Just a couple of observations......

[Bill Pitman]

If you owned a B2320 tractor with a front blade , and now you have a new B2601.......and.....

Be prepared to deal with the fact that the old "quick hitch" for the plow, will not work on the new B2601....

Be prepared, that when you do your 50 hour service- you must first use a razor blade to remove the .010-.016 of paint that will not allow you to get that 14mm wrench on the drain plugs.....

Kubota still hasn't done the right thing.... and put a slightly greater bend in the exhaust pipe, so that the soot doesn't get all over the FEL frame and bucket

And here's the real deal...
On the B2601 HST, the steering is hydraulic. The actuator is on the front side of the front axle. (Do you know where I'm going here!)
There are poorly designed shields which are suppose to " protect" the rod, boot etc. You guessed it, one of the shields got bent , cut the boot which now must be changed. So I call my dealer to get a new boot.... Bad news, you can't just purchase the boot, no, you have to buy the assembly which consists of the tie rod, stud, boot, joint. $115

So I now decide to voice my displeasure with these few things, to Kubota.
I finally get the right phone number, 310-370-3370 extension 1959.
I just want to get things on record, I wait, a ring, an answer.... This is Martha, I'm not here right now, leave your name and number, I'll get back to you...
I'm still waiting....

Bill Pitman
Milford, Pa.

 

[skeets]

So I take it you dont like your new tractor?

 

[Bill Pitman]

Didn't say that,
Just don't like the lack of common sense in the engineering world.
Just don't like that a $10 boot needs to be replaced by a $115 + tax assembly.

Bill

 

[lugbolt]

The other end of the spectrum....the B2320...if you had a power steering delivery pipe crack (and they did), one had to disassemble 3/4 of the tractor to replace or weld the pipe. The cylinder and rods are MUCH easier to deal with, IMO, and I've had to work both styles over more than once. Seems like eventually they'll offer a boot for it.

Those guards aren't real strong, but they're not sheet metal either. I've had to bend them out already, and it generally takes a good bit of force (big hammer) to beat them back into some sort of shape. Usually when I see them bent in or up, it tells me that the little homeowner tractor is being used a little harder than for it was designed.

 

[ItBmine]

Since you have seen the some differences between those two models....do you know if the mid mount mower decks are different? There is one digit different in the model numbers, but they look like they mount the same.

My dealer didn't know and was supposed to find out, but didn't.

 

[Bill Pitman]

Since you have seen the some differences between those two models....do you know if the mid mount mower decks are different? There is one digit different in the model numbers, but they look like they mount the same.

My dealer didn't know and was supposed to find out, but didn't.

I do not know about the mid mower.
I see you have a B2620, keep it!

Bill

 

[cerlawson]

I betcha that no one at Kubota ever reads any of these posts or we should see some notices about upgrades now and then.

 

[ItBmine]

You know, I was almost going to trade it. But it has no flaws and is so simple and reliable and cheap to operate I decided to keep it.

When the time comes I decide I want a cab or a tractor with something mine doesn't have, I will just buy a second tractor and keep my B2620 for mowing.

 

[skeets]

Nawww we might be supprised how many MoCo people read and even add to things in here,, I do know the HD has people going through bike sites. A lot of the fixes the the guys on these sites come up with end up on somebodys desk and then back down the line to the dealers. Seen it happen several time with HD, and Im betting the big K aint no different. Really where else can a company get a bigger R&D department then a site like this all for free.

 

[ShaunRH]

I'll bet they do read sites this this from time to time, but maybe not the mechanics. It would be a good idea to formally sponsor a mechanical site and engage in social networking.

As to the bent guard issue:

Guards are just that, guards. You can remove it permanently, to be replaced by one of your own design or just deal with the one you have in some fashion to fix it. If it's a good fix, send it to Kubota to show them what you did and they might fix all of them. These a tractors and owners mod them all the time. Magnusson Moss protects the rest of the unit, and since you have to pay to fix everything anyway...

Depending on the damage to the boot, it's probably repairable. If it's missing big chunks (and you still have them) do the self cast option as you can cast a new one yourself for under $20.

Most boot repairs can be done with Sugru, reinforced RTV or a vulcanizing rubber patch. I've seen good ones done with silicone self fusing rescue tape. They are usually only dust covers.

(Sometimes a closed cell foam can replace a boot over a rod, like a pool noodle, but you have to do the mod correctly.)

 

[Shadow]

I'll bet they do read sites this this from time to time, but maybe not the mechanics. It would be a good idea to formally sponsor a mechanical site and engage in social networking.

Most of them that deal with Kubota products all day, don't feel like dealing with them when they're not on the clock. Just sayin'....

 

[tempforce]

measure the good boot, you can get replacement boots from sites like jc whitney.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/jcwhitney/textsearch_result.jcw?sku=tie+rod+boots&shopid=100001

 

[sheepfarmer]

Most of them that deal with Kubota products all day, don't feel like dealing with them when they're not on the clock. Just sayin'....

I am not sure what Shaun was thinking, but I think Kubota would be smart to pay someone on the clock to pay attention to problems and solutions on the various sites. Some of the people that answer the email questions on the Kubota site seem to be mechanics in their "spare" time. (Some of them, not so much, or at least their answers have made me think they haven't been near a real live tractor much.)

 

[ShaunRH]

Most of them that deal with Kubota products all day, don't feel like dealing with them when they're not on the clock. Just sayin'....

Never said they would be dealing with it in their off time, but on the clock most companies would view looking at these sites as customer service/support/R&D etc. It's free data for an organization to use to develop and improve their product, so I would not be surprised at all if someone was reading this stuff all the time. I'm not saying they are, it would make sense though.

 

[ItBmine]

I am not sure what Shaun was thinking, but I think Kubota would be smart to pay someone on the clock to pay attention to problems and solutions on the various sites. Some of the people that answer the email questions on the Kubota site seem to be mechanics in their "spare" time. (Some of them, not so much, or at least their answers have made me think they haven't been near a real live tractor much.)

Really!!! You mean not everyone on internet forums are an expert and their info can't be taken to the bank?? LOL.

Has anyone had any luck getting a reply from Kubota when you email them a question about a product that the dealer can't answer??
I emailed them a couple weeks ago with a simple question and never got a reply.

 

[Shadow]

Typically, your dealer is best off asking their rep, who may not know the answer, who asks their district sales or service manager (depending on what the question pertains to).

 

[sheepfarmer]

Really!!! You mean not everyone on internet forums are an expert and their info can't be taken to the bank?? LOL.

Has anyone had any luck getting a reply from Kubota when you email them a question about a product that the dealer can't answer??
I emailed them a couple weeks ago with a simple question and never got a reply.

Yes, I have always gotten a reply of some sort, but I might have to repeat the question or clarify since answer number 1 may not make sense. Eventually I can have some sort of a conversation with someone who knows something. The first tier of responders take a stab at answering, and then if you persevere, the question will reach the desk of someone who knows something, or at least is convincing that the data is not available. I have asked some pretty hard questions. I usually learn something.

Try again someone just lost the email. Takes about 3 days.