Kubota B3350 tractor regeneration problems

[Redbo James]

I agree with you regarding Kubota. I've owned Deere, Ford, and Ferguson. But for cold weather starts after long periods of non use, that 1957 Ferguson F40 was second to none.

 

[oldpilgrim]

My 1952 Ferguson started the same when it was hot or in a deep freeze..one quarter turn of the engine and it purred like a kitten. It was amazing that way.

 

[guardrail22]

so if I'm looking at a 2013 B3350 HSDC BLT with 546 hours on it what should I ask? And by the way its canadian

 

[bumperm]

so if I'm looking at a 2013 B3350 HSDC BLT with 546 hours on it what should I ask? And by the way its canadian

If you're buying from a dealer, make sure it has the emission system updates for operation in cold conditions.

Enjoy.

bumper

 

[NC Plotter]

I would make sure the required updates have been completed to the tractor, whether buying from a dealer or not. There is a mandatory "campaign" where these machines must be brought in to a servicing dealer and checked out with the reformer, thermostat, etc. replaced as needed.

Just as an update with mine, once the reformer was replaced and the required work completed, I have had no further complications. However, a heads up to anyone who reads this - my machine starts autoregens at around 12-13 hours, but the run time between regens decreases about 1 hour every time. So after about 8 regens, it was doing it every 4 hours, which becomes a real pain, since it takes 30 minutes and the machine cannot be shut off during the process. There for awhile it was like playing Russian roulette every time I cranked the engine for a short task, hoping that it wouldn't autoregen. When it got down to a 4-hr interval, it required a parked regen, which then bumped the interval back up to 12-13 hours. The machine now has around 130 hours and runs fine.

Frankly, I feel that is a little frequent, but I can live with it. At around a 12 hour interval it's no problem, but when it gets down to 4-5, it becomes a pain. I wish they had engineered this DPF, or at least the replacement for a little longer interval. At 20-30 hour intervals, it would really be a non-issue.

 

[NC Plotter]

I should also add that I tried to make it do a manual parked regen in advance when the interval started becoming short, and I couldn't get the tractor to do it. I had to wait for it to "ask" for a parked regen to perform one. Not sure if I did something wrong or you can't make it park regen on demand.

 

[sandyc]

Don't believe that you can ask for a parked regen. It would be more convenient. Maybe with the next iteration!

 

[bumperm]

I haven't had any updates done to my Nov 13 B3350 yet. Now with 269 hours, the last two "running" regens were at 247 and 266 for 19 hours between. Not bad I guess.

Now I do try to run at >2000 most of the time, but when spraying or other low power work, will sometimes run at >1800. On my early model, the default is for no auto regen. I have to push the auto regen button to enable that feature, and I'll do that if I'm doing something with the tractor that I know will take at least 20 minutes. For quick stuff, like moving the tractor or lifting something, I just don't push the button. Then if it wants a regen anyway, the regen light will flash but only as a warning that it's needed. If ignored, and auto regen is not selected, or if it is selected but RPM isn't high enough (>2000), then it will finally ask for a parked regen - I've done that only once. I have interrupted an auto regen in progress - - I'm sure it didn't like that, but seemed to handle it okay as I pushed the auto regen the next time I needed to use the tractor and it did the regen then.

I understand that later versions default to auto regen each time they are started, but I'm okay with the way mine is set up.

 

[allen in texas]

Glad I read this thread. I just priced a B3350 today with loader, 72 belly mower and catcher. It very seldom get below 15 degrees here and I never blow snow, (thank goodness). Seems that all of this regen issue is happening in colder climates. Even so I may consider the smaller tractor.
Anyway, My GL5740 needs a playmate so I'm looking.

 

[bumperm]

I did some serious cogitating about the differences between the B2650 and B3350. Considering power loss to altitude for normally aspirated (3% per thousand feet), I went with the turbo. There have been times while bush hogging, that all of that was needed and a bit more, and that was moving slow, tall, thick grassy weeds. Though normally it doesn't so much as hiccup, plenty of power.

Still, if I were doing it again I'd seriously reconsider the 2650.