Bad day for my BH90

TORQUIN · Apr 24, 2005

I was supposed to remove a stump and dig the footings, but when I was trying to get the stump out of the hole the cylinder piston/shaft for the bucket BENT! I canot believe it! I have stalled all parts of the hydraulics on this BH90 numerous times, even on this particular stump yesterday, and never had anything like this happen. The root ball was heavy, but you can see it in the pic, it wsn't massive. I had been chipping away at the dirt amongst the roots because the BH wouldn't lift it out, all before the bend.
No, I have not touched the hydraulic pressure on this tractor, in any way.
You can guess where I'll bee Monday morning. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

See attached.

Chris

TORQUIN · Apr 24, 2005

Another pic.

billbill1 · Apr 24, 2005

Ouch!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

frank_f15 · Apr 24, 2005

Womder what kind of reason they will give you for that? Please keep us informed.

Stef · Apr 24, 2005

As I look at all those bent cylinders, it makes me feel nervous about my BH75. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Keep us updated.

Thank for the pics... /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

DavidVT · Apr 24, 2005

Ouch! Sorry to see your troubles.

You sure you didn't put some of that Cummins torque in your Kubota?

TroyR57 · Apr 24, 2005

Bad day. ouch! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif What action were you doing when it bent, curling in or out, pushing on stump, etc.?

vetteman · Apr 24, 2005

I would go to a shop that makes cylinders and repairs them you might have to wait a few days but would be much cheaper. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

TORQUIN · Apr 24, 2005

We are gonna see if the warranty will cover it, as I have not had the setup for a year yet.
I was curling up, to edge the stup out of the hole, trying to grip it with the bucket teeth.

Chris

jim_wilson · Apr 24, 2005

There was somebody else recently who posted about some problems with a Kubota backhoe having a bent cylinder. I remember their cylinder wasn't bent as bad as yours but it had a definite bend. If this isn't covered under warranty I would be surprised - and mad. There is something wrong - either the metallurgy in the cylinder rods is bad or the backhoe was designed improperly or something - but that is not right.

gduff · Apr 24, 2005

I'm been in the market for the BH90 for a small contracting/landscaping business I am starting. I also noticed the other post about a bent cylinder. (Don't remember the model of the hoe) This does make one pause! The L48 would fit my needs perfectly, however I would prefer to made do with what I have. Has this worked well for you up to now and how many hours do you think you have on it? I also have read many posts of people who are happy with the BH90 so I'm taking that into consideration as well. Hope you can get it repaired under warranty!

RonR · Apr 24, 2005

Agree with the plan:

Try warranty first, then take the cylinder to a shop. They should be able to salvage the tube and build a new piston........

A sad set of pics indeed.
ron

qqq · Apr 24, 2005

( There was somebody else recently who posted about some problems with a Kubota backhoe having a bent cylinder.)
I thought the same thing when I read this most recent post. I looked back, and I this was the other post:

BH75 Piston broke, twice! Design problem??

So two different models now, a BH75 and a BH90, but both are new. Hope these are isolated occurrences and Kubota takes care of both people involved.

TORQUIN · Apr 24, 2005

( I'm been in the market for the BH90 for a small contracting/landscaping business I am starting. I also noticed the other post about a bent cylinder. (Don't remember the model of the hoe) This does make one pause! The L48 would fit my needs perfectly, however I would prefer to made do with what I have. Has this worked well for you up to now and how many hours do you think you have on it? I also have read many posts of people who are happy with the BH90 so I'm taking that into consideration as well. Hope you can get it repaired under warranty! )

Until yesterday I was quite happy with the BH90. While it did not have all the power in the world, it did a fine job for its size, and when I tackled something too big for it, it just stalled, telling me I needed to figure out a different way to do the task. (a good reason for not messing with the hydraulic pressure)
I have dug many stumps over the past year and never had a problem. Heck, this one was even coming out of the hole and I bent the shaft after I released and was trying to get a better grip.

Chris

Junkman · Apr 24, 2005

I believe that when all the smoke has cleared, we will learn that Kubota changed suppliers of hydraulic cylinders and that there is a defect in the new product. It is also possible that some penny pinching bean counter has specified a less quality item to save a few cents and it is now backfiring. If they balk at replacing it under warranty, then I would start making rumblings that the machine isn't fit for the purpose intended and that by design, it is of inferior quality. Then I would be talking to an attorney about bringing an action against the dealer. If these bent cylinders continue, possibly there will be enough people to start a class action lawsuit...

Bob_Young · Apr 24, 2005

Ahhhh "penny pinching beancounter", the root cause of so many problems. The ones with MBAs are the worst. Has anyone ever heard of one paying the price for his mistakes? The ones I know of all got promoted. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Sorry to pollute a perfectly good thread.
Bob

Junkman · Apr 24, 2005

Bob........ I would respond to your MBA comment, but I don't want to shut down any more threads this month. I have already caused 2 closures, and one to disappear. The way things are going, I am starting to believe the rumor about a bounty on my head... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ksmmoto · Apr 24, 2005

I have been checking out these latest Kubota backhoe cylinders bending. I am sure Kubota will fix it as they really seem to fix problems quickly.

I have noticed that all the bent cylinder rods were at full extension as that is when they are under the most strain. This could be a binding problem with the pins as well as metallurgy or design problem.

I will guess and toss out a design problem as Kubota is right on top of their game here. Could be the steel, but my guess is binding at the joints. Might be lubrication or the pins may be galling due to metallurgy.

If the pins bind all the power has to go somewhere and that would be bending the rod. All cylinders have their weak points and that would be at full extension. Ideally the hydraulics should set to stall before anything bends or breaks.

I try to use my backhoe carefully on borderline stress jobs and pry with the cylinders in. Having said that I won't waste time trying to baby it too much as it should hold up and has so far.

I am not a engineer yet (slowly work on a degree), but I am a Tool & Die Maker, Machinist and Welder. Not saying I am right but I do have experience. Let us know what happens with Kubota.

ksmmoto

TORQUIN · Apr 24, 2005

To comment on binding, I doubt it. Friday night was the first time I chaned out the bucket, to try out the 12" bucket, and when I switched, and switched back to the 18", I greased the joints, so it happens that it was JUST greased before this happened.
I will say though, when I pulled the pin out it seemed like it could have had more lube in it. I mean, it has grooves to hold the grease, but I just expected more area fo rthe grease to spread out, I guess.

Chris

ByronBob · Apr 25, 2005

His was on an L39 if I remember correctly. It was volfvandt I believe. Not sure if the BH was a 90 or another style. But it was during the curl time his bent also.