Kubota history

knucklehead · May 26, 2002

Hey

Why don't we try to do a history of Kubota?

A couple of you guys mentioned this in several places. I would really like to see this done. How do we start - parts books? Who has info? Corporate records should have some sort of history. Do they understand the value of creating this kind of heritage? Are they in Japan? Are they here in the US? I'm as dumb as they come, but I'm willing to try.

My Dad bought a used 1976 L285 (I think it was a 285 - 30 hp) 2wd with manual steering and a bucket (oof!) back in '86, and it is a tough little tractor. He just sold it last year for what he paid, and bought a brand-dee-new 3010 HST. They've earned a lot of our respect, and I'd really like to see at least a brief technical list of models, specs, etc., maybe augmented with a little company history. There are so many books out there with glossy pics and no info, it would be nice to get some detail. I'm willing to dig a little, call, document, collate, serve coffee (virtual coffee, that is) Could we break it into years? Models? If we all took a little bite, maybe it wouldn't be so hard. Should we start with the L's?

Mark in ME

Grunge · May 26, 2002

This is off of the Kubota site at www.kubota.com:

In 1969, just eight years after manufacturing its first tractor, Kubota Corporation introduced the company's first tractor to the United States. Filling a void in the American marketplace, the Kubota 21 horsepower L200 was an overnight success.

TresCrows · May 27, 2002

Kubota put out a real nice book a few years ago--Kubota in America---I had a copy but have misplaced it. It had some nice pictures and some of the companies history. I wish I could find my copy or get another. Go to the book stores and all you find are books about funky old row crop tractors. I sure would like a coffee table book with pictures of Kubotas and Kubota people working/mowing/tilling/tractoring. J

Anonymous Poster · May 27, 2002

In Australia Kubota were first imported by Moblico around 1970. Models imported were the KF walk behind rotary tiller -
I still have one my father bought then and it is in perfect condition. The RV70 and RV90 tractors were imported. They were a 7HP 2 wheel drive tractor with tiller using a non standard linkage system. These tractors were superceded by the B6000 which really put Kubota on the map. Manuals issued at that time said Kubota employed 17.000 people.
I would be wary of historical documents supplied by Kubota America as they have been found to modify the truth at times to satisfy their own ends.

Thomas · May 27, 2002

tractortips.com might have some info.

frank_f15 · May 27, 2002

MARK: good topic. can't help much with documented info, but i 1st remember hearing about kubota about 30 years ago, they were this little tractor made in japan, supposed to be strong, but a little high priced, plus they were new, so not many people were buying them(afarid i guess) how things have changed !

knucklehead · May 28, 2002

Neat responses, guys! So according to their own website, they started in 1961 +/-, imported their first product to the US in 1969, and it was an L200. I'd also like to see that Kubota in America book. I think I've seen that book - it's a booklet available at dealers, isn't it? When I go over, I'll see if they have any, and snag several. If it's the one I am thinking of, I sort of passed it up as a pile of Ad's at the time, as I was in the tech spec mode.

Ditto on the "row crop" books - I've been trying to beef up the library and it is real sparse. It comes in bits and pieces - I like those illustrated buyers guides you can get for various cars, trucks, bikes, and tractors. I guess the cost is too high to specialize, and manuals are readily available. Mr. Miller seems to have info - I searched the net, but I guess not as extensively.

frank_f15 · May 28, 2002

mark ; u will find the john miller has info on everything with photo to boot/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif he probably has info on me without photos i hope/w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

TresCrows · May 31, 2002

Here is a pic of the cover of a booklet at Kubota dealers, "Americans on Kubotas", this is not the same book I metioned earlier, "Kubota in America". It has some intersting testimonials and neat pics.
I always wonder why unregistered guests jump into the Kubota forum and question the veracity of Kubota with things like--"better be wary of Kubota" and bla, bla. I am pretty sure that they are at least as factual as any other manufacturer, don't answer, it would not be worth the space. J, ever wary

knucklehead · May 31, 2002

That's the document I was thinking of. I was at a dealer's today and got talking about new ones, and implemements, and forgot to snag a copy. I think I'll be going back, though /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif. Regarding the "cautions", I've seen plenty on this board, and heard plenty "around", and absent facts, I file them for future reference. I don't like Chevies (<font color=red>HIT ME</font color=red>, guys), but I have no reason. Someone told me the difference between Chevy and GMC is that they use lock washers behind the nuts on the Jimmies.

I'll ask the dealer the same question re: history.

