Kubota parts availability... Or I should say lack of

[bikerdib]

Two Saturdays ago I was using my BH and forks on the FEL doing some clearing on 5.5 acres I recently bought. I used the ripper tooth to break some roots on a small tree (maybe 15 feet tall) and pulled it out. I then used the forks to haul the tree over to a brush pile and dumped it. I leveled the forks and started pushing the tree into the pile when I suddenly heard a pop and smelled hydro fluid. I never felt any jolt or anything, just heard the pop.

I shut down the machine and went to investigate. I saw a small pucker blowout in the metal line that splits flow to the 2 curl cylinders on the FEL. Since it was only 10:00 I knew the dealership was still open so I used some wire to tie the forks in a transportable position and loaded the tractor on my trailer.

After checking in with service, the service writer and I went to parts. After identifying the needed line, the parts guy said the system showed 4 available in Kansas. He said it should be in the next Thursday. I called that Friday but was told the part wasn't in but would be in that Saturday.

The next Tuesday I called, still no part. Called back to service again today, no part. I asked for parts. The manager said he has been emailing and calling several times a day, escalating the people he was talking to up to a regional manager. No one can say if it was ever actually shipped even though there is acknowledgement that the order was received. And now they are saying they cannot find any of the parts that the system is showing to be in Kansas. And to top it off, those 4 are the only ones shown to be in the US. Frustration!!

I have thought about the failure. When I dropped off the tractor, everyone at the dealership was scratching their heads saying they have never seen a failure like this. Where the line failed it would be almost impossible for it to have been hit by something, other lines are in front of it and much more vunerabe. Whatever caused it, it happened. Only cause I can come up with is that I didn't have the forks as level as I thought and as I was pushing the tree into the pile, I hit an immovable object with the end of a fork causing a sudden surge in pressure. Still strange the way the metal line blew but at least is wasn't a hydraulic cylinder.

I wonder how much a plane ticket to Japan would be. Maybe a vacation/parts pick up trip is in my future...:/

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The loader and all the parts for it are US made.
On lower build models like yours, extra parts availability is rather low and becomes obsolete earlier than more common models.
You could have just fixed the line, it would have been faster.

 

[bikerdib]

OK, can you tell me how it could fixed? Is it possible to cut the line and use some type of coupler or something?

 

[hodge]

A competent hydraulic shop should be able to fix or replace it. That's probably why there's no push for the parts department to keep them in stock.

 

[boz1989]

I have brazed hydraulic lines, some people just replace them with a hose.

Sent from my LGMP260 using Tapatalk

 

[prof.fate]

yeah, google up hyd shops in your area, take them the bad line, they'll make you a new one.
I've only done it once, they did while I waited.

 

[bikerdib]

I'm going by the dealership today and talk to their hydraulics man. If he cannot repair it, I'll pick up the tractor, remove the line and see if I can find a shop that can repair or make a new one. I assume the fittings are flaired type? If so, I don't see why the damaged section cannot be cut out and a coupling be put in. The existing line has a TEE built in where the right side curl cylinder connects and then a tube that goes across the loader frame and the left side curl cylinder connects to that. Probably have to take all the lines off the loader frame to get to this one.

 

[nickelplated5s]

There is a boatload of different styled hydro fittings. That said just take it off and go to a hydro shop. The one I use will custom bend metal lines.

 

[Ramos]

We used to braze lines like that and it worked fine. Now, we just MIG weld them. Faster, easier, and.......... works just fine. I use copious amounts of starting fluid to clean the inside and outside of the line prior to welding to remove as much oil residue as possible.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

You can buy the couplings to repair it online, if you know how to Tig, Mig or Braze.
Yes there is even expansion fitting types but I wouldn't go the route.

Or as everyone is saying, just take it to a good hydraulic shop to have it fixed.
There are many different ways to fix it, most should be fairly cheap.

 

[bikerdib]

Talked to parts manager at the dealership today. Still no news. I asked if they do any type of repair instead of replace. Short answer - no. I'm pretty sure it is a liability concern. Like most dealers, they don't want to modify.

I'll give it a few more days an if no luck, I'll pick up the machine and repair myself. I used to be a welder/iron worker and have a home hobby shop. For welding I have AC/DC stick (useless for this of course, just mentioning it), oxy/acc rig (possible brazeing repair), mig welder but no tig set up. Tractor is at the dealer so I can't check, but what type of metal are the lines made of?

The blowout is like a .22 caliber pucker inside out if that makes sense. Could I just press the edges back in place and braze or weld a patch over it?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The blowout is like a .22 caliber pucker inside out if that makes sense. Could I just press the edges back in place and braze or weld a patch over it?

Lines are high carbon steel, or stainless.

Yep just press it back into shape, then I like to use a piece of line or other steel that is cut in half as a bandaid and braze it all in place.
I normally do hard silver solder over brass or bronze, but bronze solder is perfectly acceptable.

 

[adventure bob]

Take it to a hydraulic shop. They'll make it like new for way less than Kubota prices. While theres a Kubota specific part number, hoses and tubes aren't tractor specific and commercial guys just get hydro shop to fix it.