Sleepless nights NO MORE!!

[MFL]

First, let me thank everyone who responded to my original post. Your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated. Your posts and all of the other invaluable info on the forums really helped me make an informed decision. Specifically, I’d like to thank Henro, Poppa, and Bird. Your comments on the suitability of the Kubota line made me take another look at them, and helped me to settle on my eventual choice.

The new baby was delivered yesterday. Kubota B7800, 402 FEL and a five foot box blade. From the dealer for $14,850 delivered. I have a tooth bar on the way, and have ordered a post hole digger with 6” and 12” augers and a five foot shredder from TSC. Hopefully, I’ll have all the toys in one place by the end of this coming week.

While I’m very confident that I have a very reliable, hard working tractor, I’ve been disappointed with my dealer and his after-sale support. I’m getting the feeling they were only interested in collecting my check, but I’ll see how they resolve some of the problems I’m having before I post the name of the dealership. Enough now to say that about 15 minutes after I started using the tractor, I saw hydro fluid POURING (not leaking or dripping) from one of the connections on the FEL. I’ve called the dealer twice this morning and have yet to get a return call. To say the least, I’m a little frustrated!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

I guess I’ll just have to rely on the experts here to help me with my first tractor!!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GerardC]

Congrats.

First and foremost, you need to check ALL the connections, nuts & bolts, etc. Make sure all are tight and the zerks are greased. Keep us updated as to how you're making out. G

 

[SCB]

Congratulations! Nice looking machine. Take a look at where it is leaking and give us a description. I know it is brand new and under warrantee, but some things are easier to take care of yourself if they are simple. Could be just a loose fitting that needs to be snugged down. If it is something bigger, let the dealer handle it. Kind of messes up that great feeling of the first day with your tractor though. I feel for ya. Just realize that it probably is a simple fix for either you ar the dealer and then you will be back to Playing. OOps. I mean working with your new beauty. Good luck and let us know what you find.

 

[TMAC]

MFL, Good-looking tractor, Congratulations!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

In regards to your leak, I have one as well on my new TC45. So don't feel alone! Not exactly pouring though.
*4 leaks all-together:
-One leak slowly drips from one line on the quick attach hookup to the FEL.
-Two small leaks coming from underneath the FEL Joystick from the distribution block; two of the lines there that hook into the block have the fluid seeping from around the threads.
-And one leaks at the threads on the other end of the line that comes from the distribution block and connects underneath the operator’s platform.

Hopefully we just have minor sealing and connection issues that can be easily fixed if resealed and connected, but with 12 hours on my machine and warranty I'm not about to touch it myself anymore than I have.

I've called my dealer also and he tried to tell me to check the connection the first time and tighten if necessary, call back if that's not it. I've done that but it's hard to get a wrench on them due to the other lines being in the way and at this point in time I'm not even tempted to undo those lines to get to the other connections. I'd probably just end up with more leaks.

So it's definitely going to be taken to the dealer to get fixed. He told me to bring it in and they would take care of it. I was going to try and hold off until the 50-hour service but I was using the FEL yesterday to take off the center crown of my short driveway and after putting it away for the day it was dripping even more intensely. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif So I'm going to do some work with it Sunday cutting some light brush and field then Monday I'm hauling it to the dealer.

It just doesn’t seem right when you buy something new and spend that much money and when you finally get it you notice little aggravating quality control issues from the manufacturer like my leaky FEL lines. I love my tractor but those leaky lines put a damper on my excitement.

Keep calling your dealer and explain to him that you just purchased a brand spankin new tractor and it shouldn't be leaking like that. Don't know how far your dealer is away but see if someone can come and fix it or pick it up and take it in to fix. Good luck MFL!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Sorry for rambling so long I just wanted to let you know your not alone and I feel your aggravation.

 

[SCB]

TMAC,
Sorr to hear about your experience. I agree with you about the quality control on a new machine should be better. I would let the dealer handle 4 leaks on a new tractor also. I have been fortunate enough to not need the dealer yet on my new machine, but I did need to re-seat a hydraulic fitting on the loader. It won't void the warrantee unless you mar up the B-nut. But I work on Aircaft hydraulics daily and these fittings are familiar to me. Be careful when you are using yours this weekend. Lose of fluid on a tractor is not a good thing from a safety and a mechanical standpoint. Good luck with getting it squared away.

 

[Bird]

That's a very nice rig with those attachments. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. As for the fitting leaking, it's almost certain to either be just a loose fitting someone forgot to tighten or a damaged fitting from either cross threading, overtightening, or something similar. Not a major problem at all, but I know it can be frustrating and aggravating when you buy something new and it's not right to begin with. And of course, you'll need to check the fluid level when it's fixed to make sure you didn't loose enough to need to add some.

 

[TMAC]

Thanks Steve. It only leaks in a small puddle about the size of a softball. That's when I used the FEL relatively intense the other day. So as long as I stay off the FEL it hardly seems to leave but a drop or two on the cardboard I've been laying under it every night. I need to get my land that's 6-7 miles away from my current residence under control. The 2 acre area that I cut earlier this year by chainsaw and brush cutter are getting a little tall now and I have piles of firewood I need to get out of the way for the excavator to come in and doze me a driveway and build it up some. So if I put off another weekend of work over there I'm really going to be behind. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif So hopefully I won't have any problems. I've been keeping a close eye on the fluid levels. Nothing has changed so far. Thanks for being concerned and your help! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MFL]

TMAC, Sorry to hear about YOUR leaks! As you said, the really frustrating part is not so much that there is a leak, but that there is a leak in a NEW machine. Working in the computer industry, I know that there is no such thing a a perfect machine, but it still boils my potatos when I lay out the long and large and the product (whatever it may be) is defective from the git go. Hopefully you will have as satisfactory a resolution as I've had.

As quick as I am to name names when I recieve poor service or poor value for my dollar, I feel it's only right to mention people when they go out of their way to make things right. When I finally recieved a call from my dealership this morning, Greg Bearden of Bearden Trailer in Carrollton, Ga went the extra mile to make sure I was taken care of. Even though the dealership closes at 12:00 on Sat., he sent a mechanic to my home with a new FEL with instructions to change out the entire unit if he had to. The mechanic, Jaime, found a large burr on the face of the copper connection on the hose end. He changed out the hose, checked all of the other fittings and left me a gal. of hydro fluid evern though the levels were fine. Mr. Bearden then called back a few hrs. later to make sure all the work had been done to my satisfaction.

Unfortunately, I was not able to speak to him personally because by then I was already digging out boulders to clear a fence line on my property. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hopefully your dealer will take care of your leaks in a similar way. Thanks to everyone for their comments. TMAC, please let me know how your situation turns out.

 

[TMAC]

Alright MFL!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Glad to hear they came right out to fix it. That's how a good dealership should act. I bet it makes you feel 100% better knowing that it's fixed now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Hopefully my dealer can fix my problem that quick too! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif If I didn't have to be at work today there may have been a chance I could've got mine taken care of too but I'll have to wait until Monday to see. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I'll hopefully post back early next week to let you know the progress. Thanks for asking.

In the mean time have fun with your new purchase and be safe. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Greg

 

[Poppa]

MFL congratulations on a great looking rig and making a great choice.

Ok, you have brought a tear to my eye. A great rig and a great dealer. Lucky, Lucky you. I opened your attachment before I even finished reading your post and I thought, Hey, that looks like the tractor I ordered three weeks ago but still haven't seen.

That's right, still waiting for delivery. Last I heard, on Thursday, they had the tractor, toothbar, BB, PHD. They were waiting on the auger and the Rotary Cutter.

Now, that is what I heard on Thursday but let me give you a little background. On the day I bought the tractor, the dealer and my wife talked about the fact that I was supposed to finish the Master Bath remodel I have been working on for the last two months before I could use the new tractor. I never really thought anything about it. I just kept plugging away at the bath while eagerly awaiting the tractor delivery.

Today, three weeks from the day since I ordered the tractor I was whining to the wife about the delay. She looked at me and said, Well, I guess that since you are almost done with the bathroom the tractor should be coming any day.

Now, I am not a conspiracy freak. I believe that Lee Harvey Oswald was just a looney who made a lucky shot. I believe that Area 51 is more likely a military mistake than the landing spot of Aliens and I believe that Americans truly and actually DID land on the moon. All that, and I can't help but believe that my wife and the dealer had some kind of evil deal going where delivery would not be made until AFTER the Bathroom is complete. We will find out this week because I will be done and if that tractor magically arrives... Who cares, I will have a tractor and that will be all that matters. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Mike

 

[mathteacher]

Great looking tractor! I am glad that all worked out for you. I almost envy you because I was looking at the 7800 but I decided that it was just a little bit more than I NEEDED!

Donald B.

PS I hope that you don't read this at midnight, but with a new tractor i am sure that will be about the right time.

 

[frank_f15]

Great looking macnine. Sorry u have some leaks on it, but i wonder how it ever left the dealers leaking like that? seems to me as part of the prep for delivery they should work all the hydraulics and check for leaks.

