Should I have bought a Deere rant!

[N80]

I've had trouble with the hood on my L4400. Just minor stuff.

The thing is, any time you think another brand is better, spend some time on their forums. When it comes to good solid companies you will see different versions of the same complaints. Rarely, dollar for dollar, is the grass truly greener.

But, when I looked at Deere when buying new, I got a lot more tractor for less money with the L4400. And other than self inflicted problems (branch through radiator, etc) , my L4400 has taken huge abuse and just keeps on doing its thing.

Having said that, I feel your pain. It just stinks to see quality control issues on something that costs that much money. Makes me crazy. Kubota is not immune from quality issues, but JD isn't either. Not by a long shot.

 

[k0ua]

Perhaps you have read this thread?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...4432-john-deere-quality-control-problems.html

 

[Verticaltrx]

Perhaps you have read this thread?

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...4432-john-deere-quality-control-problems.html

I was just about to suggest that.

The problem isn't the brands anymore, but the throw-away-consumeristic society that we live in today. Everyone wants more machine for a cheaper price and the manufacturers are responding by making just that, at the expense of quality. The tractors my family bought in the 70's-80's-early 90's all went many hours and years before needing anything other than maintenance. The manufacturers actually cared about what they were making, had good quality control, and built something to last. Over the past few years between myself and my family we've bought two new Deere's and three new Kubota's and all of them have had failures (some major, some minor) due to poor quality control.

 

[Blade Breaker]

I understand that some new machines have issues and most issues are minor. But older machines had issues also. In fact I would think that the issues that the older machines had were overlooked as normal. Especially if the dealers would take care of them quickly and with no hassle. My great grandfather owned a Farmall dealership and my grandfather would tell me stories about how they fixed tractors and how some problems just wouldn't go away. Also the older machines were so much simpler. Our H and M don't have many issues but we also had 70 years to work out the bugs .

 

[94BULLITT]

Have you tired lubricating the hood latch? Deere does not make a TLB BTW.

 

[Ducati07]

I am fully aware that Deere doesn't make a TLB...in this size anymore. My title was to get people in a tizzy and see how defensive people are about their tractors, and to get a load off my chest. It was meant as a useless rant because I was mad at what I had to deal with while having a brand new machine. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's pretty funny really, it's kind of like politics. No matter what Bush did...they say it was all his fault. However, I blame everything on Obama! And, no matter how great a tractor is...the other side will say, "Well, they're good when they're new"! Ha! They all have issues because today's quality control is....let's call it, Obama!

As a follow up...my hood was junk from the beginning. No adjustments, no lube, no screws, nuts, pins, or springs could get my new Kubota hood to close. The dealer said they had to twist/twirl the hinges and pin...and remove one spring permanently to get it to close. Then they told me they would have a hard time replacing the hood under warranty because I may have crashed the tractor or they may just not authorize it. Are you kidding me...crashed the tractor! Um, Obama excuse...Not a good one! Unlike Obama, it's obvious it was never in a wreck of any kind.

They also said that Deere was better to deal with on these kind of issues. Yep, should'a gone to Deere...HA! Just kidding...they don't make the TLB that I needed!

Thanks for all the replies!

 

[kuboman]

I am fully aware that Deere doesn't make a TLB...in this size anymore. My title was to get people in a tizzy and see how defensive people are about their tractors, and to get a load off my chest. It was meant as a useless rant because I was mad at what I had to deal with while having a brand new machine. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's pretty funny really, it's kind of like politics. No matter what Bush did...they say it was all his fault. However, I blame everything on Obama! And, no matter how great a tractor is...the other side will say, "Well, they're good when they're new"! Ha! They all have issues because today's quality control is....let's call it, Obama!

As a follow up...my hood was junk from the beginning. No adjustments, no lube, no screws, nuts, pins, or springs could get my new Kubota hood to close. The dealer said they had to twist/twirl the hinges and pin...and remove one spring permanently to get it to close. Then they told me they would have a hard time replacing the hood under warranty because I may have crashed the tractor or they may just not authorize it. Are you kidding me...crashed the tractor! Um, Obama excuse...Not a good one! Unlike Obama, it's obvious it was never in a wreck of any kind.

They also said that Deere was better to deal with on these kind of issues. Yep, should'a gone to Deere...HA! Just kidding...they don't make the TLB that I needed!

Thanks for all the replies!

:thumbsup: Thanks for stirring the pot a little. What fun is life if there isn't some real passion involved.
And there is one thing worse than a used machine and that's a new one.

 

[texasjohn]

Of course, I should have seen it coming, clearly an Obama hoodlum conspired to make your hood unworkable and unfixable! Really? I guess there is an alternate universe where the POTUS and tractor hoods logically relate in the same paragraph...but this universe:thumbdown: As Spock would say, "illogical."

 

[Ducati07]

Of course, I should have seen it coming, clearly an Obama hoodlum conspired to make your hood unworkable and unfixable! Really? I guess there is an alternate universe where the POTUS and tractor hoods logically relate in the same paragraph...but this universe:thumbdown: As Spock would say, "illogical."

My analogy with Obama and tractors had nothing to do with the hood. It was a comparison suggesting that people get in tizzy about politics and/or tractor choices.

However, a few words you used hit the nail on the head. Obama hoodlum, and illogical.

The thumbs down works well for Hussein as well.

Tractor on!

 

[xring100]

My hood on my M8540 is sensitive to how I close it. If I close it from the center pulling straight down its fine. Pull from left or right side it wont engage properly. Sounds like your striker might be miss aligned. I have almost 400 hours with no problems.

 

[mikesee]

I wish I had a new L45 with a linkage related roll pin issue, consider KTAC if the dealer says Kubota will not cover the hood.

 

[Ducati07]

I wish I had a new L45 with a linkage related roll pin issue, consider KTAC if the dealer says Kubota will not cover the hood.

That's a great idea. I never thought about using them for this. I probably wouldn't though just because I've got a deductible to pay in order to use it and the hood now closes well. I am kind of bummed that it has a dent in it from not closing however, it's small.

I'll keep this thread posted on what Kubota has to say about the hood.

 

[radair]

In my experience, the little bugs show up early in ownership and once corrected hopefully do not return. My new B3000 showed up with a loader valve that was puking hydraulic fluid. Dealer came back and fixed it (then failed to check hydro fluid level - really?). Then I had a leaking fitting on the backhoe, tightened that one up. Then found a bolt had come out of the backhoe frame. In all of these instances, the dealer was to blame, not Kubota. I wish they had taken the time to set the tractor up right but they didn't, now they won't get another sale from me.

Since then the tractor has run nearly flawlessly, other than an AC switch that went bad. Replaced under warranty.

I hope your problems are behind you and your machine is near perfect for the future.

 

[Ducati07]

In my experience, the little bugs show up early in ownership and once corrected hopefully do not return. My new B3000 showed up with a loader valve that was puking hydraulic fluid. Dealer came back and fixed it (then failed to check hydro fluid level - really?). Then I had a leaking fitting on the backhoe, tightened that one up. Then found a bolt had come out of the backhoe frame. In all of these instances, the dealer was to blame, not Kubota. I wish they had taken the time to set the tractor up right but they didn't, now they won't get another sale from me.

Since then the tractor has run nearly flawlessly, other than an AC switch that went bad. Replaced under warranty.

I hope your problems are behind you and your machine is near perfect for the future.

Thanks!

 

[mikesee]

Yes there is a $250 deductable with KTAC but the coverage pays for the dealer to come to you and fix it at your shop on your schedue. I had a very good claims experience with KTAC