Kubota warranty coverage...

[andiamo]

Hoping someone out there has some sage advice?!? About a month ago I set the parking brake on my relatively new L3901DT, walked about 25 ft to my pasture gate and opened it, turned around to see that the parking brake had failed and my tractor had rolled within just a few feet of me and was stopped by a fence corner brace post (which fortunately was a 12" utility pole post!). The right front quick disconnect of the FEL is what made contact with the post... obviously it is bent AND the dealer is telling me the FEL frame itself is bent about 1". He also informed me today after having it for 3 weeks that Kubota will not cover the repair under warranty!

I loathe the thought of legal action (sorry to any attorneys out there but pretty cynical about the whole legal system)... but not sure what to do? Have a call into Kubota service section... so far no return call. A few feet to the left and my would be widow wife would be asking these questions!! Any thoughts or help from anyone who's had success dealing with reasonably minded people within Kubota would be much appreciated... thank you.

 

[GWD]

Check this thread about Kubota insurance. I think later on there is a contact number or email of the Kubota representative that started the thread.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/273895-protect-your-equipment-ktac-insurance.html

 

[Bluegill]

You didn't hear the tractor sneaking up on ya?

I know with both ours you can put on the parking brake a little or a lot. In other words light pressure on the peddle when setting it wont hold on a hill, where more pressure will hold. Guess Kubota is calling operator error?

 

[mickeyd]

Welcome to OTT Andiamo. I am very interested in what you find out.
I have found that on very steep hills, the parking brake on my tractor won't hold unless I put the FEL down.

 

[William1]

When I am off my machine, the FEL is down and on the ground.
The trans is in neutral
I press VERY hard on the brake and then engage the parking brake.
Being 10X careful is critical anytime a machine is on a hill.
The operator is always the responsible party. The machine is just a dumb chunk of metal.

Having been a FSM for Yamaha corp many years ago, I can assure you, no company is going to cover collision damage. They will want to check the parking brake and look for a problem and repair that.
Your homeowners insurance might (though /I doubt it) cover the tractor repair

 

[andiamo]

Hey Bluegill. Yessir, that was a lesson learned... I had already stuck my headphones on to mow when I dismounted the tractor. So no, I didn't hear it sneak up on me until the thud of it hitting the post. And regarding the little or lot of parking brake... the tractor wasn't moving when I got off, so not sure how that relates, the brake obviously had to have broken free. Still struggle with how hard it is these days to find folks that'll just do the right thing. This is pretty cut and dried... the parking brake failed, tractor rolled and barely missed killing me, FEL bent... manufacturer fixes the FEL seems logical to me.

 

[andiamo]

I can assure you William1 I will be 100x more careful in the future... and yes, this was one of those times I did not put the FEL down. Trans was in neutral, I did press the brake as normal... respectfully though I'm not sure I see myself as the responsible party. My old Ford never budged a millimeter with the brake set... so didn't dream a new Kubota parking brake would give way.

 

[Bluegill]

If the dealer can find nothing wrong with the parking brake, there wont be any warranty repair. It's a very tough call for a company when dealing with collision damage on a tractor & is rarely ever covered under warranty.

 

[ShaunRH]

The others have said it, never trust the parking brake, and it's gospel. However, it's somewhat implied that it works... I mean it is a 'parking brake' so a relatively new tractor operator would think it works just like a cars does, right? So there may be a basis for your lawsuit but it's a fairly weakish one in my opinion.

Now, if the tractor was moving fast enough to do that much damage, I'd be thanking my stars it didn't hit and kill me, so straightening the metal out would be far preferable to the other outcome!

If Kubota won't help you, I think you'll find it won't be worth your while to sue over it. It could cost you FAR more than the repairs and ALL product manufacturers know it and use it. It doesn't matter who you bought this tractor from, every one of them would try to duck you on this because they can. The class act manufacturing concept is long gone in this world.

So, if you can't get it done professionally, or afford to have it done, we have a lot of folks with metal experience here on the forum and we might be able to help you get the bendies out of the metals...

 

[William1]

I can assure you William1 I will be 100x more careful in the future... and yes, this was one of those times I did not put the FEL down. Trans was in neutral, I did press the brake as normal... respectfully though I'm not sure I see myself as the responsible party. My old Ford never budged a millimeter with the brake set... so didn't dream a new Kubota parking brake would give way.

Who ever is driving/operating is the responsible party.

Kubotas responsibility is to repair any parts that are defective. If they are unable to duplicate your issue, then there will be nothing for them to do. If.....they find a defect in your parking brake assy, it is still the operators responsibility to ensure the machine is operated or parked safely. Many truck drivers have to not only lock the parking brake but they have to chock the wheels AND put out orange cones.

The only advice I can offer is to sweet talk Kubota. The second you mention 'sue', you can forget them offering any help at all, ever. Tell them how much you love your tractor. How it broke your heart it got damaged. How wonderful it would be if Kubota would offer some 'goodwill' (which is all you can hope for).

 

[andiamo]

Thanks Shaun, and to the others that have responded. I do understand that when a dealer can't replicate a problem it's difficult to warranty something... I'll be personally inspecting the brake with the dealer. I also get my own responsibility in taking EVERY precaution before getting off my tractor... my old Ford had no FEL and the hand ratchet parking brake was money, but I can guarantee you that I will ALWAYS lower the Kubota's FEL to the ground in the future.

Most importantly though you can rest assured that I was one grateful respecter of God when I turned around and saw that tractor... I told my wife it was the oddest combination of feelings. On the one hand there was that sickening feeling in your gut that something just got tore up... but at the same time I had an incredible thankfulness and joy that I was still standing there to see my family.

btw GWD... the person you mentioned on the insurance thread link emailed me and said he would forward to the appropriate person. Again, thanks to all for your thoughts... I'll post again after I hear from Kubota.

 

[Bulldog]

If the dealer does find something wrong I would get plenty of pictures and make them put everything in writing.

 

[djm1204]

I had a very similar event with my new l4600 last spring. IF you finance thru Kubota and took their insurance - no problem - their insurance will cover it, minus whatever your deductible is.

I told them the truth according to Dan - I got off the tractor, am 99% sure I set the brake, but either way - it rolled down a small embankment into a tree and damaged my new tractor. $250.00 later ( my money) and $1500 of their money - all fixed just like new and I am happy I have Kubota insurance.

 

[ShaunRH]

I had a very similar event with my new l4600 last spring. IF you finance thru Kubota and took their insurance - no problem - their insurance will cover it, minus whatever your deductible is.

I told them the truth according to Dan - I got off the tractor, am 99% sure I set the brake, but either way - it rolled down a small embankment into a tree and damaged my new tractor. $250.00 later ( my money) and $1500 of their money - all fixed just like new and I am happy I have Kubota insurance.

Good point DJM1204.... hope the tractor was insured. Mine is through Kubota because they insisted the loan have insurance on the vehicle. It was cheap enough and part of the purchase price so I took it. Nice to know it actually works.