Bad weld on TOP-N-TILT KIT on a Grand L Tractor L8388A

[Home Valley Farmer]

Proud second owner of a 2 or3 year old Grand L6060 with 125 hours on it and the top-n-tilt option on the three point. Tractor was put into service cutting hay with a 3-point mounted 6 disc mower. The weld on the tilt cylinder rod to the attachment bracket separated during normal use.

Easy to see in the photos that there is little to no weld penetration. Appears to me as a manufacturing defect. I took this to my local Kubota dealer (not the original seller) and inquired about the warranty on the tractor. They checked and politely said, not covered by warranty. $690 to replace the cylinder.

Any thoughts on appealing to Kubota at a corporate level. Clearly the weld was inadequate. They likely had this issue on other welds and may have already addressed it.

Yes, I can have my local amateur welder take a shot at a repair, but how about Kubota?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

TIA

 

[waverider]

Interesting, I also recently had a weld failure on my Landpride T&T top cylinder. I emailed Landpride and they said they hadn't been aware of any such failures. I ended up just re-welding it so that I wouldn't be out of commission too long.

 

[fried1765]

Proud second owner of a 2 or3 year old Grand L6060 with 125 hours on it and the top-n-tilt option on the three point. Tractor was put into service cutting hay with a 3-point mounted 6 disc mower. The weld on the tilt cylinder rod to the attachment bracket separated during normal use.

Easy to see in the photos that there is little to no weld penetration. Appears to me as a manufacturing defect. I took this to my local Kubota dealer (not the original seller) and inquired about the warranty on the tractor. They checked and politely said, not covered by warranty. $690 to replace the cylinder.

Any thoughts on appealing to Kubota at a corporate level. Clearly the weld was inadequate. They likely had this issue on other welds and may have already addressed it.

Yes, I can have my local amateur welder take a shot at a repair, but how about Kubota?

Thoughts? Suggestions?

TIA

View attachment 131574 View attachment 131575

To put it in my best vernacular, I think you be SOL!

 

[mcmxi]

I had a different failure of the LP/Kubota top link cylinder in July of 2021 that required my welding a new heim joint on and it's been great ever since. It was a case of a poor design rather than a poor weld, but I simply cut off the damaged part and welded on a new part (given to me by the local dealer at no cost).

The top-n-tilt top link is already damaged. User error or poor design?

I was using the pressure washer to clean the MX this morning and noticed that the end of the top-n-tilt top link where it mounts to the top of the quick hitch looked odd. On closer inspection I realized that the outer ring has stretched into a rectangular oval if that's such a thing. I've been...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[mcmxi]

@Home Valley Farmer, that's such an easy fix for any competent welder. If you lived close I'd do it for free.

Here's the prep work I did for the weld. A few passes with a 7018 rod and all was good.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

Last year loader frame on my BX23S broke ( I suspected a bad weld of the tube to right arm ). Local dealer never seen before, new frame is $2500+ 13% taxes. Went to my neighbour's shop, literally across the road from dealer,dropped off the 2 pieces. Went back next morning with SSQA rame so he could line everything up but it was 'missing' ! No wait, it's ALREADY done ! How he did it is 'magic' to me but the pins slid on silky smooth ! he confirmed LOUSY weld.
I politely emailed Kubota Canada as there may be a bad batch of loader frames, 2 hours later my Kubota account had been generously refilled !!!

BTW, I've beat the bejeebers out of it since then, ZERO issues.

 

[William1]

I have a FEL bucket quick detach (not a SSQA) and at about 200 hours a weld failed, obvious poor quality weld.Kubota totally blew me off. My dealer was bought out by a large chain and the service manager also blew me off. Talked to a guy that lives local to me and and still works there in parts. He told me new management, it was more likely to snow in July than have them care about a BX25 owner. Oh well. Local heavy equip service place welded me up PDQ for $25
Props to R-Tec Welding of Rockville, VA

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Find a good local welder and carry on!