Mowing B7610 needs repaired after simple field mowing

[Double 00 Soul]

I'm truly disappointed about Kubota's position on your problem. It's disappointing for another reason too. I've been procrastinating about buying another, smaller Kubota, a 2350 or 1850. I'll be thinking a lot longer about it now and talking to dealers for other brands. A tractor that isn't designed to be used in areas with vegetation is next to useless to me. Good grief, why do they think we buy these things, to use them in parking lots only?

 

[Double 00 Soul]

By the way bmwrdr, many thanks for sharing your experience. You may well have saved me from making a big mistake.

 

[Willl]

to remove the front drive shaft to get to the seal they need to split the tractor.

I find this is the biggest flaw.

What do you mean you got to split the tractor just to get the driveline off ?

 

[rbargeron]

bmwrdr - looking at the parts drawings for a B7610 (see pm sent today) it looks like the driveshaft to the front axle should be serviceable without splitting the tractor. The forward half of the shaft is protected by tube covers, and the back half slopes upward to the transmission and has exposed u-joints. The seal at the transmission end (09500-20428 $2.77) is installed from the outside of the transmission case. It looks like the mid-frame between the clutch housing and the transmission is open on the bottom and the shaft is accessible. Is the dealer saying that grass can get in there but he can't take the shaft out and reach in to change the seal? Maybe I'm missing something but splitting the tractor seems excessive.

 

[automech]

Maybe I'm missing something but splitting the tractor seems excessive.


I was thinking the same thing. If the driveshaft is removable, why can't the seal be changed without major teardown? Haven't looked at a 7610 underside so I don't know.

 

[bmwrdr]

re: splitting the tractor to remove the driveshaft, that's what I've been told by the service dept is required.

 

[bmwrdr]

They could see the grass in the seal, but couldn't get to it was the impression. I thought to do both, remove the grass and seal they would need to remove the shaft. I'll check with them again today.

 

[bmwrdr]

Update. The shaft was not the front drive shaft, but the shaft from the engine to the HST. From my bad experience with the regional CSR I spoke with last week, I decided to speak with his manager. After a few phone calls Kubota said they wanted me to be happy customer and Kubota corporate would pay 1/3 and the dealer would pay 1/3 if I would pay the last 1/3. I was satisfied with their offer (not thrilled, but satisfied). There was grass in the rear seal and the seal was damaged.

Note to others, after speaking with them the idea of a thin skid plate was thought to be good insurance. I think there is a good space to mount it to on the frame. My tractor is getting delivered tomorrow so I can check it. There should really be a tube around the spinning shaft by design, but there is not.

If you mow in tall weeds (3-4'), check the shaft on from the engine and see if there are weeds wrapped around it.

 

[skent]

I have the B7300 HST. Last year I was using a sickle bar mower and had the same thing happen. The first pass with a sickel bar you are running in high grass. The next week I noticed a puddle under the tractor. It was the seal on the clutch housing. Unit was out of wattanty (600 Hrs and 7 years old). Dealer said the seal was $6.50 and labor was estimated at 18 hours ($52.50 per hr).

I decided to split the tractor myself. Took the entire weekend, but was worth it. I fabricated a sheet metal shield to keep it from happening again.

I've split older Ag tractors (Case DC, SC and VAC's) and they are a walk in the park compared to the Kubota B7300. LOTS of linkages, hoses, pipes and wires.

 

[TomC]

Guess who's going to look under his B7510 tomorrow! FWIW, the first time I cut my field with high grass, weeds, and etc; I kept the FEL on and used it about 6" off the ground to knock down the high stuff. Seemed to work with no problems.