"IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR ALL NEW M SERIES OWNERS"

[Muleskinner]

As for hard shifting between high and low range, get some hours on the tractor and it goes away.

 

[Glowplug]

Muleskinner,

Ummmmmm. . . . . . .I didn't mean to offend.
You hurt my feelings.

 

[riptides]

And what pray tell is an "RTV" thread? And how do you access it?

Sorry,

The Kubota RTV is discussed here RTV-ATV forum

In there you will find posts and responses to many first year issues that dealers and Kubota owned up too.

- Leaking fuel caps
- Hood hinge replacements
- Exhaust spark arrestors
- Rattling front ends and to some extent

- hard shifting.

So what I am getting at, is some dealers seem to have more pull in getting problems resolved. I think the Kubota brand is of good quality and they seem to fix issues, but like everything else in life, nothing is perfect.

Good luck with your harness issues.

-Mike Z.

 

[Muleskinner]

Well I heard from the Kubota rep today. He said the first 1000 or so new M series tractors did not come with the wiring loom to include all of the warning lights. He further stated at this time Kubota's stance is the early affected tractors will not be retrofitted by Kubota to make the warning lights work. I told him this was not a satisfactory answer and I wanted him to seek assistance further up the chain at Kubota.

I find this answer from Kubota to be completely unsatisfactory. I have purchased four tractors form Kubota and have come to expect better from them. It appears if Kubota continues this stance, the only way early M series owners like myself will get the lights to work is to seek help from the legal system as in a "Class action lawsuit." What say you?

 

[Glowplug]

Well I heard from the Kubota rep today. He said the first 1000 or so new M series tractors did not come with the wiring loom to include all of the warning lights. He further stated at this time Kubota's stance is the early affected tractors will not be retrofitted by Kubota to make the warning lights work. I told him this was not a satisfactory answer and I wanted him to seek assistance further up the chain at Kubota.

I find this answer from Kubota to be completely unsatisfactory. I have purchased four tractors form Kubota and have come to expect better from them. It appears if Kubota continues this stance, the only way early M series owners like myself will get the lights to work is to seek help from the legal system as in a "Class action lawsuit." What say you?

I'd have to say I agree with you. I really find that stance unbelievable from a company like Kubota. If there were only 1,000 affected it doesn't seem like it would be a big deal to fix the problem and retrofit the early models with the warning light electronics. They could issue a voluntary recall. If you have one of these early models Kubota could fix them free of charge for those who desire it. Of course, many of those owners may not desire it and many may not even be aware of a problem. And there may be some of those early models still sitting on lots unsold. They would likely only have to take care of a couple hundred tractors I would think at most. It seems to me like a very little price to pay to maintain good public relations. The consequences of bad PR could be much more costly in the long term.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Well I heard from the Kubota rep today. He said the first 1000 or so new M series tractors did not come with the wiring loom to include all of the warning lights. He further stated at this time Kubota's stance is the early affected tractors will not be retrofitted by Kubota to make the warning lights work. I told him this was not a satisfactory answer and I wanted him to seek assistance further up the chain at Kubota.

That's pretty outrageous in my view. I could understand doing a patch instead of replacing the entire tractor, but to say they're doing nothing is so ridiculous it's laughable (at least for someone who doesn't own an M-series, and probably isn't going to if this is Kubota's attitude).

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

CONCERN: Some dealers and customers are confused about the 4-Wheel drive light on the dash panel. Some customers are noticing that the 4-Wheel drive light on their dash is NOT lighting when the tractor is in four wheel drive. Some of the later production models will have the 4-wheel drive light appear when the tractor is in four wheel drive. This is causing dealers and customers to wonder if the dash panel is operating correctly.

SOLUTION: The factory made running production change on M-40 series. They added four wheel drive monitoring to the M-40 series tractors. The serial number breaks for this production change are listed below. If your tractor’s model number is below the serial number break then the four drive light should not be seen on the dash panel.

These tractors have four wheel drive monitoring!
Model Number Serial Number
M5040DT/HD 50822 or higher
M6040DT/HD 50668 or higher
M7040DT/HD 51274 or higher
M8540DT/HD 50816 or higher
M9540DT/HD 51460 or higher


Looks to me that Kubota is saying this is a 4WD issue only. Thats it. You should not have problems with any other dash lights, if you do - then you have a leg to stand on to get it fixed. If not, your not just lacking the light - but the entire system. There is nothing wrong with the tractor, it was just shipped before this feature was added to these models.

 

[Muleskinner]

CONCERN: Some dealers and customers are confused about the 4-Wheel drive light on the dash panel. Some customers are noticing that the 4-Wheel drive light on their dash is NOT lighting when the tractor is in four wheel drive. Some of the later production models will have the 4-wheel drive light appear when the tractor is in four wheel drive. This is causing dealers and customers to wonder if the dash panel is operating correctly.

SOLUTION: The factory made running production change on M-40 series. They added four wheel drive monitoring to the M-40 series tractors. The serial number breaks for this production change are listed below. If your tractor’s model number is below the serial number break then the four drive light should not be seen on the dash panel.

