Kubota Parts Pricing out of Control

[jhendric]

I know this is old news, but $540 for a tie rod and $80 for a hub oil seal?!? I'm going to have to roll the dice in the aftermarket.

 

[SteveS42240]

I have 2 older Ford tractors and I use aftermarket parts often. I am careful not to buy any that are "too cheap", and I usually get pretty good parts. Several times they come from Amazon and other times from Steiner or Tisco Tractor Parts or other stores. I look for the better price and shipping costs when I buy.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

For a tie rod end I’d probably check Kubota and online but for an oil seal, I don’t think would even think to go to Kubota. That kind of thing I buy from a local bearing supplier by part number if it’s legible or by dimensions. Same for bearings.

 

[rScotty]

I have 2 older Ford tractors and I use aftermarket parts often. I am careful not to buy any that are "too cheap", and I usually get pretty good parts. Several times they come from Amazon and other times from Steiner or Tisco Tractor Parts or other stores. I look for the better price and shipping costs when I buy.

I don't yet know of an aftermarket source for Kubota parts. What I do is look up the part number on a parts diagram and then do a google search for that number. Surprising how often that works. It often leads to someone on Ebay.

You got me thinking that someday our Kubota will be an older tractor like our old JDs and Fords are now. I hope when that day comes that we can get good aftermarket replacement parts for our Kubota like we can today for the older US tractors.

A person can pretty much rebuild everything that wears out on an old American made tractor from aftermarket sources. All the parts I've ordered so far have been good quality.
rScotty

 

[rswyan]

For the OP:

Just curious what model Kubota this is for ?

Reason I ask is I just looked up pricing for the tie rod ends for my tractor (B2910) at my local dealer.

$62.03 (each)

Edit: Never mind … I figured it out.

 

[jjeff]

Unsure of what side of tractor tie rod is broken and what's broken the adjustable end/ joint, actual rod? Anyways saved a boatload of cash, time, and fixed my tractor in a hurry in the middle of nowhere by going to a knowledgeable parts 15 miles away not the Kubota place 100 miles away, that carquest provides aftermarket parts not only for cars and trucks but the logging industry up north. They promptly ordered it I think it was a moog replacement tie rod end with the correct threads similar length this aftermarket one even had a grease fitting original OEM Kubota joint i broke did not. I took the old one in they measured compared and cross referenced what I needed stand up parts shop that I used to expect , now hope for. Ten years and counting, still solid minus a rip in the dust cover which is my fault for driving thru evergreen trees. Just grease more frequently lol.

 

[jhendric]

My tractor is an older L4310 the tie rod is bent on both sides of the adjusting rod/nut/thing. I found a replacement at Worthington and Reliable for $285. I'll probably go that route. Thanks for listening to me whine.

 

[mikester]

If you want a shocker try buying NH parts. Long lead times and 2x more expensive before covid was my experience.

Buying cheap knock off mystery parts isn't the solution to inflation.

 

[Thomas]

It's not just Kubota.

 

[SDT]

I don't yet know of an aftermarket source for Kubota parts. What I do is look up the part number on a parts diagram and then do a google search for that number. Surprising how often that works. It often leads to someone on Ebay.

You got me thinking that someday our Kubota will be an older tractor like our old JDs and Fords are now. I hope when that day comes that we can get good aftermarket replacement parts for our Kubota like we can today for the older US tractors.

A person can pretty much rebuild everything that wears out on an old American made tractor from aftermarket sources. All the parts I've ordered so far have been good quality.
rScotty

Agreed.

Millions of Ford tractors were made so aftermarket suppliers are ubiquitous and many parts are quite inexpensive.

Not so with Kubota and other current manufacturers and I would not expect things to change in the future.

Yes, parts seem expensive but one is not paying for parts, but rather, convenience.

Marketing 101.

 

[5030]

Buying cheap knock off mystery parts isn't the solution to inflation.

Only going to get worse, not better and you know who to thank for that. Just bought a SSQA attachment for an LA 364 loader (that I will install for a good friend) as well as a skeleton SSQA plate for his bucket and it was 750 bucks from Kubota. 2 years ago it was 500 for both and with items like that, I prefer not to buy aftermarket (though ATI makes one as well and I have both the ATI version as well as the OEM version on my units).

Today you have the choice between quality OEM parts or import parts of questionable quality. I know which way I go, you may be different but be apprised that the cheap import parts may not last.

I will say on Kubota tie rod ends, the OEM parts won't come greaseable whereas the aftermarket parts will probably come with grease fittings installed. I've drilled and tapped the OEM ends in the past to allow them to be greased. Not into sealed for life fittings on tractors at all and never have been. Life can be short or long depending.......

if you think Kubota parts have went up, stop by a local green dealer and price their offerings if you want sticker shock.

 

[MiserableOldFart]

Agreed.

Millions of Ford tractors were made so aftermarket suppliers are ubiquitous and many parts are quite inexpensive.

Not so with Kubota and other current manufacturers and I would not expect things to change in the future.

Yes, parts seem expensive but one is not paying for parts, but rather, convenience.

Marketing 101.

I've been saying for years that the parts business is a complete rip off regardless of maker, and that the reason we have a bazillion different models and they change every couple years is that the makers don't want any more 8n type tractors that are numerous enough to make 3rd parties interested in making parts. They don't want us holding tractors for 20 years anyway, and insane parts prices are incentives to trade 'er in and get hooked in on a new one.

 

[4570Man]

Parts of every brand are expensive. Sure it’s partly the age old problem of they have it and you need it but it’s also complicated and expensive to catalog and stock parts.