Owned Kub's X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

ByronBob · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

Slow day Neil? I'm suprised you'd even waste your time on this issue. It's nice to reconfirm to all us Orange guys that we did the right thing anyway. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

curt1 · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

Joe, any older brand mower is going to have some rust, and if not maintained correctly...which is the usually the case...will not cut evenly. Most newer products get better fuel consumption and have more new fangled gadgets. I would say ANY brand will be greatly improved over a model that is 10-20 years old.
Now, I do not usually cut other brand machines. I like most any tractor brand. BUT, I have had a John Deere manufactured (Great Dane)mower that I bought brand new. A commercial machine it was. Nice and heavy duty with all the promised support...parts and customer service support. I even asked that question before I bought it thinking they would be true to their promise. Keep in mind I used this machine to make a living. And one of the biggest reasons I bought it was because the dealer kept on telling me this was a JOHN DEERE manufactured product and it was a great machine with great support. It did cut very nice.
As soon as I bought it I started having trouble with the belts to the hydraulic pumps coming off. Took it to the dealer a couple of times...they said it was a bad belt, spring and anything else they could fix easily.
The mower kept throwing the belt and free wheeling where ever I was...several times on hills, which scared the daylights out of me. I then called factory support and told them about it almost getting me hurt when it happened. They told me to take it to my dealer (again!) as soon as I could. I did.
The dealer kept the machine for 8 weeks. Keep in mind I had to use this mower to make a living with, and luckily I also have an Exmark commercial mower which is a very good brand of mower which I will recommend to anyone. While the John Deere manufactured machine was in the shop, I called and called the dealer. The malfunction was a bad hydraulic pump that was locking up and making the belt slip off the pulleys. Well, the dealer didn't clean the hydraulic system properly and damaged the first new pump which took 4 weeks to get the part and get it installed. (And when I called the factory support rep, he got smart with me when I questioned the pump being damaged by the dealer...so much for their factory support reps.) Now it took another 4 weeks for the second pump to arrive. So, in total I had to wait 8 weeks in prime season waiting for the machine.
During this time, I could not keep up with demand on my business with solely the Exmark walk behind mower. SO, I had to go buy aother new zero turn mower to keep up with demand before I lost any customers because of John Deere customer and parts support. And to beat all this....while my machine was being worked on and I was checking about progress on the machine, my salesman told me that there was a lawsuit going on between Great Dane and the pump manufacturer because they had been having this problem for some time and the manufacturers were blaming each other for the problem. I WISH he had told me about this when I went to buy from him...would have bought another brand the first time. Saving me lots of time and trouble...not to mention the thousands I lost on the John Deere product when I sold it. Also, while my machine was in the dealers shop, my seat was torn by what looked like a screwdriver in someone's pocket when they sat on it. I asked them about it, the owner of the shop told me he would not buy me a new one, but for me to take it to a repair shop and have it repaired and send him the bill. Great shop they have!
And guess what I ended up buying a mile down the road from the other dealer after doing my research? A KUBOTA ZD21. Best mower I have ran to date. PERIOD.
I hope you have better luck with John Deere products than I have, because I will never even slightly consider a Deere manufactured product ever in my future. Good luck.

Curt

ByronBob · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

I had a Craftsman tractor which died on me 1 month after the warranty expired. It took some doing but they took care of me. 5 visits later they installed a new motor all for free.
Customer support is a big part of the buying experience. Because the dealer dropped the ball, were easy to think the manufacture is to blame. I'm sure we all could take a turn slamming something we've had in the past, but wouldn't it be more useful to people to help them productively. Hopefully next time we have an issue the dealer can't fix that maybe we can come here and get some help.

ArkCivEngr · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

( going to be replaced by a newer and better model within the next 2-3 months. )

Hilarious! Talk about irony. But now my curiosity is tweaked. Any details about this new machine?

MessickFarmEqu · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

Not yet, an updated BX is right around the corner too. Our information for the next dealer meeting listed what series machines where going to see changes.

pipedoctor · Jul 7, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

I'm a recent convert from green to orange. It has been very interesting for me to follow this post. I have to say I'm more impressed with how something is built versus what brand it is. What I found interesting was that someone who sells Kubota's basically "mowed" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif right over this guy with facts, made him look real silly, and proved that what he was contending was totally unfounded. I was happy to see that Kubota does provide parts for older units, especially since I'm a new customer. But I think that was the intent of this Kubota dealer, and for what its worth, it worked. I had very good luck with my John Deere, but when I started shopping, Kubota had the features I wanted at the right price. Now I have a Kubota. If I need any advice or have to ask any questions, looks like the family of orange is pretty solid. Cheers!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

_RaT_ · Jul 8, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

Good work Neil. I don't really think your telling Joe what he wanted to hear. You were supposed to say "Kubotas suck, I won't ever buy another one again" That would be a happy thing for Joe. I'm so happy he came here to relieve his burden. But alas, he's gone, what are we to do, what are we to do. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

FL_Cracker · Jul 8, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

( IT'S LIKE MOVING FROM A yugo TO A lexus, QUIETER, SMOOTHER, more powerful, cuts evenly, turns quicker, no rust anywhere, less fuel consumption, a FUEL GAUGE, POWER STEERING! )

Hey, that sounds like your talking about my new Kubota L5030 except you forgot a few things. E-Z-Latch 3PH arms, Instant starts, PTO Tach, Trip Hour Meter, Speedo, HST Cruise Control, 5 minute off FEL w/ no bolts, 5 minute off BH w/ no bolts, Drink Holder, Built in tool box, Easy access hood, tilt steering wheel, easy seat access, nice HST Pedal, and a clove box.

My Kubota is one fine machine. So is the other Kubota I purchased 23 years ago. That tractor still goes to work EVERY DAY, 8650 hrs and NO major engine work.... I think I got my money's worth in that tractor....

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Boone · Jul 8, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

Fl Cracker posted:

nice HST Pedal, and a clove box.

=====================================
Hey Cracker,

Why does Kubota want you carrying cloves around for?
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FL_Cracker · Jul 9, 2005

Re: Owned Kub\'s X 17 yrs, NO MORE! Getting a JD!

The gloves are just in case you finish your project and go to the freezer to get your cold one and it's been in there too long, you can put on the gloves and keep the bottle from freezing to your hands.

That's the only reason I know for gloves. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif