Kubota Letter/Cracked fenders/battery cover

[Bob_Skurka]

I wouldn't like to have a full bucket raised in the air, going down a slope backwards

FWIW, and I am not trying to pick on you, but that would be an incredibly unsafe thing to do. Every owners manual I have looked at states clearly that when transporting any material in your bucket it should be as low to the ground as is possible. The concept of traveling on a slope with a raised bucket, is itself, frightening.

I've not flipped a tractor (yet) but I have had one on 2 wheels on flat asphalt that I thought was going over, I beleive quick reflexes and sheer luck saved me. But I have learned that tractors, heavy or light, can flip in the time span of a couple heartbeats. Heed the warnings.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

you stated,

"Out of the 30-35 we've sold there has not been one back in with this issue, so we've not had to tackle it yet. I've not seen the fix for it."


So you have been seeing this rather regularly now, that kinda scares me, :O, that they are just now starting to come into the dealers..

Normal wear and tear?

Rather large individuals using these tractors perhaps?

About how many hours are you seeing on the units before they are cracking?

thanks!

Its been a mix, there were two that where broken within a few hours by the same guy, I'd say he is 300lb+. Another was a smaller women, but her son also uses their machine. That probably has 60-70 hours by now, they do use the tractor hard. Another I am not sure of the circumstances, but that guy is also 250+. The last few delt with other salesmen, so I am not sure on the details. I'm not sure of the consensous from the folks here, but from what I am seeing it looks like the weight of the operator is an issue. This is just a few instances so this may or may not be true. I can see how a 125lb japaneese engineer could overlook the size of our american butts .

 

[shvl73]

I can see how a 125lb japaneese engineer could overlook the size of our american butts .

Profiling!!!! Alert the media!!!

 

[Buster57]

Profiling!!!! Alert the media!!!

I don't know about the fenders but I love that dog you have! Too bad he can't play with "Buster"!

 

[shvl73]

I don't know about the fenders but I love that dog you have! Too bad he can't play with "Buster"!

Grace plays rough. She's not delicate at all. We wrestle and she loves it. I can still pick her up but, she is a handfull. A real sweetie at heart though!

 

[Musclford]

Its been a mix, there were two that where broken within a few hours by the same guy, I'd say he is 300lb+. Another was a smaller women, but her son also uses their machine. That probably has 60-70 hours by now, they do use the tractor hard. Another I am not sure of the circumstances, but that guy is also 250+. The last few delt with other salesmen, so I am not sure on the details. I'm not sure of the consensous from the folks here, but from what I am seeing it looks like the weight of the operator is an issue. This is just a few instances so this may or may not be true. I can see how a 125lb japaneese engineer could overlook the size of our american butts .

Yikes..... I'm 225 right now, but dropping and soon to be 185 again... Oh I can't wait...

From what your saying I would agree, that weight could play an important factor... I'm just afraid of the cold weather that's knocking on our doors... Me's thinking we're going to see a few more pretty soon...

I'm *** u ming that it's only going to apply for those unfortunate soles that do have a crack.. I'll bet we can't be lucky enough to get it made into a recall...

Thanks for the info...

 

[Buster57]

Yikes..... I'm 225 right now, but dropping and soon to be 185 again... Oh I can't wait...

From what your saying I would agree, that weight could play an important factor... I'm just afraid of the cold weather that's knocking on our doors... Me's thinking we're going to see a few more pretty soon...

I'm *** u ming that it's only going to apply for those unfortunate soles that do have a crack.. I'll bet we can't be lucky enough to get it made into a recall...

Thanks for the info...

Sorry but the cracked fender is not caused by how fat you are and probably little to do with how cold it is, but that certainly could be contributory, but rather where the stress is placed on the fender. It takes very little weight to create a very strong mechanical moment.

A problem is created by the application of weight on a weak spot in the fender against a hard spot elsewhere. Your finger against a screwdriver… Some ME can explain it better then a sparkie, but your personal weight has little to do with it. The angle of the formed plastic under a load is where the weak point will show up. Like I said, and on TBN there are thousands of them, an ME can explain it better then I can.

My salesman, 63 or 64 years old and all of about 150 pounds, broke a fender just as bad as the one I showed earlier, in the parking lot loading it for a customer.

Needless to say the delivery was postponed.

 

[Superduper]

Well I agree with musclford regarding peristence in this matter. I don't own the kubota with the plastic fenders but my John Deere also has plastic fenders and plastic sill/step. It has not broken and is completely supported underneath by a heavy cast metal structure. I don't imagine it will ever break through stress but may deteriorate over time via wear and tear through exposure to sun/elements etc, as consistent with most plastic used in an exposed (outdoor) environment.

A part that is designed to be stressed at every use (unless you can get on without stepping on it) should be designed to handle the stress consistently, without breaking. Anything less, as far as I am concerned would be a defect in design or workmanship. I certainly would not accept it. The fact that the tractor works good otherwise is beside the point. These are not old tractors. If they haven't broken now, what will happen years from now when they become more exposed to years of vibration and UV and ozone and dryrotting? Certainly, it doesn't get any better. I have read where users have ended up rigging angle iron supports and other retrofits to ensure they do not break, or to fix already broken ones. This is not right. A 250 lb person is not small, but certainly not uncommon. Perhaps a warning label should accompany the fender not to exceed 250 lb operator weight or operators foot might go through fender? So if 1 out of 10 tractors suffer from broken fenders, it may appear to be a small number (only 10%) but in reality, a 10% failure rate in any automotive related application will warrant a serious recall campaign and a questionable product reputation issue. Just my 2 cents worth...

 

[Musclford]

My biggest fear is the darn thing cracking at 3 yrs 1 month... Then I'm paying for the freaking upgraded fenders.

Furthermore, how many BX2200/30's have had the problem....

NONE!!! Nuff said.

Regardless of how much engineering, plastic can't be as strong as metal. They went to plastic for a reason, cost. Steel prices have elevated considerably over the last couple of years. Maybe there is another reason, but I can't think of a good one. - surely not weight...

Just like when Ford went to plastic intakes, it too bit them in the arse as well...

How about, instead of reengineering upgraded plastic fenders, just stamp us out new metal fenders, consider it a lesson learned and fire the accountant / engineer who got the promotion for "saving" them millions....

Heck, I would rather they upped the list price $50.00 instead of trying to save it in manufacturing...

I think that weight and temperature could have some role in how soon it cracks, although, again my fear what happens years from now... Not so much while it's in warranty...

How many would buy the kubota if it had a plastic deck? Not Me!! That may sound rediculous, but I'm sure some day someone willl find a way to market it... Never say Never!!!! I never thought gas would be over 3.00...

 

[pccoder]

How about, instead of reengineering upgraded plastic fenders, just stamp us out new metal fenders, consider it a lesson learned and fire the accountant / engineer who got the promotion for "saving" them millions....

...or copy what the *green* guys are doing: do not attach the fender to the floorboard. On my Deere, the floor will flex slightly but since the fender is not bolted directly to the floor, the fender stays put.

just my $0.02.