Kubota Dealer is really good sport!

proudestmonkey · May 29, 2006

I agree. When I had my own business for a few years (solo practice attorney), ALL of my business was word of mouth and loyal clients. I did no advertising at all, and had to turn away business at times.

proudestmonkey · May 29, 2006

I agree. When I had my own business for a few years (solo practice attorney), ALL of my business was word of mouth and loyal clients. I did no advertising at all, and had to turn away business at times.

Bird · May 30, 2006

I find this thread interesting; perhaps for a different reason than most. I've owned two Poulan saws and I've used a few others a little bit, including Homelite, Stihl, McCullough, and Craftsman. Now I like Stihl products; currently use a Stihl string trimmer, and my brother's Stihl chain saw was a very good one, and considerably bigger than either of my Poulans, but my Poulans were lighter, easier to handle and use, cut just as well with a sharp chain, never failed to start easily, and never had to go in for repairs. After using the first one for about 10 years, I gave it away when I retired and sold the house. The second one was only about 5 years old when I had to move back to town and sold it in a garage sale. There's one thing I always did that perhaps some others don't do. When I finished using the chain saw, I dumped out any remaining gas in the tank, started it up, and ran all the gas out of the carb, unless I was going to use it again the next day. I just couldn't have asked for a better tool.

Bird · May 30, 2006

I find this thread interesting; perhaps for a different reason than most. I've owned two Poulan saws and I've used a few others a little bit, including Homelite, Stihl, McCullough, and Craftsman. Now I like Stihl products; currently use a Stihl string trimmer, and my brother's Stihl chain saw was a very good one, and considerably bigger than either of my Poulans, but my Poulans were lighter, easier to handle and use, cut just as well with a sharp chain, never failed to start easily, and never had to go in for repairs. After using the first one for about 10 years, I gave it away when I retired and sold the house. The second one was only about 5 years old when I had to move back to town and sold it in a garage sale. There's one thing I always did that perhaps some others don't do. When I finished using the chain saw, I dumped out any remaining gas in the tank, started it up, and ran all the gas out of the carb, unless I was going to use it again the next day. I just couldn't have asked for a better tool.

18KwPower · May 30, 2006

( You were so right. I used it today for about an hour. What a difference between the Poulan and the Stihl. The Stihl cut through the buckthorn like it was butter. I cut down -[sniped]-
Surprisingly, the Stihl is also lighter, yet seems to have quite a bit more power than the Poulan. I guess you get what you pay for (Poulan was $99 and the Stihl was $199).
)

Hmmm... I haven't been having any problems with my Poulan Pro 18" - 42cc chain saw. Your experience sounds like my "old" Homelight though. Turns out that the Homelight had some dirt or something in the gas tank (dumped it out an that cured that). But I never did figure out how to cure the vapor lock problem... Bought my Poulan Pro at SAM's club for ~$160. I really like the in bar tensioning system. It's been working better than my neighbor's same size stihl (e.g. 18"bar).

I bought my Kubota from a dealer that is about 80 miles away. But before I bought it I worked it out with a local independent tractor repair center... They happen to be a Kawasaki/Kubota engine repair center... Because they repair bobcat skid steers (etc..) and farm tractors. Basicly many of the newer skid steers. Even some NewHolland models have kubota engines. So, they were more than happy to work on my tractor when necessary. It probably hasn't hurt that I've bought stuff from them too... Like a 60" tiller for my BX2230.

Anyhow, just wanted to point out that the construction equipment repair places can work on your Kubota tractor. Keep in mind that Kubota sells their engines to other companies, and Kubota itself made construction equipment before they started selling tractors. My neighbor's CASE skid steer for instance has a Kubota engine in it... So, you do have other options besides the tractor dealers.

Working on your own tractor, doing your own required maintenance is the best way to get to know your equipment.

