Broke it already.

jlemon · Aug 27, 2003

I haven't even had the tractor for one week yet, but I've already put on 17 hours and managed to break off a part today.

I was backing the tractor and rotary cutter under the trees overhanging the pasture, and one of the branches decided to grab ahold of the black plastic housing around the taillight. I didn't notice until I moved the tractor forward and ripped the housing off the fender. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Oh well. I should be glad that it wasn't a critical part. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

TractorAddict · Aug 27, 2003

jlemon,

Don't feel too bad about that. I bought a B7500HST in March. Performed the 50 hour service in July, which is pretty simple, drain all fluids, replace the filters, clean a screen, reinstall all the drain plugs and refill with appropriate fluids and go.

EXCEPT....when I was putting the last drain plug back in....(HST right rear axle housing) I all of a sudden got this sick to my stomach feeling as I tightened it and the slight resistance that I felt while snugging it up went away!! That's right, I stripped the threads out in the cast aluminum axle housing!!

The dealer picked it up, gave me a free loaner and replaced the housing with a new one. They said the housing was defective and the whole thing was covered under warranty.

But, ooh that feeling you get when you break your new tractor.......

TresCrows · Aug 28, 2003

"The dealer picked it up, gave me a free loaner and replaced the housing with a new one. They said the housing was defective and the whole thing was covered under warranty."

Well, I guess that is an example of Kubota honoring it's warranty after some of the recent threads claiming otherwise. I suspect this is more the good faith norm. He could have put an a thread repair helicoil in it I imagine /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. Anyway, glad to hear your problem was fixed so easily. J

TractorAddict · Aug 28, 2003

TresCrows

I actually told the dealer that a Helicoil repair would be fine with me. But they said they wanted it done right! They pretty much insisted on the new housing! Which...of course was also fine with me. And yes, I am a satisfied customer!

frank_f15 · Aug 28, 2003

another happy customer! glad u got it repaired with no hassle. did they say what the defect was? poor casting? shallow threads?

flemdog · Aug 29, 2003

TractorAddict: Do you mind telling us what town your dealer is in. I have been talking to a dealer in MI just wondered where. Sounds, like a pretty good service. Thanks

TractorAddict · Aug 29, 2003

Frank & Flemdog

The dealership never really said what the exact diagnosis on the casting was. By the way the plug looked when I got it out I would suspect the casting got a little thin right where the tap went through and there were very few threads for the plug to go into. When the plug came out the stripped material that remained in it's threads was about 3 threads worth.

As for the location of the Dealer, it is just a few miles south of Adrian, Michigan right on M-52. They are a Case/IH and Kubota Dealership. I don't really know if it is ethical to mention the dealership name or not, but I have read other posts of people either recommending or criticising by name. So, the dealership that I have dealt with and who has treated me right is Dan's Farm Supply in Adrian, Michigan.

nhman · Sep 26, 2003

Hey, I have a question. I have a leaking plug on the bell housing of my transmission. I did the same as the other gentleman, I stripped out the plug by not forgetting the washer. I had a new plug tapped in but it still has a slow leak. What is a thread repair helicoil and could I use that to stop my slow leak?

Junkman · Sep 26, 2003

Depending on the material, a heli-coil might work. It the base metal is aluminum, then you are in a pickle, because aluminum doesn't take heli coils very well with my experience with them. If it is steel, then you have a better chance of it holding. Since this is a drain plug, try a few wraps of Teflon tape and some pipe dope on the threads. I would rather try to seal it that way first than to go through the heli coil method since there is a chance that the helicoil won't work. One other thing that you can try is to find a slightly larger drain plug. Don't know if they are still available, but years ago I was able to get over sized drain plugs. You can also try to find a metric plug of the next larger size and tap it out to that. It all depends on how much material you have to work with. The smaller the hole size, the better a helicoil works and installation expertise is also a factor.