Checking fluids on a new tractor is no joke!

[poldies4]

I thought it could't happen..after my brand new tractor showed up with the loader that I didn't order (see thread BX1860 with LA243 loader?). Finally after a few weeks I felt ok about it. Next, last week I noticed a small hydro leak where the quick connect couplers are. Called the dealer, he sent a mechanic over and took care of it. Well it didn't leak again until I used it, ARGHHH!!!!! On wednesday they came and took my two week old tractor to the tractor hospital, a sad moment for any new tractor owner. We are only at about 9 hrs at this point. Happy day, thursday they return the tractor, in the snowy rain, and leave it curbside for me to find when I get home from work. It rained and snowed all day that day. This saturday I went to a local rental store and rented a york rake to clean/flatten my long horse shoe shaped dive. First time I'd used a three point, it was a lot of fun until....I read a thread that spoke of fluids not being there from the factory,dealer or wherever these machines get prepped. Engine oil, good shape, transmission case, looks good, front axle case, nothing....uh oh, I put the plug in again it comes out dry. Now I'm concerened, I wiggle my pinky into the hole probably 2 to 2 1/2 inches, it comes out dry. I've now got 11 hrs on apparently an at best underfilled front axle. Should I be this angry? I bought this tractor locally to do what I felt was the right thing. Now I'm frustrated and livid with my dealer. Sorry this is so long, but I'll now get to my questions in the hope someone would be willing to talk me off the edge.

1. How upset should I be with my local dealership? I spent a LOT of money on this unit, and in two or three weeks have had issues.

2. Should I go to tractor supply and purchase my own oil fill that puppy up and just use a different dealer? The place I bought is only 6 miles from my house, next closest is an hour drive.

3. How concerned should I be about the low/lack of fluid for the 11hrs on the brand new machine? I haven't worked it that hard, but it's been used.

4. Presumably I should drain any fluid that may be in there, and replace all?

thanks for being willing to read this, I know it's long but i'm FRUSTRATED and feel like ar least here i'll get honest answers, the dealers seem to always say don't worry it's no big deal. I haven't spoken to the dealer yet, I'm trying to get my ducks in a row first. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. This is my first real tractor, and it's been a little dis-satisfying. Maybe I should have bought the green one??????????

 

[JJT]

Go to your dealer and explain the issue, he'll give you the fluid for the front axle. I bet he'll even throw in the 50 hour service for free. I'd pull the drain plugs to see if it's totally dry. I'd also send an email to Kubota, getting the issue documented.

Upsetting, yes, end of the world, no.

I've purchased new Honda's that were not prepped right......

 

[BotaBX24er]

Been there with you with all that frustration:
1) hydraulic lines leaked after 3 months and had to take it back to them twice. Lost almost two months of tractor time.
2) transmission issues that also lost another month of tractor time.
3) HST fan taken out by a twig (another 2 weeks gone)
4) FEL controller assembly broken (another 2 weeks)

But even after all that frustration, I still have mine. The same things can also happen with Green and you may be saying "should have I gone orange?" Except for the HST fan being covered under the KTAC insurance, Kubota covered all other repairs and the dealer providing the trailering.

As long as the dealer is willing to work through the issues with you (that's probably one of the reasons why you bought locally also because it's close to you), thing will eventually smooth itself out. Just tell the dealer about the low fluid level in the axle and they will probably give it to you.

 

[Baby Grand]

Welcome to the future. Often, it seems if you want something done right you have to read up on it and then do it yourself. I'd plan to spend a few evenings with your owner's manual and workshop manual (if you don't own one, then get one) and really get to know your machine. Study the maintenance schedule and all the consumables, then go out and check everything else on your machine. Also, pay lots of attention to the parts about stability and ballast.

JJT gave you some very good advice - tell your dealer what you found. They need to know and make sure it doesn't happen again. I'd suggest you go there in person and gage their response - but only after you have calmed down enough to do it with a poker face. If they show real surprise and alarm, that's a good sign. If the response is disinterested or dismissive, then think about finding a new service provider. His point about telling Kubota Corporation what you experienced is right-on, too - CYA.

If you haven't really loaded up the machine then you probably haven't damaged anything. It's unfortunate that your first few hours had some rough spots - hope it all gets better for you.

-Jim

 

[bp fick]

Yes, sometimes things are not checked. During the delivery, my guy went over all the stuff with me, even had a check list that I assume is a standard Kubota thing. That should have been done in front of you. OOOps!!

The loose hydraulic stuff can be a pain. Mine had a hydro line leak at the trans, which I finally found myself and tightened. Quieted down the screaming HST quite a bit. Should have been found at assembly or at dealer check? Yes sir.

As for the front axle, in the unlikely event that axle is dead empty, I'd document it all for future warranty concerns. In the event that it is merely down a wee bit, and it doesn't take all that much to fall below the pinky test, I'd fill it up. Yes, get a quart of sudt from your dealer and top it off. If that quart doesn't fill it, then you will know it was too far below level to have been delivered, checked off as OK, and too low to have been used. The 1860 front axle only holds around 3 quarts or less. I'd estimate that a quart would suffice in minimal protection for it. Let us know how this all turns out.

Yes, pull the drain plugs and see what if anything comes out. One on each side. There are also vent plug above to release the air lock on each side. This is the likely cause of under filling in the first place. You cannot get an accurate fill without removing the vent caps.

Frankly, if it were mine, and I did indeed do this as per the dealers instruction, I drained out that sudt anyhow, and re-filled the axle with 75w-90 semi-syn axle fluid at 3 hours anyhow.

 

[bp fick]

Oh, and yes, I also documented my issues with Kubota, covering c.c. them all email to my dealer. I don't think this made my dealer happy, but I honestly didn't care if it did or did not.

 

[bp fick]

Messick's have the best 50 hour service demo in the world. Here's snapshot of the pertinent issue.

 

[TripleR]

It's the dealer's fault when a machine is not prepped right, not the manufacturer' green, red, blue won't make any difference.

 

[poldies4]

That's true, the color thing, green etc...I will go to the dealership monday, and as far as the poker face is concerned I guess i'm not angry, frustrated yes, dissapointed yes, angry not really. I did buy locally for the service etc., as well as trying to spend money in the town I live in. As a small business owner I try to always do that, even if it's a couple extra dollars. I'm real green as far as the verbage of certain things, and have read all my manuals cover to cover numerous times. This purchase was four years of research, and saving pennies so perhaps it's a little emotional? I failed to check the fluid assuming the dealer/mechanic had done it. This, unfortunatley was my
fault. Thanks again for all your responses and advice. I guess i'm stuck between wanting something from the dealer, something for nothing is not my normal personality, or going to by the good stuff, doing it myself and moving on? Probably I should go with the general concensus from the people who are much more knowledgable than I, all of you.....thanks


I did check my delivery manifest, it checked off for the front axle case. Guess they checked the paper but not the tractor.

 

[BigD23]

If you have documented your findings, dates/hours on machine, I would think you'd have no problem with dealer corrections...Good luck.

Don