L2800-L3400 PTO Making the right choice

[8226hamer]

My 3400 clicks when running my rotary cutter and my serial number is in the 54,000 range. I always start the PTO with the tractor at idle and then throttle up, to disengage I try and decrease the throttle down to idle to keep it from clicking. If it starts to click I'll mash the clutch and throw the PTO lever. Man, I hope this doesn't become an issue. I researched the Kubota line a lot before I bought my tractor (which is worth way more than my car).

Geez, I'm going to call the local dealer here in a few. Which may be a another issue as I bought mine used to save a few thousand dollars but is should still be under warranty right?

Your tractor has a basic warranty that covers everything for 24 months or 15 hundred hours
If it is under 3 years old and with less than 3000 hours it still has a powertrain warranty, and I was told by Kubota that the repair work for PTO issues will be cover under the powertrain warranty. Which is nice to know, but does nothing for long term ownership of these tractors and after the warranty has expired. From my experience I'm not going to risk it unless Kubota can assure me that they have come up with a replacement cure and then install it and then stand behind it.

Kubota has been good at the temperary fix so far and its not cost me anything but downtime and the cost of a rental tractor so I could finish what I had started, but after the warranty expires it's your baby as of now, but I'm seeing what options there are to cure this issue.

I will admit the first when the first time the PTO went out of my tractor and it was in the shop for 5 weeks, that didn't set real good with me and the fact I had made a tractor payment and didn't even see the tractor for a month after the third week from buying it.

 

[Scott in IN]

Well I just got off the phone with my local dealer's service manager who basically told me there was nothing to worry about. He said that the service bulletin (PID -2005-022) had to do with adding more SUDT (a quart or two) to quiet the clicking. He said that the clicking did not damage the tractor and there was no problem with the pto clutch as long as I had a properly adjusted slip clutch on my implements (which I do). He added that the people that were having problems were probably using old implements without slip clutches which was causing the problems (hitting big rocks and stopping the implement). I guess I'll just run it and see what happens.....

Hummmm?

 

[8226hamer]

I did talk to the Division Sales Manager about the offer Kubota made and told him I thought they could do better. He said that he thought it was a fair figure concidering my tractor was used with 225 hours on it and also I was trading for a nicer tractor. What really amazed me that he couldn't even remember what that figure was when I asked about it He said whatever the saleman quoted me that thats what he had decided on.
I said yes, that would be a good deal if I was trading because I wanted to, but since the PTO is not working and that I can't depend on it that I was not trading because I wanted to, but because Kubota sold me a tractor that had a PTO system that is prone to failure and I was proof from the troubles that I have experienced, plus the fact that they no longer use this system because of complaints from the noise it made, which in reality is causing premature wear causing the system fail.

After telling him this figure that was decided on was 3400$ ,that he couldn't rember at this time deciding on, he came to the conclusion that it was a fair offer. He then wanted to know what I thought was fair, and I told him the information that I discovered today on the price difference in the two and thought my 2000.00 offer was fair.

So, I ask if this was the best Kubota could do in finding a solution for thgs issue, his response was he thought it was fair.

I then proceeded to ask about any other options they may have , such as replacing the old system with the new system and I think I got my answer to this, instead of being told he would check into it, when he said if it could be done they would have done it a long time ago.

The way I see it Kubota is obligate by the implied warranty that this tractor has, by law, to either repair this system with a reliable system in a reasonable amount of time, or get a replacement tractor that has a reliable system, and if they can't do either of the first two, then the buy the tractor back at market value.

I guess it's back to the service department to see how the research for finding a way to install the one way action cam in these tractors, and it hopfully being a cure. I have found that the internet really is a powerful tool.

 

[8226hamer]

Well I just got off the phone with my local dealer's service manager who basically told me there was nothing to worry about. He said that the service bulletin (PID -2005-022) had to do with adding more SUDT (a quart or two) to quiet the clicking. He said that the clicking did not damage the tractor and there was no problem with the pto clutch as long as I had a properly adjusted slip clutch on my implements (which I do). He added that the people that were having problems were probably using old implements without slip clutches which was causing the problems (hitting big rocks and stopping the implement). I guess I'll just run it and see what happens.....

Hummmm?

Ask him why Kubota no longer uses the two way locking cams in these tractors. I'm sure it's not because of old implements and big rocks. I have proof that my old B2910 never had issues with old implements and big rocks with over 3000 hours of use doing the same type of work it, when it took only a couple hours of PTO use the first time it faild and around 25 to 30 hours of use with the new and improved cams the second time it failed. I'm hoping for around 50 hours before they go the third time with the second set of updated cams that was their solution for their design flaw.

Show your service manager this picture of second set which are updated cams that came out of my tractor and ask him if it took care of the problem.

Also Kubotas soultion about adding more oil as a cure is proof they knew of the problems that in time would they have and it did nothing but make the noise less noticeable and really did nothing except cost you more money by having to add more oil when you service your tractor. I see that as a half (you know what) type of cure when the real problem is the system itself is bad. Kubota knows it, but I don't see them ever admitting it.

 

[MDM]

Well I just got off the phone with my local dealer's service manager who basically told me there was nothing to worry about. He said that the service bulletin (PID -2005-022) had to do with adding more SUDT (a quart or two) to quiet the clicking. He said that the clicking did not damage the tractor and there was no problem with the pto clutch as long as I had a properly adjusted slip clutch on my implements (which I do). He added that the people that were having problems were probably using old implements without slip clutches which was causing the problems (hitting big rocks and stopping the implement). I guess I'll just run it and see what happens.....

Hummmm?

I'm just wondering why the old system was changed to the new non-racheting system if there wasn't a problem with the old system?

 

[RayMunising]

A L3400 is no longer on my wish list and I'm not too sure my next tractor will be orange either! Question - If the new cam really does fix the problem and Kubota can't put the new cam in your L2800 why aren't they suggesting you trade your L2800 with the old style cam in on a new L2800 with the new style cam rather then "upgrading" to a B3030?

 

[Goog]

I am not sure a B3030 is really an upgrade. It does have some more features and the hyrdraulic independent pto but it is a physically smaller tractor.

Also there are some B3030 threads out there and these tractors also have had some issues.

Lastly in todays mail I received the brochure on the new 40 series tractors and how great and wonderfull they are. They look pretty nice and have more features yet but what if they have problems with the new HST Plus system. Will they take of it properly. I am not trying to bash Kubota but I am not a happy customer right now. Brian

 

[dfkrug]

I am not sure a B3030 is really an upgrade. It does have some more features and the hyrdraulic independent pto but it is a physically smaller tractor.

I agree. The B3030 is more than 500 lb less tractor than the L2800/L3400.
The Grand L analog to the "economy L" L2800/3400 was the L3130, which is
600 lb more tractor yet. They had to do some serious surgery to trim off
those 600 lb. The new L3240 is very similar to the L3130....maybe that is
the direction to go.

I know that my 1999 L2500DT tractor (an "economy L") was a lot less
tractor than its Grand L analog, the L3010.

I think that Kubota did a brilliant thing with the L2800/L3400, positioning it
between the premium Bs, like the B3030 and the Grand Ls, AND offering
HST. Price-wise they have given serious competition to the deluxe Korean
HST tractors like Kioti, Montana, TYM, Mahindra. Sorry to hear that they
have these PTO problems. There must be over 10,000 of them out there.

 

[8226hamer]

A L3400 is no longer on my wish list and I'm not too sure my next tractor will be orange either! Question - If the new cam really does fix the problem and Kubota can't put the new cam in your L2800 why aren't they suggesting you trade your L2800 with the old style cam in on a new L2800 with the new style cam rather then "upgrading" to a B3030?

The B3030 has an independent PTO ----- Problem solved.

 

[RayMunising]

The B3030 has an independent PTO ----- Problem solved.

So neither you nor Kubota believe the new cam in the L2800 solves your problem and the only real solution is an independant PTO? I've been researching tractors for quite a while now and was convinced the L3400HST would be the perfect tractor for me. I'd like to thank you for your post. The L3400 would have been a mistake. I hope Kubota steps up to the plate and takes care of you & everyone else that dished out their hard earned money on these "economy" tractors.