Gotta bash the BX a Bit...

[Henro]

Sorry Junkman!

I was looking at the tractorsmart.com site yesterday and almost fell off my chair when by chance I noticed the price of a starter for the BX2200...$484.13 !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Last evening I was paging through a catalog (Agra supply or similar name, catalog not handy at the moment) and replacement starters for many tractors in that catalog were priced around $50, and that included diesel tractors...now they may have been rebuilt starters, and I don't remember if it was an exchange price, but still...

Wonder if all colors of CUTs or SubCuts share excessively high replacement parts prices? Somehow it does not seem like a small pile of starters (maybe 18 or so) should have the same value as a complete BX... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Come to think of it, the bx comes with a starter, so we have to make that little pile one starter smaller for comparison purposes...

Guess I am really bashing Kubota, not the BX... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

I suppose I should not be surprised, but the starter us such a relatively simple part of an outherwise complex machine. Suppose I better not check what an injector pump might cost as I don't feel like passing out... or worse...

 

[RayBee]

WOW and ZOWIE !! I hope you never need to replace one .....(a starter, that is).
Maybe you could devise a handcrank method /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif You're pretty clever, Bill /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( WOW and ZOWIE !! I hope you never need one .....(a starter, that is).
Maybe you could devise a handcrank method /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif You're pretty clever, Bill /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif )</font>


Hmmm . . . I need the starter ever time I fire up the tractors /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[chucko]

I starter shop should be able to rebuild one. I had the same time with a boat starter one time happen. The new one was 100s of dollors . Starter shop charged me <50

 

[Junkman]

Sorry Henro...

The price of the starter is in line with most OEM electrical parts when you purchase them from the manufacturer. Check the price of the starter for your car for a new one at the dealership. These items are no longer inexpensive to purchase parts for and the aftermarket re-builders probably won't have one for it either. The number of local shops that rebuild starters are also diminishing today. There might be a time that you won't be able to have it rebuilt and a replacement from Kubota might be the only thing that you can get. Treat your starter well and it should last you a very long time. So long, that possibly only factory authorized rebuild units will be the only thing available. One final note, don't ever strike the starter with a hammer like you might have done on the old clunker car to get it to work. Many of the small engine starters have ceramic magnets and the blow of the hammer will break them. It doesn't take much to ruin them. Just remember... NO MORE BASHING!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[gsxr1100]

Well $484.12 for a starter is a total rip off by Kubota. They should be ashamed. I would have to think Kubota makes most profits on "spares"; but this mark-up is a joke. I would also guess that it is around $120 their price. Nothing like "putting"; it to their customers.

Example, when I had my Ford powerstroke Ford wanted $750 for a starter (Get real Ford). Now, Ford engine parts are made by International. So I went to International and asked. They said $520. I then called my Buddy that repair rigs and his price is around $440. Again same starter and 41% delta!

Same things for my motorcycle. Suzuki wants $313.45 for my 1100 starter when I can make some calls and get the same OEM part for about $200. Just look and do some research online.

Same thing for my Lexus, that starter is $275.46. Make some calls and get the same thing for under $150.....same item

As I have to disagree with Junkman since 99% of these items are made overseas. Labor is cheaper, materials, benefits, tax breaks or lack there of, housing etc. Thank god since the quality is better; but, the price is that same as if it was made in the USA. Thank your good-old corporate America for that!

Most of the time parts today are throw away. Just buy a new one. Starters or even Kubota starters are not rocket science and nothing special. I think the marketing person that proposed this price must have gotten an award!

As much as people like Kubota, including me, loyalty is thrown out the window with this one.

 

[TresCrows]

You comapring apples (new) and oranges (reman) and you will be able to get a starter for less than 500 dollars. The OEM new starter for my little Toyota is 350 dollars. I replaced it with a factory rebuilt for under 100 I think it was. You can also have the starter rebuilt I am sure. A new starter is going to cost much more than a rebuilt and most of the starters in those generic catalogs are rebuilts, remans etc. If you wanted cheap parts should gotta a 8N. I imagine that you don't need a starter right now.
Don't worry Henro, it's gonna be OK.
Let me worry you some more, HST tractors, regardless of brand are considered disposable I was told recently by a blue dealer. He said the cost of a rebuild generally prompted a trade in for a new unit. Since I don't actually work on tractors I suspect he is messing with me. I just pretended to be dumb and poked the ground with my foot and put on my best southern Gomer Pyle act /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. We will see.
There is something to what he said. Take motorcycles. My boss bought a Honda Shadow cruiser. It cost about 7,500 dollars. One of the guys that works for me bought a Harley cruiser, it cost 25,000 dollars. The Honda runs smoothly and will probably run that way for 60,000 miles. The Harley has already required several repairs and it only has a few thousand miles. The difference is though, the Honda parts cost a ton and the Harley parts can be bought practically at Wal Mart. Soooo, all of these imported Japanese tractors and what not don't break down very often but when they do it may well cost you a bit more that if you had a 1968 Massey Fergeson. J

 

[DanR67]

While I haven't priced anything major for my B7610 yet - I'm pretty sure that *new* OEM parts will simply be expensive - just like any part that you get straight from a dealer (cars / bikes / tractors etc.) - wonder what comparable starters from JD / NH / etc. etc cost? I'd be surprised if it were just Kubota...

If you went to any car dealer and "parted out" an entire car - it would easily cost 5 - 10 X as much as the car on the lot

Based on recommendations read here at TBN - I have purchased the "shop manual" for my CUT (@ $75) - and I think there are @ 10 pages dealing exclusively with repairing the starter. While I hope that I never need it - I think I'll be able to *do it myself* in most repair cases - for sure I'll look into "repairing" something when possible if the replacement (new) part cost is *unreasonable.*

Just my 2 cents....

Dan

 

[dty]

I priced a replacment bolt & clip for the foladable ROPS on my 7610 at TractorSmart... $34.00. That starter sounds like a good deal!

 

[thcri]

Henro,

Drilling holes in the starter will:

#1 Void any Warranties
#2 Prevent the Starter from working properly
#3 Make starter non-rebuildable
#4 Could cause rust or cancer
#5 Could result in electrical shock
#6 Drain Pocket Book
#7 A chewing out by wife if you have one?


murph /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif