Kubota GR2100 Dead Tranny - Sell As is or Fix & Sell

[Venturabass]

Okay so I've been leaning towards fixing the machine. Today I was calling around to a few different Kubota dealers in my area trying to track down a transmission, and landed on some very interesting information. I had 2 separate dealers tell me that Kubota doesn't offer a full replacement drop in transmission for the GR2100, and they don't know why my local dealer would have told me that other than they're confused. The only thing I was told Kubota offers is a rebuild kit with some gears, bearings, etc, and that I'd probably had to buy additional parts for the PTO clutch.

This is very disheartening. Which is it? Does Kubota offer a brand new transmission, or do they only offer the parts? The rebuild kit was $350, plus $40 or so for some special gasket sealant, and of course the parts that broke internally. They said book was 8 hours to repair the tranny, but they didn't think that was accurate (more). This other dealer told me the repair had to be very meticulous, and if its not done just right, the tractor will never be the same. They had a service tech that did quite a few rebuilds but he recently left the dealership. Their other guy only did a handful.

So if I add all this up, the repair would likely be a fair bit less than the replacement, and I was told the parts are available now. My local dealer again quoted me the $3000 for the completely new unit, or $3500-4000 for a repair!? Seemed like a no brainer to me.

Now I'm totally confused, and kind of PO'd if I've truly been getting bad information from my local dealer, while my machine has been sitting there waiting for some mystical transmission that doesn't exist. And the thought of a rebuild scares me more than ever, because I'm at the mercy of whether the tech really knows what they're doing to make sure it's done right.

Can anyone confirm if Kubota ever offered replacement transmissions for this machine?

 

[Duster2]

Okay so I've been leaning towards fixing the machine. Today I was calling around to a few different Kubota dealers in my area trying to track down a transmission, and landed on some very interesting information. I had 2 separate dealers tell me that Kubota doesn't offer a full replacement drop in transmission for the GR2100, and they don't know why my local dealer would have told me that other than they're confused. The only thing I was told Kubota offers is a rebuild kit with some gears, bearings, etc, and that I'd probably had to buy additional parts for the PTO clutch.

This is very disheartening. Which is it? Does Kubota offer a brand new transmission, or do they only offer the parts? The rebuild kit was $350, plus $40 or so for some special gasket sealant, and of course the parts that broke internally. They said book was 8 hours to repair the tranny, but they didn't think that was accurate (more). This other dealer told me the repair had to be very meticulous, and if its not done just right, the tractor will never be the same. They had a service tech that did quite a few rebuilds but he recently left the dealership. Their other guy only did a handful.

So if I add all this up, the repair would likely be a fair bit less than the replacement, and I was told the parts are available now. My local dealer again quoted me the $3000 for the completely new unit, or $3500-4000 for a repair!? Seemed like a no brainer to me.

Now I'm totally confused, and kind of PO'd if I've truly been getting bad information from my local dealer, while my machine has been sitting there waiting for some mystical transmission that doesn't exist. And the thought of a rebuild scares me more than ever, because I'm at the mercy of whether the tech really knows what they're doing to make sure it's done right.

Can anyone confirm if Kubota ever offered replacement transmissions for this machine?

I need a hood for our GR2100 if you decide to part yours out.

 

[4570Man]

I think you could part it out and make more money. You have the MMM which is worth some cash, and the diesel which is worth a pretty penny. You still have all the other parts which are worth money. How does the snow blower mount? Will it fit another tractor like a BX.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I think you could part it out and make more money. You have the MMM which is worth some cash, and the diesel which is worth a pretty penny. You still have all the other parts which are worth money. How does the snow blower mount? Will it fit another tractor like a BX.

Here is how the GR2728 snowblower mounts. I do not think this would work on a BX. Philip.

 

[lakeridge]

I just had a similar failure on my GR2100. Ordered and installed a complete GR20 transmission kit in my older model. Kit includes all the parts required to convert the pto linkage over to the new hydraulic design. My dealer in Canada was able to supply the transmission assembly within one day. I installed the new transmission myself with little or no issues since the transmission was a complete assembly. Just bolt it in, add the new linkage and add oil. P/N of the transmission kit was K12529100.
You will also have to replace or shorten the length of the snowblower driveshaft. The PTO shaft housing is longer on the new transmission due to the hydraulic engagement of the new transmission.
Also disassembled the old transmission. Inspection indicated that the rear pto clutch support bearing had failed. When the pto is mechanically engaged thrust is applied to the side of this bearing. A ball bearing is not designed to experience this type of side thrust and expect that is why it failed. With the new hydraulic clutch design you should not encounter this same type of bearing load.

 

[AxleHub]

Lakeridge,

Just for clarification . . Any idea how many of your hours it took to accomplish the tasks described? And are you a skilled mechanic or a major diy'er or more a handy homeowner?

Sure sounds like a smooth way to accomplish the tasks.

 

[kcender]

Lakeridge,are you willing to say how much you paid for the transmission?I am just curious.

 

[Venturabass]

I need a hood for our GR2100 if you decide to part yours out.

I ended up having he dealer fix it and install the new style glidesteer cables that run more longitudinally vs transverse across the front axle. They had to make the mods others have described. So far im very very pleased. Also the new hydraulic pto clutch on the replacement transmission is so much smoother than the original mechanical one. Ive mowed all summer without any problems.

 

[smokerench]

My GR2100 has two fuel filters. I had heard about the transaxle problem shortly after I bought it new. I have changed the oil in that twice a year. It's only a gallon and I use Kubota UDT. Only problem I've had is that I don't get to use it anymore since the wife started driving it she Greases it by the manual before every use. Only parts in it to date are blades and both glide steer cables. Kabota sells new transmission cases for that model And it has the bearings with the kit. I only use Messicks out of Pennsylvania for all my parts and filters. The number on that case K1254-9521

 

[RichardMeyer]

I purchased a GR2100 tractor , mower, bagger and snowblower new in 2004 for $10,800. That tractor is one of the worst tractors that kubota has ever produced. Two years ago I traded it in after replacing the pto clutch. The last few years of ownership something on it would fail every year. Keep in mind it was garage stored and only had 375 hours on it when it was traded in. My dealer continually told me for years to just trade it back in because of all of the design flaws but I was too stubborn and felt the same way about losing money on something that cost so much.
I wish I had been less stubborn and just traded it in years ago and taken the loss then. It surly would have been less expensive than putting $1500 year in repairs.