Possible Fix for BX 50 Series Abrupt Reverse Stop?

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I have read and participated in the L3400 lift issue.
This issue about the jerky reverse stop is new to me. It is not surprising to me, however.

Fairness issues:
It is critical that you test the tractors on the lot, and if you are not happy with them, do not purchase them. Most of the characteristics are FIXED and cannot be changed without effecting other characteristics of the tractor. Much of this talk of change amounts to Kubota tuning the tractor to your INDIVIDUAL tastes. If Kubota is willing to do this, that's wonderful customer service. If they are not, this is not cause for anger.

I'm not sure what your saying. Are you saying that if Kubota fixes a flaw in their product then they are catering to an individual desire that something work right? If it's not a mistake or flaw how come the HST's before and after this one particular model don't operate this way? I see you have a BX2200, fine machine that did not jerk like my new BX2350 or my BX2200 didn't when I bought it 5 years ago. I also expect products to improve over time with new models. I also see your profession is in hydraulics so you drive a BX2350 and assess it yourself from your ownership experience and your work experience. If you haven't tried one I'm not sure you can understand. I'm not angry I'm just surprised that the tractor company that I "love" has made a mistake and hasn't corrected it yet. I'll be disappointed if the repair is expensive and they decide not to do it. I think I have seen several threads on bad seats that they did replace? I'm sure there are other items that have been replaced under warranty that were manufacturers defects. Kubota makes mistakes like all manufacturers and they need to correct them when they "come to light". I have such confidence in Kubota and my dealer (Barlows) that I don't have to drive the tractor before I buy it. I believe that they will correct a problem. I also have owned several Kubotas so I have a general idea what I need and how a Kubota tractor will perform without trying it on the lot. I bought my first Kubota, a BX2200, without driving it based on company and dealer reputation. I wouldn't have known how it was supposed to have ran anyway since I had no experience with a tractor of any kind. I just know it far, far, far exceeded my expectations of a "little" tractor.

 

[MikeInEburg]

thavil - no worries. Good luck!

Mike

 

[thavil]

Unfortunelty, the fix did not help at all. My dealer just left my farm a little while ago, after he closed shop for the day and did this work on his own time. He apologized for it not helping and I explained to him that I still love this tractor and for him to not worry about it. It was worth a shot but it failed. He will contact the regional rep, that said this would work, to let him know the results.

Attached are a few pictures that didn't come out well since the lighting was bad from the rain we are having. The first picture is the pilot relief valve spring that was supposed to help the issue. He brought a new one and shortened it by 1 1/4 turns. This was supposed to drop the psi from 115 to 85. He ended up shortening the spring about 2 turns until the pressure was dropped to 80 psi. The second picture (sorry for the quality) shows the port where the guage was installed to check the pressure. Just behind it was the port where the spring resides. Both are allen wrench type plugs and were hard to get off because of the loctite that was used. Also, if someone wants to try this themselves, hydro fluid will leak out while changing the spring and attaching the guage.

Before the dealer arrived, I tested the reverse stop at 2000rpms to get a good feel for the abruptness so I could better gauge it after the fix. After the pressure was dropped to 80 psi, I moved the tractor forward a bit and noticed a slight vibration in the forward pedal. While going in reverse at the same speed and rpm, the stop was just as abrupt, no improvement at all. He put the old spring back in and back to normal after replacing about 1 quart of SUDT that was lost during the process.

In hindsight, I wish I would have never created the thread and should have waited until the work was done. My intention was to inform everyone that Kubota was at least trying to correct this flaw.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Sorry it didn't work. Glad you started the thread. Brothers and sisters disagree but we're still related. This is the Kubota family and we're all individuals with different experiences and backgrounds. Gives us different perspectives but expressing opinions, that's all most of them are, is what this forum is all about. Buck up and keep us informed.

 

[johnny_law]

Although I haven't been involved at all in this thread, I have been following it. I for one thank you for starting the thread. Sometimes when things are posted after the fact, the amount of forethought into the solution is lost or mis-interpreted.

I for one bought my BX24 without really working it out and didn't notice the abrupt until I used it at home. I guess I'm just an idiot but a happy one.

Thanks again.

Johnny

 

[ACHINBAC]

Thavil,

Thank you for starting this thread - it has got my head back in motion addressing the problem. The obvious frustration regarding this problem shared by all owners of bx24s does needs a fix.

It will be remedied in this fashion;

If the last 1/8" - 1/4" of travel on the HST pedal linkage can be buffered with an external hydraulic dampener as it returns from reverse to neutral, the problem will be resolved.

The dampener serves only as a shock absorber and needs minimal, though adjustable, ability. It will come into play only upon "contact" in the above noted range and will not affect any other range of travel, or ability of the HST - forward or reverse.

Unfortunately, like Eddie W. I am a renovation contractor and things are starting to heat up with the weather breaking here in Mass. Though vow to all that I will have a solution for us within two weeks - only piece of the puzzle missing is the small dampener which I assume I can get off the web - if anyone has sites to look at please advise.

I am not waiting for Kubota to address or correct this problem - just look at the "fan guard" solution they came up with and you'll understand my thinking.

Dave

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Now there's a 5 gallon bucket of Joy! Where did you get that? Lowes, Home Depot?

 

[harpoonalt]

Sorry your fix didn't help. My dealer calims to have a fix as well from the regional service rep. Something about welding something to reduce the pressure. I'm hesitant now to let him fool with my tractor for a "maybe" fix. I'm really suprised that Kubota doesn't have a fix or at least a unified answer for this problem with every region doing their own thing. Shouldn't the kubota engineers come up with a fix and then train all the service reps with that one fix? I'd rather live with the reverse as is then take a chance of worse problems from someones "Hey, let's try this" approach. ATTN: Kubota....put some smart guys on this and come up with a fix that works and then make sure all your reps do the exact same thing.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Last night I remembered that I bought a gas motored Kubota mower 2 years ago that was around $4000. I don't remember the model. It also had the abrupt reverse problem. I used it to mow a flat mobile home park and sold it and bought the F2880E. I remember I didn't like the way it stopped so abruptly in reverse but not sure what my expectations were for a gas mower. BX2200, BX1500, B7800, L3240, F2880 and B3200 owned or own do not stop abruptly, only the BX2350. That's 8 Kubotas and 2 of them had/have the issue.

 

[thavil]

Thanks John, Johnny and harpoonalt!

Dave - I hope your solution works for you, maybe Kubota will throw some money at you for coming up with a fix!! Glad to hear that your business is doing well and you are getting busier. Nice picture!!