These tractors have four wheel drive monitoring!
Model Number Serial Number
M5040DT/HD 50822 or higher
M6040DT/HD 50668 or higher
M7040DT/HD 51274 or higher
M8540DT/HD 50816 or higher
M9540DT/HD 51460 or higher


Looks to me that Kubota is saying this is a 4WD issue only. Thats it. You should not have problems with any other dash lights, if you do - then you have a leg to stand on to get it fixed. If not, your not just lacking the light - but the entire system. There is nothing wrong with the tractor, it was just shipped before this feature was added to these models.

There's more to it than just the 4X4 light. The low fuel light and the preheat light do not work also. My preheat light has been fixed by my dealer, but not the low fuel light. I guess the old adage, "Don't buy a first year production new model product" applies here.

 

[riptides]

Wow, that is not the answer a lot of us hoped to hear. In fact it is unacceptable. IMHO it borders on false advertising and lack of safety controls that are a part of the machine. It should have been communicated by Kubota and the dealership that these items are not hooked up.

-Mike Z.

 

[m7040]

Mine has the the oil and charging light come on when the key is turned to first position. Also the preheat comes on when temp is low enough and this weekend the low fuel light came on when the tank was close to empty. That is it, no 4 wheel drive light is there at anytime and neither are 5 or 6 other shaded symbols in the middle of the dash. So what am I missing, lets see the 4 wheel drive light for sure but what about the hidden symbols in the middle of the dash? Are they funtioning on the later tractors or NOT? Chuck, do you have the same as I do except your 4 wheel drive light works?

 

[Glowplug]

Mine has the the oil and charging light come on when the key is turned to first position. Also the preheat comes on when temp is low enough and this weekend the low fuel light came on when the tank was close to empty. That is it, no 4 wheel drive light is there at anytime and neither are 5 or 6 other shaded symbols in the middle of the dash. So what am I missing, lets see the 4 wheel drive light for sure but what about the hidden symbols in the middle of the dash? Are they funtioning on the later tractors or NOT? Chuck, do you have the same as I do except your 4 wheel drive light works?

Yes.

It sounds like you're basically set and okay. You likely just have a model that doesn't have the 4WD monitor included. Have you checked your serial number with those that Messick posted? When the key is turned to the "ON" position, before turning to "START" you should have the electrical charge indicator and oil pressure lights come on as well as the glow plug indicator if it is cold enough. The only other lights that I know of are the fuel level indicator, the PTO clutch indicator lights, and the green 4WD indicator light.

I may go look closely at the dash and see if I can see any shaded lights once my tractor gets back from the hospital. But I've never had any other lights come on; nor do I see any mention of any other warning lights on the instrument panel in the owner's manual.

You're not talking about the shaded symbols on the LCD display? Those that don't light up are used during programming the travel speed coefficient when using different sized tires.

 

[m7040]

thanks, Yes basically missing the 4 wheel drive light for sure. All others are there except there are several more in the center dash where the preheat light is that dont light up and as you say no mention of it in the manual. Traveling this week out of state so will have to check the serial numbers when I get back.

 

[Glowplug]

I'll have to take a look at the central instrument panel when my tractor gets home. I am very curious about these other lights.

. . .I miss my tractor. I hope it's doing okay.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

There ARE going to be lights that do not work on the dash panel. That same dash is also used one several other tractors that may have additional featurs like bi-speed turn and stuff that do not exist on every machine. All the lights are not going to work on anyones machine because no machine has every feature. If you don't have the 4WD light, your up the creak because the feature was added to those machines after the fact and where not part of origional production. If you've got another problem with a fuel light or somthing else make sure your very clear about which light is not working in any conversations with your dealer or Kubota. Its likley that if a tech hears about dash light problems they will link it with the 4WD system, you need to be specific so they know its somthing else.

 

[mopiflyer]

These tractors have four wheel drive monitoring!
Model Number Serial Number
M5040DT/HD 50822 or higher
M6040DT/HD 50668 or higher
M7040DT/HD 51274 or higher
M8540DT/HD 50816 or higher
M9540DT/HD 51460 or higher

I have a M7040 SN 51272 HDC that has the 4WD light item...for what it's worth...lucky I guess


Don

 

[Muleskinner]

I have a M7040 SN 51272 HDC that has the 4WD light item...for what it's worth...lucky I guess


Don

Do your low fuel and preheat lights work also?

 

[m7040]

What is the story on the FEL curl cylinders? Is there a SN number above which there is a design change? What is acceptable drift? Assume when not running that some settling will happen like if sitting overnight? But if running there should be none or very little drift? Is that correct? The dealer repaired mine under warranty and the drift is much better but still droops some when running over time.

 

[mopiflyer]

Do your low fuel and preheat lights work also?

Well, the preheat light works..i guess that is the little green curly affair... and I don't know about the low fuel. i keep it filled up in the winter especially...and i only have 32 hours on it...mostly from movin' hay and snow .

Don

 

[Muleskinner]

What is the story on the FEL curl cylinders? Is there a SN number above which there is a design change? What is acceptable drift? Assume when not running that some settling will happen like if sitting overnight? But if running there should be none or very little drift? Is that correct? The dealer repaired mine under warranty and the drift is much better but still droops some when running over time.

Before my cylinders went bad and with the new cylinders, I can leave the tractor overnite at the very least with no movement of the bucket.

 

[Muleskinner]

I wanted to bring the board members up to date on my warning light issue. It is now Feburary 20th, 2007 and I have heard nothing from the Southern California Kubota service rep regarding my problem. I guess he feels if he ignores me I will go away. Not.