 

[MFL]

Poppa,

I hate to say it but it's almost an embarrasment of riches over here. I took the plunge Thurs. before last, the dealer called last Mon. to tell me he had the B7800, Thurs. went and handed over the cabbage, delivered last night. Eight days from start to finish. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Course, I'm still waiting on the toys from TSC, but I have enough stuff to start doing some damage.

Funny coincidence, I'm also about 3/4 through a master suite bath remodel. Today, every time I'd peek over from my boulder removal project to the front porch, my wife would be staring at me with her arms crossed. I tried to look straight ahead and kept hoping she wouldn't throw something at me. Honestly though, if it wasn't for her, I'd be living under a bridge somewhere. Always been hell on making it and hell on spending it, but never could save a dime. I have what I have because I have her! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Sappy but true.

Good luck on the arrival date. Update and pics when it finally hits the ground!!

 

[MFL]

Mathteacher,

Thanks. You would have been dead on about the time, but the skies just opened up here. Wouldn't even mind the rain, but there was a LOT of lightening too. Whould hate to get fried riding a 15K lightening rod! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

BTW what did you finally settle on? B7610? Drove one of those also, and if it wasn't for some of the semi-tough things I'm looking at in the near future, I would have bought it!!

 

[mathteacher]

MFL,
Your question made me go and update my profile. We have had more rain down here in Texas this year then I can remember. And all of this water has postponed some of my "tractor" projects. I am working on a ditch and the road but whenever I bring the "mud" out I have to let it dry some to get to use the BB on it. Of course, that just means more seat time.

Donald B.

 

[Henro]

MFL,

Glad to see you got your tractor and you are happy with it.

I see it is time to start training the wife! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Indoor projects are for the rainy days... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I've gone through 45+ gallons of fuel already this spring. Looks like this has the makin's of a good year... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TMAC]

Well Sunday Morning I got up and checked out my small leaks again on my tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif I notice I still had some dripping. So I decided to take another look. Took off the guard around the joystick and grabbed a few wrenches. I again tightened the one I can access that had been dripping. I applied slightly more torque this time. It seemed to tighten just a little. The other fitting that I cannot get a wrench on still had the worst seepage. So I got desperate. I forgot I had a small pair of Robo Grips that I keep in my archery quiver that has the protective tips on them. I ran to the house and grabbed them then was barely able to get a good grip. I must have turned that fitting an easy 1/4 of a turn. Wiped the threads off and still a small, but better leak if there is such a thing. I got another grip and tightened it about another 1/16 of a turn. Wiped thread and WALLA! no leaking. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I pursued to check all the fittings that seemed to be a little moist and gave them another tightening.

So it appeared that all my small leaks might be fixed except for the one quick connect coupler on the FEL. I would have to take the FEL off to get to it better but I tried anyhow to tighten it a bit and make sure the connection was secure. Ran the tractor messing around in the yard a bit and brought it back to the garage. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif No leaks.

I took it out to my property and Bush Hogged for 5 hours and checked the lines again when I got home and still no leak. Not even on the quick attach couplers. So Monday morning came and I was planning on taking it to the dealer but as I checked again and found no leaky lines I was satisfied the problem was fixed so I went back out to the land to do more work and all seems to be well now with 24 hours on the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

What was weird is that the one quick connect line that was dripping stopped as well. I didn't even really tighten it I just messed with the connection a little and made sure it was fully connected securely. The only thing I can guess is if there are O'rings in these connections maybe they swelled up and seated better. Oh well I know I got a lot done this weekend and no leaky lines to hold me back. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Oh well I know I got a lot done this weekend and no leaky lines to hold me back. )</font>
Feels good doesn't it? I'm happy for you that you got the leaks stopped. If you have the problem again, release the pressure on the system my turning off the tractor and moving the levers to release pressure. Disconnect those lines that were leaking, make sure the threads are all clean, put on some locktite and replace them, tightening, but not over-tightening them back in. Some of those connections may have O rings and tightening too much will ruin the rings. I hope you don't have any more problems, but vibration can loosen the connections again. John

 

[MFL]

Glad to hear you resolved the leaks!! The suggestions KiotiJohn made are exactly the suggestions the Kubota mechanic made when he came out to repair mine. Release the hydro pressure, loosen and retighten any leaking connections, and use locktite if neccesary. My problem was a damaged hose, but my mechanic did say that if connections are tightened correctly, they can loosen over time. Never hurts to go over them all on a regular basis.

After my hose was changed out, I've had no other problems. I'm also looking forward to the long weekend. I picked up my post hole digger from TSC and will be putting in about 200 posts this weekend. I get to spend all weekend having fun and everyone thinks I'm working!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[TMAC]

Thanks gentlemen, you all have fun this Memorial day and be safe with that PHD MFL. Have fun and don't play too hard. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif