Kubota parts and supplies are RIDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE

[rScotty]

I have Model Ts from 1911, 1913 and 1915 plus numerous Model As from 1928-31 and virtually any part is available new... from engine blocks to bodies...

For a time I was still able to go to my local Ford Dealer for things like a new carburetor, points, etc...

Certain machines become "icons" of their type and you are a lucky mechanical guy if you have one. Not only are all parts available....they are often priced right & better than original.
I've never had a problem buying parts for our '70 Chevy PU or 1958 John Deere or older Yanmar tractor. And at reasonable prices, too.

But parts for my wife's 2006 Toyota are premium $$ if you can even find them. Talk about pain, Milwaukee just discontinued key parts for my "lifetime" power tool collection bought in 2010. That hurt.

It seems like in the USA lately we need to consume more and more all the time. Or economy has to grow or it will fail. So just being sustainable is becoming less of an option. But I wouldn't be surprised if sustainability becomes popular again.
Luckily, so far some tractors are resisting planned obsolescence.

 

[art]

Interesting reading! I joke about all the colors and names of different tractors we have sold and through the years we are at about 17! The thoughts of expensive parts for what I have seen are those you can't get! We have seen brands that are unique and we actually saw a fuel injection pump not available on a seven year old tractor!! When I talk about the different brands many were essentially the same just with different labels! The most expensive parts have been from discontinued builders, not that the tractors brand aren't being built but they are not represented in the current line-up! Not all manufacturers out source all parts or attachments as some take more control of the end product for performance issues as well as construction. From one brand to the other we often find the same part but being used by a different vendor. That is fun to see the difference of sometimes over 100% difference! The more unique the product the higher the price!

 

[ultrarunner]

This is the concern I have with emission and electronics spectrum wide...

Cars or Tractors doesn't seem to make much difference... it has proved especially hard with smog parts for California ONLY equipped vehicles... especially with European models..

The older I get the more I simply enjoy simple... the old Farmall Cub, 1948 Deere M, Ford Jubilee... plus the cars through the 60's...

I do have cars where parts are just about non existent... American Austin and American Bantam both from the 30's are very rare...

 

[art]

This is the concern I have with emission and electronics spectrum wide...

Cars or Tractors doesn't seem to make much difference... it has proved especially hard with smog parts for California ONLY equipped vehicles... especially with European models..

The older I get the more I simply enjoy simple... the old Farmall Cub, 1948 Deere M, Ford Jubilee... plus the cars through the 60's...

I do have cars where parts are just about non existent... American Austin and American Bantam both from the 30's are very rare...

That is no difference with the tractors and machinery. Numbers count! I have watched many parts go from major manufacturer to small manufacturer as long as their is demand. Small runs are expensive to the builder and the end user!

 

[varmint]

Couple of thoughts... someone had posted about plywood replacing steel during WWII- I have a large cabinet, made from plywood, built during the war by a steel cabinet manuf. that came from an aircraft repair facility that was built, you guessed it, during the war.

Re' Messick's and shipping costs. When I purchased something small from them, and was stunned by the shipping costs, I was told that most of their customers NEED whatever they are ordering to get back in business, hence the quick shipping, but if requested, they will send stuff the cheapest possible way.


OP- definitely check into a skid plate to protect your delicate fan. I don't know where to look, but I have seen them talked about on this forum. You might even be able to fabricate something yourself?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Interesting reading! I joke about all the colors and names of different tractors we have sold and through the years we are at about 17! The thoughts of expensive parts for what I have seen are those you can't get! We have seen brands that are unique and we actually saw a fuel injection pump not available on a seven year old tractor!! When I talk about the different brands many were essentially the same just with different labels! The most expensive parts have been from discontinued builders, not that the tractors brand aren't being built but they are not represented in the current line-up! Not all manufacturers out source all parts or attachments as some take more control of the end product for performance issues as well as construction. From one brand to the other we often find the same part but being used by a different vendor. That is fun to see the difference of sometimes over 100% difference! The more unique the product the higher the price!

Yep, try finding a head for a Toyosha engined Massey Ferguson 210.

 

[ultrarunner]

Deere and early Fords in the antique category are like popular antique cars...

Just about anything I could need is available for my NAA or my brother's Deere M

Ford even licenses some parts with the Ford Logo for my Model A and T's...

 

[radios1]

Yep, try finding a head for a Toyosha engined Massey Ferguson 210.

the head can be refurbished but not at a cheap price, cracks can be welded by a welder experienced in the type of metal used, then the head can be machined at a good machine shop and any parts needed can be made or retrofitted I doubt custom made parts were used in the original, and those parts are probably still made for other heads.. it's NOT impossible.. and you can buy a remanufactured head for the MF 210 right here, Engine Part oem 328519M91,725 sn 246 for Allis-Chalmers Massey-Ferguson Engine Part #328519M91,725 All States Ag Parts DE SOTO Iowa | Fastline $900 although it might be cheaper to have your own head repaired..

 

[TBone]

I like owning models of equipment that are popular and have been in production for a while so lots of parts are usually available from many sources. And if you get a machine with something like a Yanmar or Perkins engine you can get parts just about anywhere for those.

I agree. I've had several tractors in my lifetime and Perkins engines were the best I ever used. They are fuel efficient, forgiving of poor maintenance and seem to run forever. My last Kubota M4900 had a good engine but I suspect a Perkins would outperform and outlast it.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

the head can be refurbished but not at a cheap price, cracks can be welded by a welder experienced in the type of metal used, then the head can be machined at a good machine shop and any parts needed can be made or retrofitted I doubt custom made parts were used in the original, and those parts are probably still made for other heads.. it's NOT impossible.. and you can buy a remanufactured head for the MF 210 right here, Engine Part oem 328519M91,729865 sn 246 for Allis-Chalmers Massey-Ferguson Engine Part #328519M91,729865 All States Ag Parts DE SOTO Iowa | Fastline $900 although it might be cheaper to have your own head repaired..

Thanks, If my cousin's husband will pull it off, I may try to weld and machine it myself.