L3400 Poor Paint Job

[KPotts]

If there is a thread out there already please let me know. My L3400 only has 100 hours and is less than a year old and paint is wearing off in several places. It's worse around the steps and floor but is even coming off where I hold onto the fender. The paint on my old 2200 was in good shape with years of use. Can anything be done?
Thanks

 

[strum456]

Yes, there are some threads like yours. I don't have any experinece with Kubotas. Generally speaking, tractor manufacturers are using garbage paint and no primer in many cases.

If your tractor is under warranty, I would complain. As far as fixing the problem. You would have to "restore" your new tractor. Wire wheel the whole thing. Then use a die grinder with an 80 grit pad to scratch up the surface (its too smooth with a wire brush). Clean with an automotive wax and grease remover. Spray 2 coats of epoxy primer. Spray 2 coats of single stage urethane paint. These products are far superior to the alkyd enamles used by the tractor's manufacturer.

 

[k0ua]

If there is a thread out there already please let me know. My L3400 only has 100 hours and is less than a year old and paint is wearing off in several places. It's worse around the steps and floor but is even coming off where I hold onto the fender. The paint on my old 2200 was in good shape with years of use. Can anything be done?
Thanks

Here is how I solved the floor area:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/177061-using-truck-bed-coating-floorboards.html

Been on over a year and a half and it is great.. highly reccomended
as for other areas.. a little touch up paint once in a while

James K0UA

 

[strum456]

Here is how I solved the floor area:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/177061-using-truck-bed-coating-floorboards.html

Been on over a year and a half and it is great.. highly reccomended
as for other areas.. a little touch up paint once in a while

James K0UA

I agree, the floor of your cab or running boards would be a great appliation for a bed liner product. I recommend the bedliner below.

Bedliners

Remember, any product will be as strong as what you apply it to. So, if your tractor has crappy factory paint that is peeling off, don't waste your time putting bed liner over it. It is recommended that bed liner be applied over epoxy primer.

 

[k0ua]

One other benefit of the bed liner material is traction, I forget about it in good weather, but remembered it the other day when we had snow, and I got of and on a few times with snowy shoes, and noticed the anti-slip properties of the material, especially the center hump area which is smooth at the factory and now is coated and gives traction. I just roughed my factory (new) paint up with 600 grit and put on 2 coats.. still working good, no problems. Best Mod I have done to the tractor.

James K0UA

 

[LD1]

Kubota isnt going to warranty worn paint in high wear areas:confused2:

Sure...they may not use the "best" quality paint money can buy....but it is still paint and it will still wear. In 100 hours you have gotten on/off your tractor countless times with dirt, stones, mud, and all sorts of abrasives in your boots.

It would be foolish to expect any paint to last long under them circumstances. Kinda like complaining that the paint is wearing off in the bucket because you used the loader.

I do like the bedliner material suggestion as your best option:thumbsup:

That stuff is thick enough it will last awhile

 

[strum456]

KPotts,

Is the paint wearing off, or is it flaking and peeling? Like LD1 said, any paint will wear off. This is where the bedliner would really be a good choice.

Paint should not flake off anywhere, no matter what conditions it is subjected to (except bending the steel to its yielding point). Flaking shows a lack of adhesion. If you scratch it or chip it, the damage should be isolated to only that. If near by paint also lifts, then you have bad paint or surface prep procedures.

 

[k0ua]

The paint on my 2010 L3400HST was wearing off in the first 2 weeks of use.. Not flaking or chipping just good old abrasion wear on the floor boards and the step. it is primed with some white primer then the orange over that. That is when I decided on the bed liner material. My previous Kubota (B7500)had a rubber mat on the floorboards and no step. So no paint wear. The "economy" L series does not have a rubber mat. You cannot stomp on painted metal very long with abrasives on your boots and expect any kind of enamel paint to last. I am sure the epoxy paints would do much better, but they will wear off eventually too. The bed liner is thick and has rubber particles in it. It will wear off too, but it is going to take a while, and is so easy to touch up.

James K0UA

 

[5030]

Kubota isnt going to warranty worn paint in high wear areas:confused2:

Sure...they may not use the "best" quality paint money can buy....but it is still paint and it will still wear. In 100 hours you have gotten on/off your tractor countless times with dirt, stones, mud, and all sorts of abrasives in your boots.

It would be foolish to expect any paint to last long under them circumstances. Kinda like complaining that the paint is wearing off in the bucket because you used the loader.

I do like the bedliner material suggestion as your best option:thumbsup:

That stuff is thick enough it will last awhile

It's a tractor not a car. There is no warranty on paint that I know of. Quit whining..... Forgot, it's the American way...whining...

 

[Chilly807]

I agree that the paint thickness is less than ideal, but so is the hair on the top of my head :laughing:

I keep a quart of orange rust paint handy and touch it up a couple times a year. Home Hardware (probably not available in the US) actually has their Rust Coat brand paint in Kubota Orange. Canadian Tire has Zesty Orange that's really close too, apparently Chev's orange engine enamel is close as well.

Sean