What is Kubota doing about the broken plastic fenders?

[FishAlaska]

Here is the reply concerning the fenders from Kubota. My question would be is it covered when it fails outside of warranty since they know about it now and are providing a new support piece for it.

Subject: Kubota email response -
Contact Customer Satisfaction

The cracked fender issue would fall under "normal warranty". New fenders
have a support stiffener to prevent cracking. Your dealer has access to our tech. center and Kubota Link (internet) for these answers.

 

[ByronBob]

You'd have to be a plastic engineer to understand this but I'll try anyway as I am one.

Like a chain link. Plastic is only as strong as it's weakest link. As plastic fills in a mold it "comes together" at some point last. This point can create seam lines which are the weakest point. If it's near the deck areas it can get weak over time and crack.

Some possible remedies would be a thicker area there or you change the way the part is molded. So you change how the part is filled and make the weaker point go somewhere else.

I think long term Kubota will fix this but it may take time.

 

[Mike_C]

While reattaching the backhoe, I have hit the edge of the fender several times
with the claw that attaches to the tractor until I get it lined up just right. Fortunately it just bent the edge of the metal a little but did no great harm. If it was plastic, I'm sure it would have cracked.

 

[FishAlaska]

I just confirmed with my dealer....there is a new fender that is stronger. They are replacing the broke ones with the newer fenders. However they have not had any break yet.

 

[AceDeuce]

Plastic Pros: light weight, won't rust, can be colored thru, less expensive to manufacture
Plastic Cons: will crack instead of bending, not as strong as steel, color fade, can become more brittle with age/UV exposure
Steel Pros: stronger than plastic, damage can be repaired
Steel Cons: rust, more expensive to manufacture

My preference? I'd rather pay a couple extra bux for steel. Plastic technology has come a long way in recent years but steel just exudes better quality.

 

[tractorguy76]

Kubota is changing the design of the fender. They are adding 3 ribs to strengthen the curved area of the fender where the cracks and breakage is occuring. I hope that they will be in the parts inventory before too long.

 

[Mike_V]

Kubota is changing the design of the fender. They are adding 3 ribs to strengthen the curved area of the fender where the cracks and breakage is occuring. I hope that they will be in the parts inventory before too long.

Do you know if the "ribs" can be added to existing (original) plastic fenders?

We can assume (I hope) that Kubota will change the design for the benefit of future buyers. I'm concerned about my tractor with a known vulnerability that may someday cause me significant inconvenience and, after the warranty period runs out, a lot of money.

 

[_RaT_]

Plastic Pros: light weight, won't rust, can be colored thru, less expensive to manufacture
Plastic Cons: will crack instead of bending, not as strong as steel, color fade, can become more brittle with age/UV exposure
Steel Pros: stronger than plastic, damage can be repaired
Steel Cons: rust, more expensive to manufacture

My preference? I'd rather pay a couple extra bux for steel. Plastic technology has come a long way in recent years but steel just exudes better quality.

Oh is that what my fenders and hood are made of on my Kubota L3830, I was sure it was doubled over tin foil. Seriously, old tractors had steel for hoods, fenders etc., todays tractor coverings are about as dentable as a pickup bed side which dents if you look at it crosseyed. I personally would have no problem with plastic provided it had the beef that I have seen on some compacts and most industrial hoes.

 

[Gamemaster]

I work in the plastics industry involving high-strength engineering grade resins.
You can't add "ribs" but you could add some plastic structural strength in the affected areas. I would like to see a photo of the area suspected of future cracking, but I'll wing-it for now. You should be able to find some bar-stock or flat sheet pcs. of "Lexan" ( which is a polycarbonate-PC plastic ) commonly used for bullet-proof glass but sold as window replacement for safety reasons. Cut it with a fine-tooth blade at slow speed, then buy an epoxy-resin adhesive compatible with plastics ( especially for PC). You could bond the cut pcs. underneath the area which is prone to crack. I read earlier about adding a support brace underneath as well. This will work but don't join the plastic to the brace .It could torque it and make it crack during tractor operations, just place a piece of rubber between the brace and plastic contact. Hope this helps

 

[tractorguy76]

The current design change cannot be implemented into the old plastic fenders. The ribs are molded into the original shape. The only way to get the ribs (for strength) would be to replace the entire fender. The problem with this is going to be making sure the parts department has the new ones in stock and do not replace with old service parts.