Not so sure this is normal?

lilranch2001 · Jul 15, 2012

Bluegill2 said:
I've been mostly lucky my whole life, so I'm not too concerned.

I never get lucky
:thumbdown:

Rail Dawg · Jul 17, 2012

Bluegill2 said:
I just did the 50 hr service on my L3800 this morning. Here's what my filter looks like. Just very fine metal on the magnetic ring and not much of it. I would say this is 'more' normal than the one Jewing posted.

That is what my L3800 filter looked like at 50 hrs.

s219 · Jul 17, 2012

My B2920 did not have a magnetic ring on the HST filter when I did the 50 hour service, but I took the filter apart out of curiosity. Nothing but fine metallic dust mixed in with the oil, almost like the metal flake in metallic paint.

Bluegill2 · Jul 17, 2012

There are probably many more 'normal' filters like the one I posted out there than the bad ones.

lilranch2001 · Jul 17, 2012

Bluegill2 said:
There are probably many more 'normal' filters like the one I posted out there than the bad ones.

I would certainly hope so, and is that statement really a testimony to Kubotas quality control?

In my humble opinion 1 is way to many, and if 1 home mechanic found a filter like that, how many dealer mechanics found something similar or worse?

jewing3227 · Jul 17, 2012

Went to the dealer Saturday and they had 7 gallons of the Super UDT 2 and 2 filters ready for me. I was talking to the survissup about my findings and he said Kubota is waiting to see what the next filter change is gonna bring and if there is any chips, they will "make it right". He wouldn't comment anymore as to what was to come. I have about 4 hours left until the 10 hr mark that i'm changing it at............it pis*ed and poured here today so....

SantasForest · Jul 17, 2012

Run it for another 50 hours....change the fliter and fluid again. Check to see what you find. It should have cleared up, although that seems like an awful lot of filling from machining. We service our tran's every 75-100 hours no matter what the manual says and our equipment runs well for it's age.

moriboy · Jul 17, 2012

I will be doing the 50 hr service on my new M7040 soon. If anything looks funny I will certainly post pics.

don white · Jul 18, 2012

If that is a new machine get it back to the dealer. Those look like machining chips to me. The case was not cleaned out properly. No way would not accept that from a new machine.

Barnone · Jul 20, 2012

Is this normal? I sure hope not.

I've been changing oil/filters on trucks, cars, tractors, motorcycles, and whatever for 59 years and have never seen anything like that first photo in this thread. Oh, and some have been Chinese manufactured and none had anything even remotely close to that bunch of metal.

I would be raising **** at the dealer and at Kubota. I can't believe that some say that is OK.

My Hoe · Jul 20, 2012

Barnone said:
Is this normal? I sure hope not.

I've been changing oil/filters on trucks, cars, tractors, motorcycles, and whatever for 59 years and have never seen anything like that first photo in this thread. Oh, and some have been Chinese manufactured and none had anything even remotely close to that bunch of metal.

I would be raising **** at the dealer and at Kubota. I can't believe that some say that is OK.

Ditto. Could not agree more!

And a question for the OP:
What if the bag you put the next filter in, for dealer inspection, unbeknownst to you, already had machining debris REMARKABLY-IDENTICAL to the original debris, in it? That could happen, because my favorite auto-supply store also has its' own, FULL-SERVICE machine shop out back. And they have these GREAT, plastic bags they use in the retail store--which I REUSE, as they're big, strong and leak-proof. So who's to say HOW that bag got contaminated? Could have come from an auto store like the one I'm describing.

And this new debris stuck to the magnetic ring, and even you didn't know it, until you pulled the filter out of the bag, to show the Regional Rep., the dealer, etc.... (Think about it--if Kubota can FAIL TO CLEAN OUT A TRACTOR, you could have failed to notice a contaminated, plastic bag, right?).

And maybe you didn't even notice the extra debris, until or when you handed it over?

And they said: "Okay...whellpp! There's more metal, so that's it-sign here-we'll give you a new tractor."

I mean, you wouldn't want to have wasted the Regional Reps time, right?

The polite thing to do would be to accept a new tractor, no?

Just wonderin'....

Chilly807 · Jul 21, 2012

Barnone said:
Is this normal? I sure hope not.

I've been changing oil/filters on trucks, cars, tractors, motorcycles, and whatever for 59 years and have never seen anything like that first photo in this thread. Oh, and some have been Chinese manufactured and none had anything even remotely close to that bunch of metal.

I would be raising **** at the dealer and at Kubota. I can't believe that some say that is OK.

We're not saying it's right, or normal in the big world, but it IS typical of the Kubota L series tractors. Mine was like that to some degree, as were 90% of the others I've seen. Bluegill's was cleanest I've seen yet. Since we're not having a run of hydraulic pump or transmission failures, there doesn't seem to be much ill effect from it.

The dealer does seem to be going the extra mile to help out, and have said they will fix it if there's a problem.

And since someone suggests he should "get the tractor replaced", what makes you think the next one will be any better?

Sean

kallnojoy · Jul 22, 2012

FWIW - Did the 50 hr this morning on my new l3800 and the magnet on the filter was almost clean as new.

After seeing the OPs filter I was a bit anxious to take a look at mine...

Bluegill2 · Jul 22, 2012

kallnojoy said:
FWIW - Did the 50 hr this morning on my new l3800 and the magnet on the filter was almost clean as new.

After seeing the OPs filter I was a bit anxious to take a look at mine...

I was a bit anxious also. Looks like all aren't as bad as the Op's...

GCLnIndiana · Jul 23, 2012

Jewing,
Would love to hear a follow-up.

jewing3227 · Jul 26, 2012

I will give a follow-up as soon as I change the oil again. It's been roughly 5 hours since I last changed the oil so if all goes well I will put the next 5 hrs on it this coming weekend.

