transmission fan shot.

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

Ok so today I trashed the transmission fan on my BX2350. where do I start on the replacement? what I mean is what is it that I have to do to get the old one off and then put the new one on? And before anyone pipes up about a skid plate, yes I have one from bro Teck but somehow a stick found it's way through and tore nine of the ten blades off, the tenth one is just hanging on by a thread.

Now I can make a new one out of Stainless Steel but I still have to get the old one off so that I can see how it's made. Any suggestions?

 

[OrangeRidge]

Just go part-way into the replacement procedure .
Are you going to make a two-piece metal replacement ?

 

[dodge man]

Kubota left a couple of steps out of the procedure that are imprortant. About half way down, it should say "insert gun barrel into mouth 2 to 3 inches" then it sould say "pull trigger".

 

[CHDinCT]

Man, that work shop procedure didn't look too bad being 4 pages with mostly pictures, until you realize each step is about an hour's work. Seems to me Kubota should have anticipated the need for some owners to remove and replace the drive shaft fan and could have made that bell housing or bulge just under the seat removable with some screws/bolts. Pretty sure that bulge is to accommodate the fan. That would make removal much easier, but you'd still need to gain room to separate the drive shaft from the HST. :confused2:

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

Kubota left a couple of steps out of the procedure that are imprortant. About half way down, it should say "insert gun barrel into mouth 2 to 3 inches" then it sould say "pull trigger".

I can understand that, with Kubota's method it's a wonder that I don't have to remove the rudder on my Cessna to replace the fan on my Kubota, as a matter of fact it would be easier to remove the rudder on my Cessna than it is to replace ANYTHING on a kubota. I mean even the oil filter is a pig what with all of the hydraulic lines running around it.

I think that I will just cut the shaft, remove whats needed and weld in a telescoping splined shaft from the mower as I have a spare one of those. That way if I wreck another fan it's just a matter of loosening the bolts and sliding the shaft together, replacing the fan and extending the shaft, tighten the bolts and it's done. I think that makes more sense than pulling the engine or dismantling three quarters of the tractor to replace a $20.00 Cheap plastic fan. Makes sense to me but then again I don't work for Kubota.

 

[Motractr]

I can understand that, with Kubota's method it's a wonder that I don't have to remove the rudder on my Cessna to replace the fan on my Kubota, as a matter of fact it would be easier to remove the rudder on my Cessna than it is to replace ANYTHING on a kubota. I mean even the oil filter is a pig what with all of the hydraulic lines running around it.

I think that I will just cut the shaft, remove whats needed and weld in a telescoping splined shaft from the mower as I have a spare one of those. That way if I wreck another fan it's just a matter of loosening the bolts and sliding the shaft together, replacing the fan and extending the shaft, tighten the bolts and it's done. I think that makes more sense than pulling the engine or dismantling three quarters of the tractor to replace a $20.00 Cheap plastic fan. Makes sense to me but then again I don't work for Kubota.

Great reply!

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

Just go part-way into the replacement procedure .
Are you going to make a two-piece metal replacement ?

Thanks for the PDF, at least it gives me a place to start. Personally I think that Kubota should cut me a check for all of the Re engineering that I have done on this Bx, from the wheel weights to the crappy support stand on the loader,either that or paint them yellow and change the decals to TONKA !.

As for the two piece fan, I don't think so, two piece would be more work and the stainless fan will just grind sticks, stray cats and any Amway salesmen that happen to get past the skid plate.

 

[kuboman]

I can understand that, with Kubota's method it's a wonder that I don't have to remove the rudder on my Cessna to replace the fan on my Kubota, as a matter of fact it would be easier to remove the rudder on my Cessna than it is to replace ANYTHING on a kubota. I mean even the oil filter is a pig what with all of the hydraulic lines running around it.

I think that I will just cut the shaft, remove whats needed and weld in a telescoping splined shaft from the mower as I have a spare one of those. That way if I wreck another fan it's just a matter of loosening the bolts and sliding the shaft together, replacing the fan and extending the shaft, tighten the bolts and it's done. I think that makes more sense than pulling the engine or dismantling three quarters of the tractor to replace a $20.00 Cheap plastic fan. Makes sense to me but then again I don't work for Kubota.

Hey that was my idea:laughing:
If I had one of those that is what I would do.:thumbsup:

 

[lindnova]

I sheared the blades off mine a year ago the same way on myBX2200. The dust boots on the CV joints were worn out also, so I replaced them and new ball bearings and some grease at the same time.

