Mowing B7610 needs repaired after simple field mowing

[bmwrdr]

I need to vent a little. My 7610 is barely a year old. Apparently, I waited too long to mow my field due to traveling. The field weeds and grasses were 3-4' tall. I noticed a leak under the front driveshaft after mowing. The dealer diagnosed it as the front drive shaft seal. The problem? Due to some lame design, tall grass can get caught on the front drive shaft and wrapped around it and then gradually gets into the seal to the xfer case. They suspect the roll pin length may also play into this and they will grind it down so it will be below the surface. They tell me to remove the front drive shaft to get to the seal they need to split the tractor. Labor will be over $1k for the $15 seal. I plan on making some sort of shield when I get it back to prevent this from happing again. Others may wish to do the same to prevent some unnecessary costs. I have the number of the customer service rep. The dealer said since there was grass in the seal, it won't be covered by warranty. I'm a tractor rookie, but this seems ridiculous for something that is designed to work in fields.

 

[plastikosmd]

would agree and would have responded..since there is grass in the seal, it was a design problem

 

[Double 00 Soul]

Is the dealer in financial trouble? The explanation/diagnosis sounds pretty lame to me, maybe the dealer needs the service money. If it takes $1k worth of labor and the tractor has to be split just to get to the seal, how can the dealer possibly know if there is grass in the seal at this point? My dealer told me that everything that isn't obvious abuse or lack of maintenance is treated as a warranty repair and I have to believe him because I spoke to several of his customers before buying my tractor. Even if it turns out there is grass in the seal, I don't understand how the warranty could be void, Kubota can't possibly believe it's tractors aren't going to see high grass/weeds unless they are operated only on gravel or paved roads.

I'd be talking directly to Kubota if the dealer wants you to pay to have a seal repaired with two years left on the tractor's warranty. Maybe Art could give you the benefit of his expertise on how the warranty could be void on your tractor just because it was used in high vegetation.

Hope you keep us advised, it would certainly be good to know if Kubota made you come up for the money for this repair. Is it possible you misunderstood the dealer? At any rate, I wish you luck.

 

[Dascro]

For what it's worth... I've spent plenty of time on my 2 year old B7610 running a rotary cutter in tall grass and have never experienced this problem. Of course, I've never had to use 4wd while doing this either, so the front drive shaft would not have been spinning. I assume you were running in 4wd otherwise how would the grass wrap around the shaft?

Good luck.

 

[Ductape]

I'd get a second opinion from someone other than that particular dealer.

 

[slowzuki]

The driveshaft turns evens if you are in 2wd.

Grass winding around driveshafts is a common enough problem. It can get wound around PTO shafts haying etc. We used to take the driveshaft out of our 4wd international in hay season because it would wrap so much hay.

Normally kubotas don't have much trouble because the shaft is up in the oil pan. Most of the time 4wd's have their seals ruined by catching old fence wire or baler twine.

 

[rbargeron]

I'd get a second opinion from someone other than that particular dealer.

I'll second this advice and the other posts that question this dealer's position. Maybe you could go to another dealer and find out how to contact the Kubota regional service rep.

 

[bmwrdr]

After speaking to the CSR, I'm very disappointed with Kubota's response. He said this is condition related problem and would not be covered under warranty as it is not a defect. He said if I noticed grass getting caught there, I should have removed it. I asked why I would be looking under there unless someone told me it's prone to getting screwed up by tall grass.
--pretty pissed.

 

[slowzuki]

Almost all 4wd tractors are constructed in a similar manner. I would be pissed too but it could have happened with any brand.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

After speaking to the CSR, I'm very disappointed with Kubota's response. He said this is condition related problem and would not be covered under warranty as it is not a defect.

Not to be rude, but he is right. Its an unfortunate problem, but its the nature of the beast.