MHarryE
Elite Member
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2009
- Messages
- 2,970
- Location
- Northeastern Minnesota
- Tractor
- Kubota M7-171, M5-111, SVL75-2, RTV900XT & GR2120; CaseIH 1680 combine
Loader control linkage cable broke on my Kubota L5740 Saturday. Ordered it for my dealer first thing Tuesday (darn holiday weekends), will be at the dealer next Monday. In the meantime I had to use my Cat 301.8 mini-excavator to move 200 yards of gravel delivered Tuesday and Wednesday, something I planned to do with the tractor. A mini is not intended for extensive use as a dozer so sure enough after 150 yards were moved into place the track tension adjuster seals failed o one track when a rock wedged in the wrong spot and the drive overpowered the seal capability. An adjuster is a hydraulic cylinder and pressures under load can get extremely high. Dealer did not have all 3 seal parts in stock so had to order. Called at 3:00 pm yesterday, parts at dealer before 7:00 am when I got there so I could get back to work before noon. If I had to depend on Kubota service parts availability my job site would be piled up with the 200 yards of gravel but since I had the Cat, even though I used it beyond its capability and broke a part, service parts were available while the Kubota, with a lesser failure, will be down 11 days if the part arrives when promised.
I compared a Kubota M110GX vs a John Deere 6M 105. The Kubota was so much less I ended up ordering a Kubota M135GX. It was supposed to be delivered last Wednesday but due to lack of parts it will finally be delivered tomorrow but the dealer will need to install the last options at my farm when they finally arrive. Yesterday I received a mailing where the JD 6M is now on special with a free loader thrown in. That brings the price much closer to the Kubota and would be a tough call. I would have to weigh JD's general very good parts availability against the very good Kubota/New Holland dealer and the arrogant JD dealer. Wish our Cat dealer handled their Challenger line but this is mining country and if it is smaller than 50 ton, its a toy. Luckily my mini is just like the big boys except for size so although they may not stock my parts at this branch, almost everything is available the next day or it's free.
Tonight is tough - my new tractor will be here tomorrow and although the forecast is 80% rain, I will need to work it out hard.
I compared a Kubota M110GX vs a John Deere 6M 105. The Kubota was so much less I ended up ordering a Kubota M135GX. It was supposed to be delivered last Wednesday but due to lack of parts it will finally be delivered tomorrow but the dealer will need to install the last options at my farm when they finally arrive. Yesterday I received a mailing where the JD 6M is now on special with a free loader thrown in. That brings the price much closer to the Kubota and would be a tough call. I would have to weigh JD's general very good parts availability against the very good Kubota/New Holland dealer and the arrogant JD dealer. Wish our Cat dealer handled their Challenger line but this is mining country and if it is smaller than 50 ton, its a toy. Luckily my mini is just like the big boys except for size so although they may not stock my parts at this branch, almost everything is available the next day or it's free.
Tonight is tough - my new tractor will be here tomorrow and although the forecast is 80% rain, I will need to work it out hard.