-Dave

18KwPower · May 30, 2006

( You were so right. I used it today for about an hour. What a difference between the Poulan and the Stihl. The Stihl cut through the buckthorn like it was butter. I cut down -[sniped]-
Surprisingly, the Stihl is also lighter, yet seems to have quite a bit more power than the Poulan. I guess you get what you pay for (Poulan was $99 and the Stihl was $199).
)

Hmmm... I haven't been having any problems with my Poulan Pro 18" - 42cc chain saw. Your experience sounds like my "old" Homelight though. Turns out that the Homelight had some dirt or something in the gas tank (dumped it out an that cured that). But I never did figure out how to cure the vapor lock problem... Bought my Poulan Pro at SAM's club for ~$160. I really like the in bar tensioning system. It's been working better than my neighbor's same size stihl (e.g. 18"bar).

I bought my Kubota from a dealer that is about 80 miles away. But before I bought it I worked it out with a local independent tractor repair center... They happen to be a Kawasaki/Kubota engine repair center... Because they repair bobcat skid steers (etc..) and farm tractors. Basicly many of the newer skid steers. Even some NewHolland models have kubota engines. So, they were more than happy to work on my tractor when necessary. It probably hasn't hurt that I've bought stuff from them too... Like a 60" tiller for my BX2230.

Anyhow, just wanted to point out that the construction equipment repair places can work on your Kubota tractor. Keep in mind that Kubota sells their engines to other companies, and Kubota itself made construction equipment before they started selling tractors. My neighbor's CASE skid steer for instance has a Kubota engine in it... So, you do have other options besides the tractor dealers.

Working on your own tractor, doing your own required maintenance is the best way to get to know your equipment.

-Dave

proudestmonkey · May 30, 2006

When I bought my Stihl, I told the dealer that I had a Poulan that had a lot of problems. He said that Poulan used to make a good chain saw until they decided to go more consumer. Maybe my particular model had the issues it did because it was their lowest end consumer saw. Like I said, my problem didn't seem to be isolated because my brother-in-law has the exact same saw, bought it last year (like I did) and has the same kind of problems I did. My guess is that it is just a very cheap design for a very cheap saw. Call it the Yugo of chain saws.

proudestmonkey · May 30, 2006

When I bought my Stihl, I told the dealer that I had a Poulan that had a lot of problems. He said that Poulan used to make a good chain saw until they decided to go more consumer. Maybe my particular model had the issues it did because it was their lowest end consumer saw. Like I said, my problem didn't seem to be isolated because my brother-in-law has the exact same saw, bought it last year (like I did) and has the same kind of problems I did. My guess is that it is just a very cheap design for a very cheap saw. Call it the Yugo of chain saws.

N80 · May 30, 2006

I've got a great Kubota dealer too. When they forgot to deliver the drawbar with my tractor they gave me a Kubota hat when I went to pick it up.

The sales guy still calls me by name even though I haven't been in there more than three times since I bought the tractor..... but that may have to do with me sending them customers. One person from NC came down and bought an L4400 after I recommended the dealer here on TBN and another local friend of mine bought his L4400 there on my recommendation. So they like me for that if nothing else.

When I went to get my 50 hour service supplies they offered me another hat but, I did buy Super UDT. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

As far as chain saws, I have a 20 year old Homelite cheapo that runs like a banshee and is so simple that when something goes wrong I just tear it down, clean it and its back in business. Problem is, the bar is wearing out (I'm real hard on a chainsaw) and I don't know where to find a replacement. My dad has a Stihl and loves it, but it seems very heavy to me, and least compared to the cheapo Homelite.

N80 · May 30, 2006

I've got a great Kubota dealer too. When they forgot to deliver the drawbar with my tractor they gave me a Kubota hat when I went to pick it up.

The sales guy still calls me by name even though I haven't been in there more than three times since I bought the tractor..... but that may have to do with me sending them customers. One person from NC came down and bought an L4400 after I recommended the dealer here on TBN and another local friend of mine bought his L4400 there on my recommendation. So they like me for that if nothing else.

When I went to get my 50 hour service supplies they offered me another hat but, I did buy Super UDT. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

As far as chain saws, I have a 20 year old Homelite cheapo that runs like a banshee and is so simple that when something goes wrong I just tear it down, clean it and its back in business. Problem is, the bar is wearing out (I'm real hard on a chainsaw) and I don't know where to find a replacement. My dad has a Stihl and loves it, but it seems very heavy to me, and least compared to the cheapo Homelite.