Pat, it pretty well sucks when the buyer (who has spent his money on a new product) has to arrange a meeting with the company officials, so they can possibly solve a problem he should have never had. And they have had ample time to come up with a solution without any meeting!
Problems with L4701 Tractor with LA765 FEL and BH92 Backhoe
- Thread starter koriley
- Start date
I think Pat's idea is a good one. That way there is no he said she said problem, and the customer gets to make the problem really clear to tne regional rep. It also puts a lot of pressure on the dealership to not look stupid.
I am at the dealership level for over 23 years either as service tech, parts counter and sales! I have been through this with one of my good customers who had no where this many issues and we still got a form of buy back. He has been offered help by Kubota and will not accept the terms!
The last sentence is his choice (right or wrong).
He has been given names to contact (this needs to be done through the territory manger or proper channels) in corporate at the so called 10,000 foot level.
He has had contact with the northern division service manager and per the OP the phone call was not very cordial.(per the OP this number was phone number given in anonymity)
IMO the territory service manager should pickup the unit and get it run through the northern division shop to resolve the problems (I never seen this happen) but this would solve everyones problem.
I already notified the original poster that I can't help any further do to being out of my territory and I am not the original selling dealer.
Pat
I greatly appreciate everyone's input and advice. I'm not looking for a freebie, just amicable resolution and a phone call from someone at Kubota who has the authority to make a wrong a right, and without a bunch of red tape.
I've tried everything already mentioned throughout these posts. Believe it or not, I would much rather have a Kubota product than any other brand of tractor, as bad as this experience has been for me. That, and at this point, if Kubota would even to offer to swap my L4701 out with the exact same tractor (as long as the tractor, FEL, and Backhoe were new and the warranty on the new unit started over) and I simply kept making my payments for the balance of my loan (38 months left), I would be completely content. If Kubota didn't have a L4701, then something of equal or greater value (as long as it was new).
I'm actually a very reasonable person. I just want to be treated respectfully and my issue dealt with in an expedient manner because again, my current warranty expires in just over 1 month.
I'll be more than happy to provide my cell phone number to anyone who can help me. Please just e-mail me and I'll send it to you.
Again, I appreciate all of the feedback and efforts to assist me from the kind people on this board.
Sincerely and with best regards, Kelly
koriley62atmail.com
I've tried everything already mentioned throughout these posts. Believe it or not, I would much rather have a Kubota product than any other brand of tractor, as bad as this experience has been for me. That, and at this point, if Kubota would even to offer to swap my L4701 out with the exact same tractor (as long as the tractor, FEL, and Backhoe were new and the warranty on the new unit started over) and I simply kept making my payments for the balance of my loan (38 months left), I would be completely content. If Kubota didn't have a L4701, then something of equal or greater value (as long as it was new).
I'm actually a very reasonable person. I just want to be treated respectfully and my issue dealt with in an expedient manner because again, my current warranty expires in just over 1 month.
I'll be more than happy to provide my cell phone number to anyone who can help me. Please just e-mail me and I'll send it to you.
Again, I appreciate all of the feedback and efforts to assist me from the kind people on this board.
Sincerely and with best regards, Kelly
koriley62atmail.com
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Kelly, I'd suggest you go back to your last post and modify your email address so it can not be copied and posted and work. In other words, put the word "at" instead of the symbol. You will get less junk mail.
I received a call from a gentleman (Territory Mgr) at Kubota about an hour ago. He and I agreed that I would take my L4701 to the local dealer in my hometown and have them go through it thoroughly and make recommendations, in conjunction with him. I'm going to try to drop my tractor off this weekend.
The gentleman asked me why I didn't buy my L4701 from my hometown dealer to start with (a fair question) and I told him it was because a friend of mine purchased a tractor similar to mine, and my brother a 326 Diesel ZTR, from the dealer that I ended up going with.
It's a shame it all had to come down to this.
I'll keep everyone apprised - again, thank you for your support.
The gentleman asked me why I didn't buy my L4701 from my hometown dealer to start with (a fair question) and I told him it was because a friend of mine purchased a tractor similar to mine, and my brother a 326 Diesel ZTR, from the dealer that I ended up going with.
It's a shame it all had to come down to this.
I'll keep everyone apprised - again, thank you for your support.
It's sad that it has taken this long but hopefully they will get it fixed and at their expense.
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
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2012 Kubota 2920, 60MMM, FEL, BH65 48" Bush Hog, 60"Backblade, B2782B Snowblower
Unfortunately it is not only Kubota that makes it hard to get a threw to anyone up the corporate chain. I have dealt with other equipment problems for other brands and it was just as hard to get anyone to talk to about problems with a piece of equipment or any help. I have had times that even the dealership was frustrated at the lack of support by some companies.
That seems how it goes now days, they want to sell you their product but other than minor issues after the sale a lot of them don't want to deal with it. I think mine goes into regen too often for how I have been running it (every 5 hrs), 1 dealer said to give it more time and another said he couldn't do anything until it throws a code for going into regen too often (which at this point I do not know if a code for that actually exists). I will give it to 100 hrs (25 now) and if it doesn't change by then I will take it in and go from there.
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Koriley, do you have any idea what precipitated the territory manager contacted you at this point?