I did not have a manual and total job took about 4 hours. I accessed from underneath to remove bolts of the driveshaft, then took off the pedal & floorpan and removed the shaft from the top.

If I remember correctly the floorpan was kind of tight to remove without taking off the seat, but I got it off with no damage. The shaft was a tight fit also, but I got it out a lot easier than removing the engine!

This would be a good time to replace the fuel filter under the tractor if it needs it and if your fan belt is showing wear, replace it now as you have to unbolt the driveshaft to change it.

Good Luck

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

Hey that was my idea:laughing:
If I had one of those that is what I would do.:thumbsup:

Sorry, I didn't mean to rain on your parade, but all it takes is just one look at this crappy design to see how it SHOULD have been done but wasn't. It seems to me that KTC goes out of it's way to make on site repairs almost impossible for the average owner, thereby supporting their dealers. Yesterday I called my dealer and got a quote of $675.00 to replace a $20. fan plus another $100. for pickup and delivery. This I can assure you is NOT going to happen, not in this lifetime anyway.

Putting a solid one piece shaft between two essentially immovable objects makes no sense whatsoever, especially when a part on that shaft (in this case the fan) is basically designed to fail. It makes no sense unless the intention is to make things so complicated that the average owner is forced to take it to the dealer.

Case in point, just try to replace the O rings on the hydraulic valve which on my tractor have all blown one after another due to improperly machined fittings (which KTC refuses to replace) without stripping down half of the tractor, Yuh can't do it. Yuh can't do it unless you do what I did and that was to use a cut off wheel on a angle grinder and cut a hole in the base of the battery case which serves essentially no purpose except to make it all but impossible to get at the fittings without stripping down half of the tractor.
Now should another O ring blow all I do is remove the screen and battery, use a 1" socket, unscrew the fitting, replace the O ring, dog down the fitting, replace the battery and screen and I'm good to go and it all took less than ten minutes. Sadly doing it this way the dealer doesn't get his pot of gold. (my tears flow in his direction)

The wife has started to refer to the tractor as the BS 2350 and I think that she might well have a valid point. Green is starting to look better all of the time.

 

[bp fick]

David, on a different thread the other day, I casually mentioned that there might come a day when I would again downsize to the BX. But, I also said, however, that as much as I loved, really loved, my previous BX, I'd not buy another, in the future, unless KTC upgrades the machine, starting with the trans and it's fan.

I don't think KTC designed the machine intentionally to create this mess, but rather, failed to design the machine, taking this unintended consequence into account. One wonders, at what point in the design and testing did this become obvious to the team? At what point did someone NOT notice and exclaim, "oh, cr@p!!!" (in proper Japanese, of course), "Look what we did here. We locked in a 3 Yen, plastic fan that, surely will fail, but cannot be repaired in a reasonable way."

If KTC is interested in some owner feedback, we'd all be happy to provide it for the next-gen BX.

 

[TripleR]

David, on a different thread the other day, I casually mentioned that there might come a day when I would again downsize to the BX. But, I also said, however, that as much as I loved, really loved, my previous BX, I'd not buy another, in the future, unless KTC upgrades the machine, starting with the trans and it's fan.

I don't think KTC designed the machine intentionally to create this mess, but rather, failed to design the machine, taking this unintended consequence into account. One wonders, at what point in the design and testing did this become obvious to the team? At what point did someone NOT notice and exclaim, "oh, cr@p!!!" (in proper Japanese, of course), "Look what we did here. We locked in a 3 Yen, plastic fan that, surely will fail, but cannot be repaired in a reasonable way."

If KTC is interested in some owner feedback, we'd all be happy to provide it for the next-gen BX.

One of the reasons I would probably buy a Deere 1026R over a BX once the tractor has a proven track record.

Our John Deere 2305 also has the exposed fan, but I don't know the degree of difficulty in replacing it.

 

[milkman]

I replaced the fan on my BX2200 from underneath without removing all the stuff the WSM says has to be removed. I used a crowbar to shift the engine forward enough to get the shaft out. The engine shifted forward enough without taking the motor mounts loose. I then made a skidplate so I don't have to do that again.

 

[dodge man]

I know a lot of people cut the new fan in half and put it on that way and have good luck with it. Someone posted not to long ago and made his own fan, it was a much heavier one, but still plastic. He was talking about marketing them.

