Rust getting bad all over my Kubota

[krackerjack9]

Ok I admit Im a pretty big fan of Kubota tractors and I had L3400 then traded it in and got a L4400 back in 08. Well its been great I got about 650 something hours on it. Everything works to my expectations and power is great for what I due.

The thing that is starting to bother me is rust starthing show up all over the fenders. Anyplace where a panel is bolted to another panel is like a cancer that is just spreading up and down the seams.

I will have to add some photos. I just can see how in 4yrs all this rust would be starting to take over all my fenders. Yes the tractor sits outside but my Grandfather had 1960 something Alis Chalmers tractor and it didnt have the type of rust I got.

 

[BeezFun]

Do you get any salt on it? They use salt on the roads here and on the rare occasions that I use my FEL out by the street I notice the tractor has that white salt dust all over it when it dries. The other thing I think can be a problem is washing it too much, especially with a pressure washer. It's easy to force water into places that don't drain well, that might be a problem. Although I'd have to say I'm surprised it's happening where you describe. I would have expected welds to rust first.

 

[Marveltone]

Do you get any salt on it? They use salt on the roads here and on the rare occasions that I use my FEL out by the street I notice the tractor has that white salt dust all over it when it dries. The other thing I think can be a problem is washing it too much, especially with a pressure washer. It's easy to force water into places that don't drain well, that might be a problem. Although I'd have to say I'm surprised it's happening where you describe. I would have expected welds to rust first.

Wash??? What is this wash of which you speak? My 1985 tractor is coated in a protective layer of grime; most likely a combination of diesel, motor oil and dust. No rust anywhere! :thumbsup:

Joe

 

[JD 4520]

In addition to salt, it Could also be a mineral in the dirt in your area as well.

 

[Deere Dude]

For the price of these tractors they should never rust. That's one decent thing some of these JD's have. Plastic of some sort, fenders and hoods. I know that drives people who have steel fenders and hoods nuts, but it seems to work.

One thing I noticed in my snow-birding days to southern Florida, almost everything seems to rust. I was only down there for 4-5 months a year for 7 years but I had chrome chairs and chrome tools and many black impact sockets, pliers and wrenches that just turn to rust from being in the salt air, I am assuming. And they were in the box in the back of the truck or under cover all the time. The chrome bumpers on my truck didn't rust; possibly it had thicker chrome.

I would have thought your fenders and hoods would be powder coated and it surely should not have rusted, unless the prep was faulty.

 

[GlennaR]

krackerjack9 Said: > The thing that is starting to bother me is rust starthing show up all over the fenders.

Me Too, I have a 2oo5 L28oo Kub. She leads a sheltered life n only has 16o hours on her now.

Take a peek at the cancer/rust she has going on below.

 

[Gordo 56]

Ok I admit Im a pretty big fan of Kubota tractors and I had L3400 then traded it in and got a L4400 back in 08. Well its been great I got about 650 something hours on it. Everything works to my expectations and power is great for what I due.

The thing that is starting to bother me is rust starthing show up all over the fenders. Anyplace where a panel is bolted to another panel is like a cancer that is just spreading up and down the seams.

I will have to add some photos. I just can see how in 4yrs all this rust would be starting to take over all my fenders. Yes the tractor sits outside but my Grandfather had 1960 something Alis Chalmers tractor and it didnt have the type of rust I got.

I have a 2003, L3000 DT Kubota and it has always been garage kept and I have one fender that like you said where a panel is bolted to another panel is bubbling the paint right at the seems of where the two panels meet. Unlike the steel of the older tractors, It's thiner and cheeper steel and probably only happens in humid climates, must be a problem with Kubota's

 

[sweep]

krackerjack9 Said: > The thing that is starting to bother me is rust starthing show up all over the fenders.

Me Too, I have a 2oo5 L28oo Kub. She leads a sheltered life n only has 16o hours on her now.

Take a peek at the cancer/rust she has going on below.

Everyone so far is blaming the rust on salt, too many powerwashings etc.