Anonymous Poster · May 31, 2002

Our dealership is the oldest in PA. We started in 1970 and sold L210 and L260's and it was a hard road for "jap" tractors to be accepted. In 73 or 74 they came out with the B6000Dt and it was a hit, other than the backwards running PTO. I could go on all night about all the old kubota's but I dont type that well. We got our tractors from Marubina trading Co there was not even a Kubota tractor corp. of America yet. I could write a book on both old & new kubotas. Bob Artman Jr. VP. Artman Equipment Inc.

Anonymous Poster · May 31, 2002

Early Kubotas we not expensive a new L210 with an L59 Woods mower sold for $2150.00. The dollar Yen rate in71,72 was right around 380 yen to 1 dollar. At first they where actually selling against used tractors.

knucklehead · Jun 1, 2002

So, how do we get you to start putting it all down? Do you happen to have saved any old sales brochures, or dealer type books with models, years, etc.?

Anonymous Poster · Jun 1, 2002

We have lots of old lit & and dealer manuals. As far as putting it to paper I have thought about it several times, I just dont know if the intrest would be there for a book like this.

knucklehead · Jun 2, 2002

Yes, I understand that a book such as this would be highly specialized. I wonder how companies such as <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.motorbooks.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/mbi.woa/wa/default>Classic Motorbooks</A> finance their books?

I hope you plan to retain your older material. I'm sure many of us would be interested in your resources for older tractors.

Have you considered, or possibly made some sort of start, such as organizing the material by model, by year, or something? I am only familiar with a few Kubota madels, but the "B" and "L" series seem to have been around for a while.

smthng2do · Jun 2, 2002

I work for a dealer in San Diego County. We have been a Kubota dealer since the beginning. We sold 250 Kubotas at a time to growers. The B6000, and the B7100 being the most popular due to their size. They provided great power, yet they were small enough to manuever through the groves without knocking the fruit off of the trees. The B6000 was a wet sleeve, and is still one of the most reliable little tractors. As mentioned before, the PTO running backwards was a bummer, but there was a reverser kit made available so that other implements besides the Woods implements could be used. Last check though, there were only 75 sleeves available. The only knock I have on Kubota, is that they are obsoleting their parts too quickly. Harnesses and gearing mostly. The majority of the work I do is still on tractors that are 25 years old. I have every spec and bulletin for these tractors dating back to '70. As far as literature & history, there isn't much out there. However, I can provide specs for you if you like.

frank_f15 · Jun 2, 2002

was wondering if u or bob 2 could give a hint on how kubota(other manufactures also) designate thei tractor models? i.e. my friends 12 year old b8200 is very similar to the current b7100 or b7500, i beleive. or am i missing something here?

smthng2do · Jun 3, 2002

Well, I would have to go to the books to give you an exact break down. In the early days, there was no horsepower designation related to the model number as they are now. Like the BX2200 being 22 HP, or the BX1800 being 18 HP. The 8200 was a lot bigger than the 7100, 7200, etc.

The engine model designation comes from the first letter of the German word for each number. (Seeing how the diesel was German invented).

E = 1 Cyl.
Z = 2 Cyl.
D = 3 Cyl.
V = 4 Cyl.
F = 5 Cyl.
S = 6 Cyl.

The number after the letter designation is the rough estimate of the CC's of the engine. Like, for instance, the B8200, has an engine model of D950-DT. This would be a four wheel drive 3 cylinder engine with approximately 950 CC's. The 7100 is a D750. An L200 was a Z1100A, so it was a 2 banger with about 1100 CC's.

The B7100 was rated at 13.2 PTO horsepower, while the 8200 was rated at 16.0. Both less with HST trans of course. So, there was no true way of breaking down the model of the tractors early on just by reading the tractor model number.

Anonymous Poster · Jun 4, 2002

<font color=blue>The only knock I have on Kubota, is that they are obsoleting their parts too quickly. Harnesses and gearing mostly.</font color=blue>
How soon do they do this?? I realize it has to happen sooner or later.
Jemi

smthng2do · Jun 4, 2002

Well, I am seeing it on L245's, L295's, all the old B series, including the 6000, 7000, 7100<HST>. These tractors are between 20 and 25 years old. Harnesses are no biggy, although it does take time to make a harness, it is usually easier, and cheaper to buy one rather than make one, but to make a 4-wheel drive shift fork for an L295 is not as easy. I have been able to order a shift fork for an L185, and modify if to work with the L295. Seems the L295 is the hardest one so far, but the 175, 185, 265, 285....they are all going through the gearing thing. I don't know how many of these units they sold nation wide, and it may have something to do with their obsoleteing parts, however, there is still a huge demand for parts in my locale for the smaller B series. Sector shafts for the B6000, before they changes the design. Entire sterring assy's are available, but many of the internal components are not. My only gripe. Wish they had better support for the older models on parts.