I had kind of a smart alec answer at first, but usually it looks worse than it is. Usually once you start to take something apart, it goes well and works out easier than you think it will.

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

I know a lot of people cut the new fan in half and put it on that way and have good luck with it. Someone posted not to long ago and made his own fan, it was a much heavier one, but still plastic. He was talking about marketing them.

I had kind of a smart alec answer at first, but usually it looks worse than it is. Usually once you start to take something apart, it goes well and works out easier than you think it will.

Dodge Man This is wood cutting season here in Manitoba and whilst I can machine a new fan and dismantle the tractor to put it on, the problem is that I just don't have the time to play around with Kubota's Bullsh#t. So what I'm going to do is get a new and NOT improved plastic fan, put it in the lathe remove the inside of the hub of the fan and then cut it in half. Then with the engine running and using the tractor as a lathe and chisel for the wood lathe I'm going to lathe the original hub down just a tad to smooth out the bumps left by the fan blades Then I'm going to epoxy the new and improved fan over the old hub. Yes it will be slightly out of round but who cares.

It's a cheap and dirty fix but it will be fast and it will work and I'll be back cutting wood..

When wood cutting season is over and i have more time I WILL make a NEW and REALLY improved fan with a splined shaft if for no other reason than that I can improve on Kubota's design, AGAIN.

 

[wawajake]

David
In regards to your o ring problems, please do a search of my posts and you will see where Kubota did provide proper tube flares for me and it must of been because they had a tech bulliten on file....or maybe my dealer was just a good one. But the new flares tubes have completely solved my blown oring problems and I worked the FEL extra hard this summer !

 

[bp fick]

Dodge Man This is wood cutting season here in Manitoba and whilst I can machine a new fan and dismantle the tractor to put it on, the problem is that I just don't have the time to play around with Kubota's Bullsh#t. .................

It's a cheap and dirty fix but it will be fast and it will work and I'll be back cutting wood..

When wood cutting season is over and i have more time I WILL make a NEW and REALLY improved fan with a splined shaft if for no other reason than that I can improve on Kubota's design, AGAIN.

This is why I sort of wince at the "tractor as toy" conversations.
Many guys on TBN really need to depend on their equipment. If one farms, or cuts wood as David does, or if one market gardens as we do, having the machine go down at an inopportune time is a royal pain.

DsVG, your plan is a good. Get 'er back and running. You can fuss with the better fix later.

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

This is why I sort of wince at the "tractor as toy" conversations.
Many guys on TBN really need to depend on their equipment. If one farms, or cuts wood as David does, or if one market gardens as we do, having the machine go down at an inopportune time is a royal pain.

DsVG, your plan is a good. Get 'er back and running. You can fuss with the better fix later.

This crap machines like cheese, as a matter of fact I didn't even have to fabricate a steady rest, just held the chisel free hand, now all I have to do is go to town and get a new fan, lathe out the hub cut it in half and glue er on. dunn deal and just as good as the shop manual version but a whole lot quicker and I didn't even have to pick up a wrench.:thumbsup:

 

[dennisgw]

No beating around the bush.... Nice solution. I will keep it in mind should the unfortunate ever happen to me. Do you know if the fan blade is nylon or some other plastic? Getting things to stick to some plastics is tough. Nylon would have been a good choice for the fan, ie could provide some heat resistance, etc. AND lots of things stick to nylon.

 

[David s Von Gieserbrechta]

No beating around the bush.... Nice solution. I will keep it in mind should the unfortunate ever happen to me. Do you know if the fan blade is nylon or some other plastic? Getting things to stick to some plastics is tough. Nylon would have been a good choice for the fan, ie could provide some heat resistance, etc. AND lots of things stick to nylon.

Dennis, somehow I don't think that it's nylon, firstly if indeed it was nylon these fans wouldn't break like they do, the fan blades would bend. I tend to think that the material is a very cheap grade of polyethylene. or the same crud that kubota uses for their fenders and hoods. Problem with polyethylene is that nothing really likes to stick to it, epoxy works if one scores the surfaces slightly with a torch to give the epoxy something to bite into. And with the large surface area involved here and the very light weight of the fan blades and hub, the epoxy really doesn't have to hold that much as there is very little torque involved and it's not screaming like a Dremel tool. What I have done is stick two of the old fan blades together to see how the epoxy holds. Even if the epoxy doesn't stick too well a couple of small screws along with the epoxy will take care of that problem. Anyway I look at this it's better than pulling the tractor apart.