably hate it sometimes for just this reason.

I HATE the way my Expedition feels when I need to panic-stop...the brake pedal feels pullled to the floor and very difficult to modulate...the kids are very uncomfortable when their heads jerk forward in the unfortunate event of a panic stop in that truck. Class-action lawsuit? Hardly. Rotten posts in every forum? Not likely. Just one of those things I've learned to deal with in an otherwise exceptional vehicle.

Not saying it doesn't stink. The quick stopping feels a little uncomfortable, I have to admit. I'm just saying that this single event hardly constitutes certain death or disability. You won't mind it so much when it saves the life of your child who unexpectedly crosses your path behind your tractor.

And for the record, the video is laughable...that happens to my 2230 if I'm dumb enough to lift off the treadle on a steep slope with a full load in the bagger. Guess what I did to fix it? I don't lift my foot off the treadle on a steep slope with a full load in the bagger..

Couldn't have said it better, wasn't as discrete as you and had my former posts deleted.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Couldn't have said it better, wasn't as discrete as you and had my former posts deleted.

Fellow Kentuckian. I see you have a BX2200. I had one of those as my first tractor and kept it for a year. It was a great tractor but the ground clearance or lack of it was a problem for my needs. Traded it to a B7800 and also bought a BX1500. After three years I traded the B7800 to a L3240 and traded the BX1500 to a BX2350. Also bought a gas Kubota mower and a F2680E. Traded the L3240 to a B3200. Have now bought 8 different Kubotas so I'm a committed Kubota owner and buyer. I have experience driving many Kubota models and am not normally a complainer but my experience with Kubotas lead me to believe that this is a BAD operating transmission. I plan to keep my BX for many years (I know some of you are smirking at that statement) so I'll pay the difference to get rid of this BX2350 because I don't want to deal with it for years. Does it enter your mind why a tight Kentuckian would be willing to pay $2000 to trade for a machine that operates like yours? That's what I"m going to pay to trade for a 60 series. Guess I'm wondering why you have an opinion concerning a 50 series tractor when you don't have one. We're not talking about Kubotas or HP or anything else, we're complaining about the 50 series Kubota. Only the jerk in the 50 series tractor. Yours doesn't jerk so why should mine? My others don't/didn't jerk so why does this one?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

It seems Kubota instituted an "overzealous" fix to the lawsuit-waiting-to-happen trait of my tractor stopping lazily. I've driven my friend's BX1850. The trait is a little annoying, but nobody forced him or anyone to purchase the tractor. And the trait doesn't show up at 50-or-so hours...it's there when you buy it.
A little annoying! A little annoying! Do you have any idea what a little annoying adds up to over several hundred hours? A jerk that hurts the neck and back of a almost 62 year old man is "a little annoying" when done over 50 times when mowing my 3 acres of hillside rough gullied and ditched treed property. What would you call extremely annoying? The trait doesn't show up at 50 or so hours is exactly right it was there when I bought it. I have bought 8 Kubotas in a little over 5 years. Never tried any of them on the lot. They were all great when delivered. After this fantastic BX2350 was delivered I loved it and thought the jerks may be something I was doing. I only have 30 hours on it in a month over one year because it's a little annoying and we had a real dry summer last year after I got it. Now, am I wrong trusting the company that I had bought 7 different high priced pieces of equipment from and suspect that the 8th one would be bad and I should go drive it around the dealers lot? Why would the 8th one be bad and none of the other ones? I have now tried the BX2660 on the lot which is what I am trading number 8 to. I have built up a trust in my dealer and Kubota to do me right but Kubota to this point has done me wrong on purchase number 8. Hoping purchase number 9 goes better. I haven't lost faith in my dealer or Kubota but I have in the BX2350. By the way Keith, do you have a 50 series tractor? Ride your friends BX1850 for a few hours over many, many, many back and forth switches and up and down hills and compare it to what you own and then tell us 50 owners it's slightly annoying. Anxiously awaiting your reply after completing the 50 hour test.