Let's be honest...the manufacturers are using cheap paint/subquality materials. It is as simple as that. We live in a throwaway culture today and the manufactuerers of ALL goods know it.

My neighbor has an early 60's Oliver and granted it has been barned it entire working life there is very little rust on it.

I see new tractors 4-6 years old and can't believe the amount of rust.

 

[TripleR]

Our old BX2200 lives out in the elements and has for the past 3 1/2 years and it isn't rusting; don't know why.

 

[slowzuki]

My L5030HSTC spends all winter travelling on salty roads, its a 2003 and the seams are just starting to rust now. Doing better than my truck!

 

[Gary Fowler]

There is something about the old steel that just didnt rust up like the new stuff does. Take a look at any old implement that has been setting out in the weeds for 40 years and they mostly are not pitted up with rust, most will just be lightly rusted and then seem to just stop at that point. Maybe it was the paint also. Lots of the old iron didnt have seam on the fender as they were one piece of pressed steel also so that limits the corrosion joint like we are seeing here.

 

[bucktaker]

Anyone bring this up to a dealer or factory rep... Any warranty issues or experience with cosmetic or premature rust.


Lets be fair if you use your equipment in a road salt or sea side area rust would be expected to a degree but if you shed or barn your tractor that makes a difference and you should see many years before this type of rust is evident.

 

[Tollster]

ANyone here young enogh to remember the 74 chevy trucks that rusted....away?

 

[like2wheel]

ANyone here young enogh to remember the 74 chevy trucks that rusted....away?

Yeah, seems like '73-77 were the worst years for GM

 

[Jay4200]

ANyone here young enogh to remember the 74 chevy trucks that rusted....away?

They still do that. They have more bling now, but they're still sh*tboxes.

JayC

 

[strum456]

With the epoxies and polyurethanes available today, it is sad that so many tractor manufacturers choose to use inferior paint products. Most are using "direct to metal" alkyd enamel. When you read the fine print of such products, it says that primer should be used "for best results". Next time another flake of paint falls off your 30000 dollar tractor, look to see if it has primer on it. Chances are it does not.

Would good paint cost more? Definitely. Who wouldn't pay an extra 500 for paint that would last?

 

[Egon]

My 79 GMC had rust problems.

 

[Gizmo2]

Ok I admit Im a pretty big fan of Kubota tractors and I had L3400 then traded it in and got a L4400 back in 08. Well its been great I got about 650 something hours on it. Everything works to my expectations and power is great for what I due.

The thing that is starting to bother me is rust starthing show up all over the fenders. Anyplace where a panel is bolted to another panel is like a cancer that is just spreading up and down the seams.

I will have to add some photos. I just can see how in 4yrs all this rust would be starting to take over all my fenders. Yes the tractor sits outside but my Grandfather had 1960 something Alis Chalmers tractor and it didnt have the type of rust I got.

Not a Kubota but just so ya know. My 08, JD2320 looks worse than your Kubota and always keep undercover. My 88, JD650, I had for 20 years, did not look as bad as the 2320 we have now when I traded it. And yes it kinda upsets me.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Back in the 60s when there were a few "shady" car dealers in Ky one had to be a little careful when buying a used car. Occassionally sawdust would find its way into transmissions and baling wire would be in different locations under the vehicle. Course back in the old days metal was thicker and better. Some remember the good ole days different than I do. I remember tires wearing out in 5000 miles and batteries that maybe lasted 2 years. Maybe even drive shafts that would sometimes find them selves on the hwy instead of between the engine and rear end. Radios that maybe picked up the local station sometimes.
Anyway, in Ky the biggest scam was used car dealers bringing cars down from Ohio and heaven forbid you got a car from Michigan. The buyer always knew it within a few months when parts started falling off of the car where the rust would eat thru and there was never a doubt where fenders were attached, just follow the rust line.
I know, the ole days were a lot better and that's why we still have all those old cars, trucks and tractors still available to buy today. Great ole stuff!!!

 

[slowzuki]

Kubota uses primer, I've got rock chips from bucket spill onto my hood, primer is plain and clear.