F2690 quality issues

[ironpen]

My F2690 now has 700 hours. It is a 2017 (or maybe 2018) model. Thus far I've had to replace the gearbox on the deck this year and recently I have had to replace the water pump on the motor. Also I had to get my mechanic straighten the arms that connects the deck to the body of the mower. I have a New Holland MC 35 that is a 2003 model and I have never had these kinds of problems. Not heavy duty use....just cutting grass on level ground and it is well established and no heavy cutting required. Home and church yards. Is Kubota using inferior raw materials?? This is very disturbing to me. Comments are welcome.

 

[arto98607]

The mower deck must have been hitting something in order to bend the lift arms - has it been it driven by hired help?

 

[ironpen]

No I am the only driver and no I have not hit anything.

 

[RickB]

No I am the only driver and no I have not hit anything.

That's hard to believe. I've seen these mowers with 5x those hours with straight original arms.

 

[ironpen]

Well it's happened to me. And how about the gear box and water pump?

 

[Ortimber]

It's been my experience that Kubota generally builds quality products. What you are describing is definitely not the norm.
Sorry for the bad luck.

 

[RickB]

Well it's happened to me. And how about the gear box and water pump?

How about them? Seals can fail. Sometimes before they should, sometimes from external causes. I don't know how or why your water pump or mower gearbox failed but odds are both began with seal failures from undetermined causes. If you don't know, I sure don't.
But I think it's a safe bet your mower lift arms didn't bend because they are under designed.
If you're looking for some kind of argument I'm not your guy.

 

[Hay Dude]

After running a commercial Kubota diesel zero turn for 3 years over crap ground (roots, holes, dirt, etc) I am convinced they are very tough machines.
I rebuilt my mower gearbox at 2000 hours. It was about $600. Didn’t think that was anything to complain about.

 

[ironpen]

My gearbox was $1100. I have a mechanic who keeps everything up to snuff and is very good. I have 4 mowers...a 1999, 2003, 1984 in addition to the Kubota and have them meticulously maintained. Also a 100 inch Rhino, 90 inch Woods and a 121 inch Land Pride that are pull behind finishing mowers and other than an occasional spindle have never had such problems. I am wondering if they are using foreign steel in this newer mower??

 

[Iamblessed]

I cannot give any insight on early water pump failure. Also I don't see how the lift arms got bent as I routinely step on the step plate on deck to get on my mower even if it is in raised position so I know the arms are very strong. I do have some comments on the gearbox failure. Mine is a F2680 that I purchased used with only 17 hours on it in July 2013. The only repair that I have had to do other than maintenance was to replace the deck spindle bearings on just one spindle. This was right after I bought it at less than 50 hours. I took spindle off and carried to dealer in Clanton, Al and they repaired with new bearings. Mechanic said this was not first instance that he had seen where spindle wasn't greased properly when new. The Kubota operators manual states to replace the gearbox seals every two years which I haven't done but did do Jan 2018 when it had slightly over 600 hours on it. If the gearbox loses the oil you are going to ruin it quickly. Now my main question is why did you have to buy a new gearbox? I removed my gearbox and again carried to dealer for replacement of the seals as it looked like more of a job than my pay grade allows. Unless the gearbox housing is damaged you can rebuild it for far less than $1100. I still have ticket on my repair and it totals $125.22 parts and labor for gearbox seals and bearings. I remember reading where John Thomas had to replace a gearbox but that was totally neglect in my opinion. Another story. It is hard for me to remember to check gearbox oil routinely or daily but I do try to check it when i do oil changes etc. I am coming up on 1000 hours on mine and I have been totally satisfied with it but I would like to see some changes to how you adjust the cutting height. I just measure how far the adjuster supports stick above the housing but would like to be able to quickly change the height from seat similar to a zero turn.