CHILLY807--And since someone suggests he should "get the tractor replaced", what makes you think the next one will be any better?

I'm not really following you here nor was I following you when you said something to the effect of I are't to get rid of my tractor, i'm not going to be "satified" anymore. You have quite the negative attitude my friend or so I think. I am plenty old enough to make my own decision on what I want and don't want but thanks for your 2 cents. My L3200 does what I need it too, if it didn't I would have a New Holland, Deere, whatever you may have.........with that being said, ANYONE who pays $17,000 - $20,000 and changes the oil and has metal chips like I did, will wonder how much longer bearings/internals will last before they take a sh*t. Well let me back up and say anyone with half decent common sense would wonder. NO ONE said another tractor would be any better, but being a company the size of Kubota, it HAS TO BE a possible thought or option. Me reporting senarios like mine, might help them in producing a better cleaned, more complete unit. That is what companys strive for after all.

Chilly807 · Jul 26, 2012

My Hoe said:
Ditto. Could not agree more!

And a question for the OP:
What if the bag you put the next filter in, for dealer inspection, unbeknownst to you, already had machining debris REMARKABLY-IDENTICAL to the original debris, in it? That could happen, because my favorite auto-supply store also has its' own, FULL-SERVICE machine shop out back. And they have these GREAT, plastic bags they use in the retail store--which I REUSE, as they're big, strong and leak-proof. So who's to say HOW that bag got contaminated? Could have come from an auto store like the one I'm describing.

And this new debris stuck to the magnetic ring, and even you didn't know it, until you pulled the filter out of the bag, to show the Regional Rep., the dealer, etc.... (Think about it--if Kubota can FAIL TO CLEAN OUT A TRACTOR, you could have failed to notice a contaminated, plastic bag, right?).

And maybe you didn't even notice the extra debris, until or when you handed it over?

And they said: "Okay...whellpp! There's more metal, so that's it-sign here-we'll give you a new tractor."

I mean, you wouldn't want to have wasted the Regional Reps time, right?

The polite thing to do would be to accept a new tractor, no?

Just wonderin'....

This is the post I was referring to, in fact. It's pretty obvious what the poster had in mind, and it pissed me off. The dealer's trying to help you out here, to the tune of free fluid and filters, telling you they will make it right if you have problems. I'm not employed by a dealer, Kubota or otherwise, and in fact Kubota has given me plenty of reason NOT to recommend an L series tractor.

My point is, we've seen almost no evidence of damage from metal contamination over the years, this problem isn't new by any means. I really doubt yours will ever give you problems stemming from this.

My negative attitude doesn't really matter much, but if this thread is any indication of your faith in your dealer or Kubota in general, you may be well served to simply request to return the tractor and get something else. I doubt they'd take it back now, but this episode will always be in the back of your mind. My thought is also that they could give you a second L3200 since this one was contaminated, and the second one will be no better. What then?

Speaking one's mind isn't always popular, but you did ask for opinions.

Kubota may have made some production line changes recently, if RailDawg and Bluegill's filters are any indication.

Sean

lilranch2001 · Jul 26, 2012

jewing3227 said:
I will give a follow-up as soon as I change the oil again. It's been roughly 5 hours since I last changed the oil so if all goes well I will put the next 5 hrs on it this coming weekend.

CHILLY807--And since someone suggests he should "get the tractor replaced", what makes you think the next one will be any better?

I'm not really following you here nor was I following you when you said something to the effect of I are't to get rid of my tractor, i'm not going to be "satified" anymore. You have quite the negative attitude my friend or so I think. I am plenty old enough to make my own decision on what I want and don't want but thanks for your 2 cents. My L3200 does what I need it too, if it didn't I would have a New Holland, Deere, whatever you may have.........with that being said, ANYONE who pays $17,000 - $20,000 and changes the oil and has metal chips like I did, will wonder how much longer bearings/internals will last before they take a sh*t. Well let me back up and say anyone with half decent common sense would wonder. NO ONE said another tractor would be any better, but being a company the size of Kubota, it HAS TO BE a possible thought or option. Me reporting senarios like mine, might help them in producing a better cleaned, more complete unit. That is what companys strive for after all.

Cannot argue with you even a little bit!
My opinion is, I hope Kubota reads this thread and understands that any person with an ounce of common sense is going to think Kubota, and ANY other tractor line that has such slipshod QC practices is a good company in decline.
:2cents:

Smiles007 · Jul 26, 2012

Chilly807 said:
This is the post I was referring to, in fact. It's pretty obvious what the poster had in mind, and it pissed me off. The dealer's trying to help you out here, to the tune of free fluid and filters, telling you they will make it right if you have problems. I'm not employed by a dealer, Kubota or otherwise, and in fact Kubota has given me plenty of reason NOT to recommend an L series tractor.

My point is, we've seen almost no evidence of damage from metal contamination over the years, this problem isn't new by any means. I really doubt yours will ever give you problems stemming from this.

My negative attitude doesn't really matter much, but if this thread is any indication of your faith in your dealer or Kubota in general, you may be well served to simply request to return the tractor and get something else. I doubt they'd take it back now, but this episode will always be in the back of your mind. My thought is also that they could give you a second L3200 since this one was contaminated, and the second one will be no better. What then?

Speaking one's mind isn't always popular, but you did ask for opinions.

Kubota may have made some production line changes recently, if RailDawg and Bluegill's filters are any indication.

Sean

Well stated Chilly. What hoe implied doing in this situation was,in my opinion, not ethical. However, if the majority of filters don't show the kind heavy metal that is seen by original poster, a replacement tractor would be the right thing for Kubota to do in this situation, if indeed any future filters look as bad as the first one did. Again, my 2¢...