Paint Problems

[Buster57]

I have a new L3010 and have maintained it meticulously. I have noticed very small ~.100” diameter pits coming out of the fender next to the PTO engagement lever-actually about 5 inches NW of the lever if in the “1” position. I have also noticed small-pitted metal areas on several parts of the tractor such as the hood and other areas that were OEM parts.

Is this unusual? I called my dealer to ask for a techy to stop by and advise. I am jumping the gun because I know they will schedule one of their guys to come out with no problem at all. (Great Dealer!) I just wanted some opinions before I spoke to him.

Regardless, if this was one of my cars, I’d be very upset.

Please advise if anyone has any similar experience with cosmetic pitting in Kubota fenders or other sheet metal areas.

Thank you,

Buster

PS: How do I get that Da-- John Deere pull down Ad to quit bugging me!!?!

 

[JimC]

125 hours on the machine (BX2200)
I am starting to have a a little differant paint problem .
along the edges ot the FEL arms, the paint is coming off the edge like slag from a weld, it will come off one side and if you touch it or if anything touches it sometimes it will break off on the other side..
Of course the FEL is built in the USA, and I don't seem to have any paint peeling off the tractor frame (YET)
I guess that is why they sell cans of Kubota paint at the dealership.

 

[TresCrows]

I have done quite a bit of painting but am hardly anything but a beginner at it but I can say some very strange things can happen with paint if the substrate/metal was not properly prepaired/stabilized. I think that likely your pitting is an environmental contamination problem, small particulates of acid, fertilizer, very hard water, salt etc may be pitting/eating into the paint and then attacking the metal below. Once this begins the outcome is not good. Refinishing is the only long term repair. If the material/metal/subsrtate was contaminated and not properly prepared for paint there could be open pores or dimples to the metal below which allow corrosion to get started or it is possible a contaminant is eating away below the paint and the pit forming after the paint collapses over the corroded pit--do you see a dark liquid oozing from the "pits"? Could the surface have been abraided by sand, gravel etc?
Clean paint surfaces are happy /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif painted surfaces. J

 

[steveky]

Hi Jim, speakinng of spray paint,, have you bought any at your dealer and if so what did you pay for it... I bought some and they charged me $12 for one can...I couldn't believe it...

Thanks Steve

 

[dgood1]

I use Chevy orange from the auto parts store. It's close to the Kubota and at $4.00 a can I don't feel too bad when I wear it off.

Don

 

[bellweather]

I agree with TresCrows, it sounds like either the metal was not prepared properly prior to painting or the paint itself was contaminated. We paint quite a bit in our model shop, usually with lacquer, and if metal is not degreased properly and treated/coated prior to painting, you will have problems. Also, if there is any water in the paint (usually from the compressor which wasn't serviced properly), you will get micro bubbles in the paint. I doubt it is rust given how new the tractor is. I would keep an eye out for other problem areas. Whenever we run into such problems in the shop, it usually means refinishing...that is, if you want as-new results. Otherwise, you can try sanding/spot priming/painting the affected areas with touch-up paint.

 

[JimC]

Yes, I tried the dealer (actually asked a friend to pick up a can of Kubota Orange for me) That was a shock.
Then I went to the Chevy Orange engine paint at a much better price, seems to wear very good
Now I have picked up some orange paint from Walmart for things like the bucket for the FEL that wipe the paint off pretty fast at about a buck a can, very close color match.
Will see soon how it holds up.

 

[kevincook]

Is the pitting near the PTO lever caused by the seatbelt hitting the fender when you unbuckle it?

I ended up with several little chips in the paint by letting go of the seatbelt on my L3010.....now I hold it until it is fully retracted.

Just a thought.

 

[Boondox]

That's exactly how I got a bunch of chips in my fender. Gotta hang on to that seatbelt till it retracts!

Pete

 

[Buster57]

It was the seat belt.
What a DOPE!

While the technician was out he did spot a leaky hydraulic fitting. At least I didn't waste his time completely!