Anyone breaking the bracket that attaches the stabilizer bars to the lower lift arms on L6060 tractors?
Bracket is a weldment with welded-on threaded stud to attack bracket to lift arm. Stud is held to lift arm with interference nut and lock washer.
Left side bracket broke within warranty and was replaced without charge. Suspected defective steel but no way to know. Right side bracket broke shortly after bumper to bumper warranty expired. Cost of replace bracket is around $50. OK, probably not defective steel in single bracket.
After second bracket broke I installed limiter chains to prevent lift arms from contacting tires, allowing me to finish mowing projects before visiting dealer to order new bracket that was not stocked. I also established practice of always putting 15/16" wrench on both L & R interference nuts and pulling with all available force to assure tightness before each mowing project. Been doing such things for many years and well know that flexing of loose fasteners can cause work hardening of steel resulting in stress fractures.
Right side bracket failed again this weekend. Because I have learned to watch/listen carefully to hitch mechanism (helps as it's a ROPS model), I heard it break and immediately stopped to inspect. Finished mowing project carefully after removing detachable part of stabilizer bar to prevent loss if bolt attaching bar to ROPS structure failed (his too has happened, and I keep a spare Kubota bolt, nut and washer in the toolbox), while watching limiter chains and left side bracket like a hawk.
Again, local dealer (one of three stores in dealership) did not have bracket in stock but another store, about 40 miles away, had two, even though Kubota Ohio parts warehouse had none.
This tells me that I am not the only owner breaking this bracket and that design is marginal at best. All studs broke at first thread of mounting stud, the weakest place.
Yes, mower is heavy, right at weight limit of rotary mower in Operator's Manual, but I've been doing this for a LONG time and do not hit obstacles with mower.
I now have 2 brackets with broken studs, and have a solution to avoid spending $50+ each time a bracket breaks but will need to find a good welder/fabricator (with available time) to modify my broken brackets. I am not a welder.
Anyone else breaking these brackets?
SDT
Bracket is a weldment with welded-on threaded stud to attack bracket to lift arm. Stud is held to lift arm with interference nut and lock washer.
Left side bracket broke within warranty and was replaced without charge. Suspected defective steel but no way to know. Right side bracket broke shortly after bumper to bumper warranty expired. Cost of replace bracket is around $50. OK, probably not defective steel in single bracket.
After second bracket broke I installed limiter chains to prevent lift arms from contacting tires, allowing me to finish mowing projects before visiting dealer to order new bracket that was not stocked. I also established practice of always putting 15/16" wrench on both L & R interference nuts and pulling with all available force to assure tightness before each mowing project. Been doing such things for many years and well know that flexing of loose fasteners can cause work hardening of steel resulting in stress fractures.
Right side bracket failed again this weekend. Because I have learned to watch/listen carefully to hitch mechanism (helps as it's a ROPS model), I heard it break and immediately stopped to inspect. Finished mowing project carefully after removing detachable part of stabilizer bar to prevent loss if bolt attaching bar to ROPS structure failed (his too has happened, and I keep a spare Kubota bolt, nut and washer in the toolbox), while watching limiter chains and left side bracket like a hawk.
Again, local dealer (one of three stores in dealership) did not have bracket in stock but another store, about 40 miles away, had two, even though Kubota Ohio parts warehouse had none.
This tells me that I am not the only owner breaking this bracket and that design is marginal at best. All studs broke at first thread of mounting stud, the weakest place.
Yes, mower is heavy, right at weight limit of rotary mower in Operator's Manual, but I've been doing this for a LONG time and do not hit obstacles with mower.
I now have 2 brackets with broken studs, and have a solution to avoid spending $50+ each time a bracket breaks but will need to find a good welder/fabricator (with available time) to modify my broken brackets. I am not a welder.
Anyone else breaking these brackets?
SDT
Last edited:
