Kubota's HST fan protection

[beckmurph]

I have discovered that Kubota's $39, plus tax and shipping, HST fan protection does not work.:confused3:
Thought I would start the New Year out right and change oil and filters on the BX25. Changed the engine oil and filter, then changed the HST filter. I had loosened up one side of the "skid plate", dropped it down a little and R&R the filter. Just out of curiosity after replacing the skid plate, I just reached over the plate to check the fan blades. OOOps, there were no little plastic fan blades.
Hummmm, wonder how long its been that way?:ashamed:
I'll have to call the dealer on Monday.
Oh well, Happy New Year

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Hope you bought the Kubota insurance but hate this happened to your BX..

 

[beckmurph]

I did buy the ins, but it is frustrating that Kubota didn't do a better job of fixing this problem.

 

[bp fick]

The bad news is that the fan design, common to most subcuts, not just BX, is very vulnerable. The "protection" provided for by the stock shield is marginal, but is what it is.

The good news is that since you bought Kubota Insurance, you'll only pay the deductible, which is far less than the complete cost.

I do agree. It is time for Kub, MF, and JD to lose this design. People simply use these subcuts as tractors, not merely as diesel powered lawn mowers. People shouldn't have to armor plate the undersides of these machines. Good it is available form BroTech, but much better if not need at all.

 

[Don87]

The bad news is that the fan design, common to most subcuts, not just BX, is very vulnerable. The "protection" provided for by the stock shield is marginal, but is what it is.

The good news is that since you bought Kubota Insurance, you'll only pay the deductible, which is far less than the complete cost.

I do agree. It is time for Kub, MF, and JD to lose this design. People simply use these subcuts as tractors, not merely as diesel powered lawn mowers. People shouldn't have to armor plate the undersides of these machines. Good it is available form BroTech, but much better if not need at all.

I agree 1,000 %. They are marketed as farm tractors, labeled as farm tractors, and insured as farm tractors...............Time for the manufactures to treat them as a 'farm tractor'.

Although I have called my Massey a ............Glorified lawn mower.........

 

[OrangeRidge]

.... People simply use these subcuts as tractors, not merely as diesel powered lawn mowers....

BP , Is your trans cooler inline with the engine rad , and utilizing
the engine fan for oil cooling ?

 

[TripleR]

I think John Deere is addressing this in their 2305 replacement and if they do, others will almost have to follow.

 

[ccsial]

I think John Deere is addressing this in their 2305 replacement and if they do, others will almost have to follow.

My 355D had a fan on the trans but I can't find one on my X748. It does have an oil cooler mounted by the radiator. I'm surprised the 2305 has a fan.

 

[TripleR]

My 355D had a fan on the trans but I can't find one on my X748. It does have an oil cooler mounted by the radiator. I'm surprised the 2305 has a fan.

There are some guys on the JD forum who have put Bro-Tek on their 2305, we don't usually take the deck off of ours only using it for mowing.

 

[check]

I have discovered that Kubota's $39, plus tax and shipping, HST fan protection does not work.:confused3:
Thought I would start the New Year out right and change oil and filters on the BX25. Changed the engine oil and filter, then changed the HST filter. I had loosened up one side of the "skid plate", dropped it down a little and R&R the filter. Just out of curiosity after replacing the skid plate, I just reached over the plate to check the fan blades. OOOps, there were no little plastic fan blades.
Hummmm, wonder how long its been that way?:ashamed:
I'll have to call the dealer on Monday.
Oh well, Happy New Year

After you replace the fan, definitely get the Bro-Tek skid plates. I got them for Christmas, and they are REAL protectors, not the crap that Kubota sells. (I bought a "large" sized skid protector plate from Kubota, but it is so minimal that it is still hanging on my work room wall, and the new Bro-Tek front and rear skid plates will be the ones that go on my BX25.)

 

[Volfandt]

Sorry to say but, same song, different tune. The HST fan issue has been debated since 2000 and yet there are more BX's sold than any other tractor since......
If one operates a SCUT without the MMM mounted you are working on borrowed time if you don't have a skidplate installed.

As been pointed out, it dosn't matter which manufacturer, they are all vulnerable to both HST fan AND HST filter damage.
It's quite obvious that these manuf's don't consider it a major problem as their designs don't make for easy repair/replacement of the fan. Ironically, the earlier 00 & 30 series BX's are much easier to replace then the newer 50 & 60 series.

JD is completely redoing their SCUT offerings and the 2 models (basic & premium) will do away w/the fan and go w/the heat exchanger mounted in front of the radiator. The premium will have a tall price increase over the basic and both wili price higher than the other SCUTs. It'll be VERY interesting to see which model sells more. You can bet Kubota, MF. CNH and the others will be watching too.

In Kubota's case, it's doubtful they'll follow suit as this would place the BX up in one of the B's selling points. But you never know.
Dave

 

[beckmurph]

Does Kubota consider this "cooling fan" not overly important to the cooling of the HST. It seems to me Kubota considers this fan sort of a back up to cooling the HST.
If failure of the Hydraulic system on these tractors is relying on this little fan, then does Kubota think the fan is not that important?
How long would it be before failure of the hydraulics without the fan?

 

[TripleR]

Does Kubota consider this "cooling fan" not overly important to the cooling of the HST. It seems to me Kubota considers this fan sort of a back up to cooling the HST.
If failure of the Hydraulic system on these tractors is relying on this little fan, then does Kubota think the fan is not that important?
How long would it be before failure of the hydraulics without the fan?

I don't think anyone knows and as mentioned, this is not unique to Kubota, my JD2305 and BX2660 use the same design along with a couple of others. As to how long before failure that will ultimately depend on workload and ambient temperature and I don't want to be the one to find out. Sorry to hear about your misfortune; need to check mine out too.

 

[CHDinCT]

Does Kubota consider this "cooling fan" not overly important to the cooling of the HST. It seems to me Kubota considers this fan sort of a back up to cooling the HST.
If failure of the Hydraulic system on these tractors is relying on this little fan, then does Kubota think the fan is not that important?
How long would it be before failure of the hydraulics without the fan?

The fan is the main means to cool the HST oil. It blows across the HST housing and I believe there is a rudimentary radiator of sorts in front of the fan that the oil circulates through. In cooler months you don't risk too much running without it, but if your were mowing for hours and hours on a 90*+ day, you would definitely risk overheating the oil and damaging your transmission. I'd have to check, but I don't believe BX's have an HST oil temp warning light.

 

[bp fick]

BP , Is your trans cooler inline with the engine rad , and utilizing
the engine fan for oil cooling ?

Yes, the B2320 uses the radiator and there's no little fan in back.