Rust getting bad all over my Kubota

[strum456]

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

Is your hood steel? I don't know about Kubotas, but most of the tractors I have seen have plastic hoods.

 

[houstonscott]

The paints in most industries during those years were moving from oil based paints (really good) to water based paints (really bad). The first of the water based paints were crap, and that maybe whats on those years of tractors. Not sure what the EPA type laws in Japan were then controlling paint. My bet is the paint is failing and allowing moister to penetrate those areas were two pieces of metal rub together and expose metal to metal in those seams, they do move. More modern water based paints are better but will likely never match the oil based stuff from old. If you do nothing they will continue to rust.

HS

 

[slowzuki]

Steel hood on most all kubota's. Very little plastic besides the roof panel.

 

[ericher69]

Funny...

I just finished spending about 20 hrs disassembling/sanding/priming/repainting most of my 2008 b2920

Looks good sorry no before or after pics

One thing I did notice was the primer/metal showing through underneath the floorboards, inside engine covers and other inconspicuous places

Looks like only 1 coat of paint was applied or maybe even just some overspray

Anybody else have the same issue?

You would think for the considerable $$ invested you would get powder coating or good paint!

 

[sweep]

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.

I've always wondered if it's due to the new stuff is made from recycled steel that has been recycled hundreds of times with who knows what impurities in it when the older stuff may have been made with virgin steel.

The stuff that is rusting today:
Cheap paint and applied thin
low grade steel

 

[devildog1]

Interesting thread, could be quite a few reasons why. Bad or not enough paint , little or no primer, lighter gage steel, environment where you live. Up here in up-state N.Y. the winter salting of our roads play's H*** on any exposed metal parts on cars, trucks or tractors that travel in it.After a large snow storm our roads are powder white and the salt dust is every where in the air. I need to wire brush and paint my class V trailer hitch on my F350 each year because it looks so badly rusted.
DevilDog

 

[Chilly807]

My 09 L3400 is rusting in the same place GlennaR's is, on the right side rear fender seam. I've tried repainting the seam and spraying it with Fluid Film and Rust Check, we'll see if gets worse. I suspect it will, I doubt there's any paint between the seam joints.

Sean

 

[Delphicoder]

Funny...

I just finished spending about 20 hrs disassembling/sanding/priming/repainting most of my 2008 b2920

Looks good sorry no before or after pics

One thing I did notice was the primer/metal showing through underneath the floorboards, inside engine covers and other inconspicuous places

Looks like only 1 coat of paint was applied or maybe even just some overspray

Anybody else have the same issue?

You would think for the considerable $$ invested you would get powder coating or good paint!

ericher69. Did you do just the sheet metal? Did you do it yourself or take it somewhere else to get painted?

 

[ericher69]

Only did visible rust with the die grinder

Sheet metal of fenders, steps, engine shrouds

Also front mount blower, Chute, skid shoes, cab, rear blade

Spray can from kubota and TSC/Valspar

 

[rmully]

My guess would be recycled steel .... it is not like it used to be. Get some marine caulk and caulk the joints, they will stay flexible and you should be able to paint over the caulk ..stay away from silicon ..it does not paint. I did a horse trailer this way 5 years ago and no rust, Remember rust never sleeps

 

[slowzuki]

Powder coating is actually a poor choice for vehicle paint in tractor type service.

 

[Soundguy]

sounds like it's time to remove rust and then paint.

soundguy

 

[OrangeRidge]

It's recycled steel . The same with guns and tools. My main exposure
to uncoated steel is in shotguns . Around 1999 and afterwards , Perazzi guns
would rust easily compared to older models . The metal is high in
contaminants .

 

[ericher69]

Powder coating is actually a poor choice for vehicle paint in tractor type service.

Do you care to elaborate/educate the rest of us on your statement?

 

[houstonscott]

I am very surprised to find that the whole tractor is not hot dip galvanized given a corrosion protection system like modern automobiles before primer and paint. I am disappointed in the industry.

HS

 

[strum456]

I am very surprised to find that the whole tractor is not hot dip galvanized given a corrosion protection system like modern automobiles before primer and paint. I am disappointed in the industry.

HS

2X

There are a number of really good options, but the tractor manufacturers don't use any of them. What a shame.

 

[k0ua]

Well I am not going to guess about any of these things, I am just going to state facts. The hood is steel. There is primer (white) under the orange paint. And I can state for a fact the steel on the bucket brackets is some darn good steel, hard and tough. I am "guessing" that there may not be primer or paint between the panels on the fender where that rust started. I am "guessing" that they were put together bare, then primered and painted. I don't have any rust there (yet)

James K0UA

 

[Green Acres Homestead]

You would think that a company that built a good reputation would try to keep it but it seems they are so greedy and short sited they opt for saving money short term.

 

[Mikeeemo]

You would think that a company that built a good reputation would try to keep it but it seems they are so greedy and short sited they opt for saving money short term.

That is part of it, the other part is competition for our dollars. We want better paint after the fact, but when the dealers are trying to get us to commit, it is mostly about price. When I spoke to a JD dealer, they cost more than my Kubota, that is what I bought. Had JD quoted a better price, I would be a deere man now.

I am happy with my machine. However, it can be hard to compare as the std vs optional items can cloud the comparison.

 

[Swiftriver]

You would think that a company that built a good reputation would try to keep it but it seems they are so greedy and short sited they opt for saving money short term.

Like Toyota?