b7800 locker problems

[General Lee]

Well, I hope things work out in the end. One thing you can do Is send the link to this thread to Kubota and let them know the word is getting out to current customers and potential customers of Kubotas poor customer service. They continue with this crap they will see their sales slip like Toyota.

This thread won't make or break them, but its negativity towards them and when enough negativity gets out then it hurts them. Kinda like car dealers, if they a 5 star rating or whatever is, the right complaint to corporate (and it just takes one) strips them of that rating. Not good for managers

 

[captin_insano]

I'm putting this stuff on here now in hopes it may in some small way help prevent others from going through it. Or at least let them know what to expect, what helps get answers, etc. So far I think pristows has been doing what they can do, I have nothing bad to say about them but Kubota needs to step up. I didnt buy a warranty that said "one time only" and I'm not dumb enough to think they can decide a cause from a picture. So my kubota is sitting at pristows until this is resolved. I really wish it didnt come to this because I know most of the kubota stuff is top notch and I really dont want to run another tractor. I was a big fan of kubota and this hurts. Pretty shatty feeling being plowed under by the machine you love.

 

[captin_insano]

And I just want to add that IF the whole reason they dont want to fix it is simply because they fixed it once before, they could of said that up front. They did say first to my dealer they wouldnt cover it because it was out of warranty and they "rarely cover lockers anyway". Also said to the dealer " I cant believe it was covered the first time" When the dealer told me this I called kubota to explain to them that their powertrain warranty is 3 years (like they didnt know) they said "the dealer shouldnt of told you that its rarely covered" "We will make a decision based on the specific case and since it IS under warranty you need to take it back to the dealer". They simply set me up for a 460 dollar diagnosis that I was already well aware of. Why didnt they just say straight up to me (not to the dealer) that I was up the creek. I am so angry at kubota.

 

[Danno1]

....a scale of some type and measure how much pressure it takes to engage it...

Here's what you need:


McMaster-Carr


.

 

[captin_insano]

The dealer offered to eat the tear down bill and even offered to fix it for less than half price. Thats mighty fine of them but not an option IMO since I have a warranty that says its covered and even if its fixed it will just fail again. I at least want kubota to pay the tear down and repair, my dealer shouldnt have to eat it since kubota told me they had to do it, but had apparently already made up their mind not to repair it. What I really want is a different tractor since this one has its gremlins. So the owner of pristows is working a deal with the sales department at kubota to toss me some money towards a trade. Pristows has been good to me, the whole hold up has been on kubotas end but I'm making progress and the sales guys seem easier to deal with than warranty. The regional service rep for kubota is coiming to see it tomorrow or friday so we'll see how that goes. talking to him on the phone I got the same impression I got from kubota cali but I stood my ground.

 

[dfkrug]

Well, CAPT, I hope you prevail in you warranty dispute. It certainly seems
to be covered.

The diff lock from my B21 looks very similar internally, as does the linkage.
There was virtually no wear detectable in this unit with 2350 hours, but
there is no telling if the previous owner used DL. My JD, on the other hand,
used inferior materials for the diff lock, and it had lots of wear.

 

[captin_insano]

Thanks for the picture! its going to come in handy tomorrow when I talk to the service rep. I looked at mine today at the shop, they finished the tear down, I guess they did it assuming it will be covered?? Anyway my shift fork is VERY worn. Its chewed way back in and it looks like its only allowing the locker to engage maybe 1/8th of an inch at the very most. Still need to determine why this happen but again, were making more progress. And now the best news so far, kubota sales department gave me a credit for the troubles I've been having and Pristows made me a super duper deal on a new L3400. So after I talk to the service rep tomorrow and inform him he WILL be fixing my 7800, no more BS, I'll be purchasing me a new l3400.

 

[captin_insano]

The warranty rep said they would fix it. It wasnt without a little bit of a fight though, the conversation started off with him attempting to explain to me how the excessive wear on the shift fork was due to misuse or excessive use and that it wasnt allowing the pieces to engage properly. I asked him to pretend for a minute that I knew as much about what we were looking at as he did and asked him to start over. I was an a#@ but I simply wasnt going to hear the misuse thing. I could see there was a problem with the quality of the component and what I wanted to hear was what we were going to do to diagnose the root cause and fix it. We soon got on the same page and it was agreed that they will fix it. From what I gather though is that kubota warranty wont cover it but he has a budget of his own to cover certain things. I think he will expect my dealer to eat some of the bill which I told the rep I felt he shouldnt have too. I consider my warranty a contract, I just think the dealer should be paid as he would by warranty directly. They can work that out, my part of the battle is done. Anyway, the shift fork was worn about half through and where the roll pin pushes it it was worn as well. I dont know if worn is the right word for the pin area though, it was more like the metal was just pushed away in a pile. It was obviously soft, maybe didnt get heat treat or something??? I'm sure the vast majority are better quality. The collar part of the locker that the fork shifted had shown no wear but it was cracked where it was only engaging a tiny bit. I'm so glad to be done with this. I did the shopping, looked at deeres and others but I still think kubota is the better tractor and mine was a rare problem. So I own a new l3400 now, kubota sales gave me a credit and the dealer made me a real good deal on the L3400 or I would own a different tractor right now simply to get away from kubotas warranty department. I dont know how well the 3400 will be suited to my uses, its kinda bigger than I need since I have a wheel loader I use for heavy work but I'm hoping for years of service. I hope Kubota can get on the right track with warranty stuff, even though I think most of us wont need it, its import to know you can count on it when you do. Boo warranty for being D-bags, yeaaaaa sales and good dealer for keeping a customer!

 

[crbr]

.... I could see there was a problem with the quality of the component and what I wanted to hear was what we were going to do to diagnose the root cause and fix it. .................. or I would own a different tractor right now simply to get away from kubotas warranty department.

Kubota, meet Toyota. Ask them how they like a faulty component...

Mine is the same issue, same response from Kubota dealer. It's not just yours.

 

[captin_insano]

You got a 7800 with a bad diff lock? If so I hope you have a good dealer, mine put up with a bunch of attitude from me and still went above and beyond to see that I was made happy. Kubotas warranty department is not your friend and what I learned from this ordeal is you better hope your dealer is. maybe you'll have an easier time than I did, keep us posted.