L2800-L3400 PTO Making the right choice

[swampvol]

So 8226hamer, what have you decided to do?

I am starting to think (hope) that this is a case of "never buy the 1'st or 2'nd year of a new design." In your case the hst on the l2800's/3400's.

The worst truck I ever owned was a new '96 Toyota Tacoma 4x4...first year of the 3.4l/new design and replaced the head gaskets 3 times, and leaf springs twice. Head gaskets twice under warranty, 3rd time out of pocket, and sold it. The leaf springs, 2nd time, took 3 weeks to get the beefier springs because they were on back order due to the amount of failures. It really was a pos....unlike most toyota products.

 

[8226hamer]

So 8226hamer, what have you decided to do?

I am starting to think (hope) that this is a case of "never buy the 1'st or 2'nd year of a new design." In your case the hst on the l2800's/3400's.

The worst truck I ever owned was a new '96 Toyota Tacoma 4x4...first year of the 3.4l/new design and replaced the head gaskets 3 times, and leaf springs twice. Head gaskets twice under warranty, 3rd time out of pocket, and sold it. The leaf springs, 2nd time, took 3 weeks to get the beefier springs because they were on back order due to the amount of failures. It really was a pos....unlike most toyota products.

The only two options I have is either pay Kubota 3400.00$ and my L2800 for a reliable independent PTO that the B3030 offers, or let them fix it for another 11 months then try and find a buyer that has no need for a tractor with a PTO, or at least one who has no intentions of running a roto till or any other ground engaging PTO driven impliments and explain the situation with the type of cams that are incorporated with this tractor. I feel this tractor is a well built tractor and I have no complaints other than the weak PTO system it has incorporated.

The tractor I buy that replaces this one will have an independent PTO and I doubt that it will be Kubota orange.

My other options is to file a law suit, and I will admit I have seeked legal advise, but the impression I got when I did, was that they cared nothing about getting my PTO system taken care of, but $ signs, and thats not at all what I want, I just a tractor I can hook up my tiller to and not have to worry about the PTO system failing. I was advised by them to cease posting about my situation here on TBN. also what type of finacial burdens I have incurred any and all injuries that have happen because of PTO failure, including anything from a broken finger nail to any missing limbs. It really made me sick to hear some of the tactics they said could be used. I hate people who beneifit from the misfortunes of others and this is exactly what they had planned to do. I decided this was not how I wanted to settle this situation and I no longer am involved with this process.

When I started this thread I said it was not a Kubota bashing thread, I'm not bashing Kubota tractors, but their way of handling a problem with a series of tractors that they did produce with what I feel is a known problem. My experience with my two previous Kubota tractors was great and I always suggested Kubota when ask from someone who was thinking about purchasing a compact tractor, and I still think they make quality tractors if you chose the right series of tractors, but their methods of taking care of problems when they do occur is something that has left a very bad taste in my mouth and I don't think will ever leave. If it is Kubotas way to produce a cheaper model of tractor by skimping on the PTO system by doing this is the wrong way to save some money. A less comfortable seat and fewer less bells and whistles maybe, but not a dependable PTO system.

 

[swampvol]

I understand. I doubt I will buy another Toyota because of my experience with the Tacoma, and the lack of resolve on their part, even though I know that they do build quality vehicles 99% of the time...and all manufactures have had something similar to this happen.

You hold grudges like me.

 

[Volfandt]

Hate to hear of this problem but I am now awaiting and hopeing for a fair resolution as everyone else.
FWIW, theres a fellow on another tractor forum that is also engaged in trying to get the manufacturer to do the right thing in regards to his brand new machine failing in several major areas. His machine has more downtime in service hrs than operating hrs. Like you he's operating the tractor within it's designed specs and not abusing the machine at all. The manufacturer and tractor in question are green & yellow in color.

Good luck in this situation.

 

[8226hamer]

I understand. I doubt I will buy another Toyota because of my experience with the Tacoma, and the lack of resolve on their part, even though I know that they do build quality vehicles 99% of the time...and all manufactures have had something similar to this happen.

You hold grudges like me.

You know I have a 94 Toyota 4X4 and it has been one of the best trucks I have owned. It has the 22R engine. It had about 40,000 miles and my wife was driving it and the thermostat stuck overheating the engine. As a results it cracked the head. Toyota took care of everything. The truck now has 167,000 miles and runs as good as it did new, uses no oil and just last week I noticed the first signs of rust on the body. It gets driven about every day. I have alot of friends who also have Toyotas with no complaints.

As far as holding a grudge, only Kubota will be able to cure that.

 

[RayMunising]

You know I have a 94 Toyota 4X4 and it has been one of the best trucks I have owned. It has the 22R engine. It had about 40,000 miles and my wife was driving it and the thermostat stuck overheating the engine. As a results it cracked the head. Toyota took care of everything. The truck now has 167,000 miles and runs as good as it did new, uses no oil and just last week I noticed the first signs of rust on the body. It gets driven about every day. I have alot of friends who also have Toyotas with no complaints.

As far as holding a grudge, only Kubota will be able to cure that.

Your 94 Toyota is barely broken in 8226hamer. I had a 1985 Toyota 4x2 1 Ton that I gave to my buddy in 1993 and it's still going strong with over 200,000 miles on it. The radiator rotted out but other than that just normal stuff. Now I have a 1993 Toyota T100 and it still runs like new. I haven't owned anything but Toyotas since my 1971 Pinto. Love 'em! The T100 had the head gasket replaced under a recall then 4 years later the head gasket failed again. I took it to the dealer and they said it cost $1200 to replace. I asked for a meeting with the factory rep. Had a nice conversation with her. Told her I've been a loyal Toyota buyer way back when it was very unpopular to buy Toyotas (we live in SE Michigan!) and there had to be a reason the head gasket failed. She did some checking and determined when they replaced my head gasket under the recall they were suppose to replace the head bolts when they replaced the gasket. There is some coating that new head bolts have on them and they cannot be reused. Bottom line - they replaced the head gasket again at no cost to me!

In my book Toyota makes very few mistakes and when they do, at least in my case, they took care of it. It may have cost Toyota $1200 to replace my head gasket but they kept a loyal customer. Worth every penny in the long run.

As I said before, a good company doesn't make too many mistakes and the best companies fix the few that they do make.

 

[8226hamer]

Your 94 Toyota is barely broken in 8226hamer. I had a 1985 Toyota 4x2 1 Ton that I gave to my buddy in 1993 and it's still going strong with over 200,000 miles on it. The radiator rotted out but other than that just normal stuff. Now I have a 1993 Toyota T100 and it still runs like new. I haven't owned anything but Toyotas since my 1971 Pinto. Love 'em! The T100 had the head gasket replaced under a recall then 4 years later the head gasket failed again. I took it to the dealer and they said it cost $1200 to replace. I asked for a meeting with the factory rep. Had a nice conversation with her. Told her I've been a loyal Toyota buyer way back when it was very unpopular to buy Toyotas (we live in SE Michigan!) and there had to be a reason the head gasket failed. She did some checking and determined when they replaced my head gasket under the recall they were suppose to replace the head bolts when they replaced the gasket. There is some coating that new head bolts have on them and they cannot be reused. Bottom line - they replaced the head gasket again at no cost to me!

In my book Toyota makes very few mistakes and when they do, at least in my case, they took care of it. It may have cost Toyota $1200 to replace my head gasket but they kept a loyal customer. Worth every penny in the long run.

As I said before, a good company doesn't make too many mistakes and the best companies fix the few that they do make.

Toyota built a new plant about 15 miles from where I live here in Southern Indiana. It was a boost to the economy in this area. They build the Tundra pick-up and a mini van. They employ over 5000 workers and have really gave back to community. I have alot of business from Toyota employees. They have built several new homes and my business really pickup for several years. It's starting to get slow now the housing boom has really slowed down here. My sister works for Toyota and she has no complaints and makes excellent wages and good benefits. They do make a heck of tough truck and are a A+ company

 

[bandit67]

My experience with my two previous Kubota tractors was great and I always suggested Kubota when ask from someone who was thinking about purchasing a compact tractor, and I still think they make quality tractors if you chose the right series of tractors, but their methods of taking care of problems when they do occur is something that has left a very bad taste in my mouth and I don't think will ever leave.

I understand where you're coming from. My '93 Toyota pickup was a tank, and because of that, and other family members good fortune with Toyotas, I was an extremely loyal Toyota customer. I replaced it with a loaded, rather expensive, 2001 Toyota Tundra that ended up needing 3 front end alignments, 5 sets of rear drums & pads and 3 sets of front rotors & pads replaced, all in under 17k miles. I babied the Tundra and never took it off pavement, unlike my previous truck which managed 135k miles before the 1st brake job (which was fairly minor), and never needed a front end alignment, even with a lot of recreational off-roading. The Tundra brake issue was a known problem that Toyota spent 1.5 years promising a fix for, but I couldn't stomach the promises and the repeated failures, so I sold it with only 17k miles on it, and haven't seriously considered another Toyota since then. The dealers' and Toyota corporate's handling of my issues left a very sour taste in my mouth that still has not left today.

 

[8226hamer]

I'm going to get to try out my newly installed PTO locking cams tomorrow. I have about 1/4 acre lot the owner wants me to seed and mulch with straw. I hooked up my roto tiller and set the runners to go about 4" deep. We have not had any rain for at least two weeks. The area I will be working I sprayed with Round-Up two weeks ago. Everything is brown.

Its been 5 days and I have not heard anything from Mr. Gertner or any Kubota Reps and no other information from the Kubota Northern Division. I have came to the conclusion that Kubota has done all that they are going to do. I thought they might want to at least take a look at my tractor and see if there may be other problem with the PTO system on my tractor that could be causing the PTO system to fail. To be honest I feel they know the reason it has failed and thats why my type of PTO is no longer incorporated in this series of tractors. I am done worrying about it If my system fails again it will not be repaired again under my ownership even if Kubota claims they can incorporate the new one way cams into my tractor, they have had their chance to make it right, but it's evident they feel they don't have to. Thats when I will hand over everything that I have documented in this case to a real attorney and not an ambulance chaser like I first talked to. It will be settled one way or another and I'm pretty sure if my system fails a third time Judge Judy would rule in my favor, and then the door will be open and maybe us guys that purchased these early model tractors maybe will have made the right choice after all.

 

[Desmo-Kid]

I was not happy to read this thread as I bought a new L3400 last year (2006 model).

I have a manual transmission. Am I correct in assuming that this problem affects both manual and hst models?