Singlecoil
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2006
- Messages
- 371
- Location
- Eatonville, Washington
- Tractor
- Kubota BX-24D Cub Cadet LT42e
BX-24 owners least favorite noise.
- Thread starter Singlecoil
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OP
Singlecoil
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2006
- Messages
- 371
- Location
- Eatonville, Washington
- Tractor
- Kubota BX-24D Cub Cadet LT42e
My dealer came out last week to install the seat bracket and replace my instrument panel under warranty. I live a long way from my dealer so I was glad they were willing to come out to my site for the repair. I was out of town so the wife had to take the repair guy out to our lot and show him where the tractor was. I just took the kids over to the lot yesterday to check on things and see if the new panel worked. It does. My tractor has zero hours on it now!
I sat on the seat with my 11-month-old daughter in the Baby Bjorn infant carrier in front of me so she could grab the steering wheel and the FEL lever. She was having a blast, then my son called me and I stood up to get off the tractor. CRACK! I was pretty upset because not 5 minutes earlier I was looking at the fender and saying to myself that I needed to be careful how I mounted the thing or I knew it would break. It turns out I needed to be careful how I dismounted the thing. I'm about 220 lbs and my daughter is probably an extra 25. I wonder if the dealer would be so kind to fix this on site as well? It's kind of ironic: my hour meter says 0.0 and my fender is broken.
I sat on the seat with my 11-month-old daughter in the Baby Bjorn infant carrier in front of me so she could grab the steering wheel and the FEL lever. She was having a blast, then my son called me and I stood up to get off the tractor. CRACK! I was pretty upset because not 5 minutes earlier I was looking at the fender and saying to myself that I needed to be careful how I mounted the thing or I knew it would break. It turns out I needed to be careful how I dismounted the thing. I'm about 220 lbs and my daughter is probably an extra 25. I wonder if the dealer would be so kind to fix this on site as well? It's kind of ironic: my hour meter says 0.0 and my fender is broken.
fishpick
Platinum Member
That sucks! I'll bet the dealer will do it.
Does anyone have a picture of the "new and improved" fender I keep hearing about but have yet to see?
Does anyone have a picture of the "new and improved" fender I keep hearing about but have yet to see?
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
Singlecoil said:
I hate to say this about Kubota in a Kubota forum, but looking at your pics, I am going to say it: it is almost impossible to believe that Kubota (or any other tractor company) would be so irresponsible to come out with a new model with such an easily avoidable problem. How much did Kubota save with plastic body parts anyway? Was it worth the bad rap? I think about all the thick metal on my tractor, and am amazed that anyone had the bright idea to make these obviously cheap fenders for a machine supposedly designed to take a beating.
Okay, rant over, and anyway, I don't even have these problems. I can only imagine how I'd feel if it were me with that crack.
fishpick
Platinum Member
PMonkey - While I agree that this particular design and implementation sucks... I am gonna weigh in from the camp of liking the plastic fenders. I remember years and years ago when I got my first ATV and it started the discussions around the farm about why tractors don't have plastic fenders - no visible scrapes, no rust, ATV fenders are flexible... and other advantages.
I think it's like anything - the technology almost disappears when the implementation is sound.
I think it's like anything - the technology almost disappears when the implementation is sound.
proudestmonkey
Platinum Member
fishpick said:
Fish, I can't disagree with your logic at all. I own a Honda Element. If you don't know what that is, its a boxy strange-looking (some think very ugly) small SUV. One of the things I like most about it is that the entire body, front, sides, and rear are wrapped in a neutral, flat (not shiny) grey plastic. The molded parts are clipped in and freely self-servicable. Got a gouge on your bumper cover, replace it for $22. Yes, $22. Got a scratch on your rear quarter panel protector, rub it out with a $10 scratch can Honda sells (I've even heard peanut butter also works).
The key to your point, I think is this: "when the implementation is sound." I think the entire body of my JD lawn tractor was plastic, but that plastic was strong, yet flexible. I never worried about how I stepped up onto it. I hope Kubota tries a new formula and structure for its plastic, or returns to tried and true metal. Either way is fine, as long as they get it right, and fast.
NJDiverDan
Member
This is something I am watching closely. Does anyone have any pictures of the improved fender? I am a big guy 300+lbs and have had no problems with mine yet, but I only have 20 hours on the tractor so far.
-dan
-dan
Tom_H
Veteran Member
Before World War II, the word plastic was an adjective instead of a noun; it meant flexible, moldable, or shapeable. Now it is the name of a material.
I think it's not only how the plastic is formed, but from what chemicals it's made. If you let PVC pipes sit above ground, exposed to the sun's UV rays for a few years, the polymers break down and the stuff becomes as fragile as fine china. I used to canoe a lot and some of the resin impregnated fiberglass, kevlar, etc. materials are amazing. A canoe made of these materials can hit a boulder in a rapid broadside, and under many tons of hydraulic pressure, wrap itself around the rock in a U shape, be pulled off, and spring right back into its original shape (they call that "memory"). I've seen these canoes last for decades now and the material doesn't seem to deteriorate with age or UV exposure.
So my question for Kubota is, "What kind of 'plastic' are you making these fenders from?" It just seems that the few dollars saved using a cheap plastic is more than offset by the loss of reputation and the headaches involved in remedying the problem. This fender has been my biggest concern in debating whether to trade my BX2200 for a BX24.
I think it's not only how the plastic is formed, but from what chemicals it's made. If you let PVC pipes sit above ground, exposed to the sun's UV rays for a few years, the polymers break down and the stuff becomes as fragile as fine china. I used to canoe a lot and some of the resin impregnated fiberglass, kevlar, etc. materials are amazing. A canoe made of these materials can hit a boulder in a rapid broadside, and under many tons of hydraulic pressure, wrap itself around the rock in a U shape, be pulled off, and spring right back into its original shape (they call that "memory"). I've seen these canoes last for decades now and the material doesn't seem to deteriorate with age or UV exposure.
So my question for Kubota is, "What kind of 'plastic' are you making these fenders from?" It just seems that the few dollars saved using a cheap plastic is more than offset by the loss of reputation and the headaches involved in remedying the problem. This fender has been my biggest concern in debating whether to trade my BX2200 for a BX24.
fishpick
Platinum Member
Now, I think Tom_H is onto the ultimate mod for a SCUT... replace the fenders with a nice wood laminate, Kevlar, resin job... man, wouldn't that look nice... maybe some hickory or birds eye maple... ahhh - the things I could do...
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Singlecoil
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2006
- Messages
- 371
- Location
- Eatonville, Washington
- Tractor
- Kubota BX-24D Cub Cadet LT42e
Well, I finally got a hold of my service manager. They won't pay to transport the tractor and I have no means of getting it there. I called the closer dealer and they wanted about $240 for pickup and dropoff so that ain't gonna work either. I had the closer guy order it and I'm going to tackle the project myself in about 2 weeks when it gets here. I'll bring the camera and get some pics up when I'm done.