Kubota BX2350 Mid PTO issues

[davek78063]

So my sister called me and wanted my advice on her tractor. She has a 2006 Kubota 2350 with a mid-mount mower that has < 600 hrs on it, used exclusively for mowing 5 acres. Apparently the ground is pretty rough as her house was built on 5 acres of farm land and little/no grooming. She also mentioned that her husband goes pretty fast cutting the grass. The last time he cut the grass it leaked fluid all over the garage. They took it in to the dealer and he said the bearings are shot and want $1700 to repair assuming there is no additional damage. They also said the trade-in value is only ~$1700.

My initial thoughts are

1. She would be better served with a 48" finish mower. My thought being that the mid-mount may be bottoming out/scalping due to the rough terrain where as a finish mower would go with the terrain.
2. 600 hours seems like a very short lifespan for this significant of an issue
3. Are the mid pto and rear pto integrated somehow? Is it possible to just not use the mid pto and get a finish mower?
4. The value she was quoted for the tractor seems low given the low hrs on the engine.

Any insight from the experts around here? Thanks in advance.

 

[dodge man]

The two PTOs can be operated separately or together. It might keep leaking if it is not used even.

I would not want to mow 5 acres with a 48 deck. The BX probably has a 60?

Value? If it was in good shape more like 5k. More if it has a loader.

 

[massey driver]

Thats a tough one without seeing the machine. The tractor must be in rough shape for them to only offer that much on a trade in. Here's my take on it. How honest is the Dealer. The problem I see here is that leaking oil can be just from a leaking seal, I can't see bearings being gone already. The bearing are inside the trans and are always in oil. Seals aren't more then $50 for the front and rear pto. They can be changed just by popping them out and putting new one's in. Not a very expensive fix.The other thing is which bearings are gone. is it the mower deck bearings gone and need replacing on each spindle ,they have grease fittings and should be greased at least one shot every few hrs of cutting ,also is the mower's gear box where the oil is leaking from. I just don't have all the facts to beable to give you a better answer.

 

[diesel85]

My 2002 BX2200 w/loader and MMM with 1500 hours on it trade is ~$9,500 from my local dealer. But it's also in almost showroom condition and very, very well maintained.

The fluid that is leaking is likely the gearbox oil from the MMM. This happens when the oil isn't chained regularly in the gearbox along with the possible fact that the bearings haven't been greased since the factory.

The Kubota MMM's require regular greasing and oil changes per spec in the OM for them to last.

 

[davek78063]

It is in rough shape though it has received regular service from the dealer. In fact it was just serviced this year. From what my sister said there was oil all over the garage and that doesn't count the oil leaked out while BIL drove it back to house w/o realizing there was an issue. There were gallons of it so it had to be Hydraulic fluid. Their yard is basically a recovered corn field and the builder just threw out some grass seed and called it a yard so it is very rough. She said my BIL cut the 5 acres in 2 hrs so he must be flying across so my guess is that is beating the **** out of it and the mid mount mower keeps bottoming out which prob puts stress on mid-pto. I am not sure about that though. I prefer a finish mower to a mid-mount.

 

[diesel85]

I think there are couple issues.

I have a "corn field" for a lawn too. However, I learned that you just need to take it slow and easy. Heck, I've had zero turns and those three wheeled Ferris' break on my yard because it's that bad.

With that being said, if they want to mow faster, they'll need a bigger machine.

Something like a L4060 with a 84" King Kutter rear finish mower. Being it a bigger machine, it will handle the "corn field" lawn a lot better than the short wheel base of a BX. Especially if you load the tires up with calcium chloride ballast.

 

[Volfandt]

Gals of fluid leaked out, mows 5 acres in 2 hrs, former corn field and regularly serviced by the dealer. Sounds like a recipe for a highly abused BX with an HST that may have been run dry and a dealer that knows the machine 1st hand.
If that BX's HST was run dry it will need more than bearings and if it wasn't run dry then it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to guess the bearings were beat to death by the rough field at high speed.
Having a BX myself that regularly cuts 4 acres w/a 60 MMM, 1/2 of which is former garden and pasture I couldn't imagine being able to mow it all in 2 hrs. I couldn't even stay in the seat at the speed necessary to do it...... Those short BX tires don't absorb big bumps well. Can be like riding a bucking bronco LOL....

HST work can get expensive as it's labor intensive just to get at it. Half the tractor has to be disassembled just to get access.

I'd definitely like to see some pics....

 

[diesel85]

I agree. It sounds like that poor BX has been abused and the dealer knows every little detail about it.

There is NO way I can mow mine with the HST treadle depressed to the floorboard. I would fall out and get mowed over or need to have my kidneys replaced. You said it right, ride it like a bucking bronco! lol

 

[Grandad4]

A rear finish mower would stand up to rough ground better than a mid mount deck, that's true. But it sounds like the primary component that needs a major overhaul is the idiot in the operator's seat. Until something is done about that, any repairs made to the tractor will be money down the drain because more damage is sure to happen. Sadly, it's not uncommon any more to find individuals who can thoughtlessly wreck a good piece of machinery in a short time.

 

[skipperbrown]

We need to know what bearings are shot before we can make any determination on what way to go. The pto shaft shouldn't be taking much abuse by the deck bouncing up and down. That load would be taken by the u joints on the pto shaft. The $1700 trade with the $1700 of service work required is about what my bx2200 with mmm and loader is worth to my dealer. He doesn't want it on a trade. Just knowing the facts presented, I'd fix it and try to keep it from happening again if it is indeed due to abuse.