He said it was because he was just reading a letter that I sent........I included him, as well as 5-6 others higher up the food chain, in a series of e-mails mirroring all of this both last week and again earlier this week. I even sent them (earlier this week) links of the video from last Labor Day which clearly shows the problem.
If I had to guess, the video is what spurned action.
If I had to guess, the video is what spurned action.
This is good! Finally someone is moving their butt! I hope that the service rep will standby and make the necessary changes and phone calls to bring this to a good ending for all parties.
Pat
Pat
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I have a pretty good idea what's going on here. I, too, have been in the biz for a long time, recently went out on my own (no dealership mess involved).
The processes have changed in the last few months. Used to, you called your division corporate HQ and griped at them. Then they'd call the field service rep and look at the tractor. Now, you contact customer service-which has moved from the left coast to the DFW area. They contact your division's HQ, who then makes a decision whether or not to contact an FSR. Minor changes but it made a difference. Once the FSR is involved, the tractor needs to go to an authorized dealer, at which point the FSR and the dealer techs will inspect the tractor. That is how it works now, and what I see a lot of is an owner who doesn't want to stop using the tractor long enough for a dealer/FSR to have a look at it. In cases like that, the owner will just have to put up with the problem(s) until someone fixes it, or the owner fixes it themselves. I have been down this road many times and I know that there will be 2 more sides to the story.
I also have a pretty good idea what's wrong with the tractor, but since the FSR has gotten involved, I'll leave it to him and the dealership to figure it out. I am thinking a chain reaction causing the whole problematic deal; based on what I've read here.
The processes have changed in the last few months. Used to, you called your division corporate HQ and griped at them. Then they'd call the field service rep and look at the tractor. Now, you contact customer service-which has moved from the left coast to the DFW area. They contact your division's HQ, who then makes a decision whether or not to contact an FSR. Minor changes but it made a difference. Once the FSR is involved, the tractor needs to go to an authorized dealer, at which point the FSR and the dealer techs will inspect the tractor. That is how it works now, and what I see a lot of is an owner who doesn't want to stop using the tractor long enough for a dealer/FSR to have a look at it. In cases like that, the owner will just have to put up with the problem(s) until someone fixes it, or the owner fixes it themselves. I have been down this road many times and I know that there will be 2 more sides to the story.
I also have a pretty good idea what's wrong with the tractor, but since the FSR has gotten involved, I'll leave it to him and the dealership to figure it out. I am thinking a chain reaction causing the whole problematic deal; based on what I've read here.
My Brother, who is much more mechanically inclined than me (I am, but not like him) dropped my tractor off at my hometown dealer yesterday. He spoke at length with one of the partners/owners who also oversees the Service Department, and is also extremely mechanically inclined as well.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they can remove the backhoe and find the problem (wrong fitting, something hooked up incorrectly, etc.) as they replaced the valve on the BH 6 months ago (it was bad). There was also some type of valve or pump replaced on the tractor itself by the purchasing dealer about a year-and-a-half ago but they never gave me any documentation so I'm not sure what it was (when I sat on the tractor there were leaks to the right of the seat by the handles, in addition to numerous and heavy leaks coming from under the faceplate on the BH where everything is plumbed; I want to say it was a pump that was replaced).
Moreover, I believe the purchasing dealer put some type of "shims" on the tractor when they fixed the leaks initially. He said it was a common practice but I have no idea what he was talking about. Hope someone can shed some light.
B. rgds, Kelly
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that they can remove the backhoe and find the problem (wrong fitting, something hooked up incorrectly, etc.) as they replaced the valve on the BH 6 months ago (it was bad). There was also some type of valve or pump replaced on the tractor itself by the purchasing dealer about a year-and-a-half ago but they never gave me any documentation so I'm not sure what it was (when I sat on the tractor there were leaks to the right of the seat by the handles, in addition to numerous and heavy leaks coming from under the faceplate on the BH where everything is plumbed; I want to say it was a pump that was replaced).
Moreover, I believe the purchasing dealer put some type of "shims" on the tractor when they fixed the leaks initially. He said it was a common practice but I have no idea what he was talking about. Hope someone can shed some light.
B. rgds, Kelly
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"shims" are used for pressure adjusting
I will be watching the forum to see if your problem gets resolved.
I will be watching the forum to see if your problem gets resolved.
I picked up my L4701 tractor with FEL and Backhoe this past Saturday from the dealer in Danville, IN, after they called to say it was ready. The good people at this particular dealership contacted Kubota in Groveport, OH, after I had my tractor dropped off on May 30th. At the dealership's request, Kubota finally sent over 3 technicians from Groveport to tear into my tractor, along with the dealership’s mechanic.
My L4701 was showing 3,200 psi at the tractor relief valve but after just a short period of time the backhoe was losing 1,200 psi, causing it to not pick-up a load of dirt, the struts/stabilizers to drop in a matter of minutes, and the thumb on the BH to start dropping almost immediately.
It's my understanding that after every possible diagnostic, the technicians from Groveport, along with the Team at the dealership in Danville, IN, removed the new valve from the backhoe (this was replaced back in Dec, 2016). What they found as the causal was paint overspray on the section of the valve where it makes contact with the backhoe. Although external leaks were not found themselves, the overspray paint was just thick enough to cause internal leaks, and the hydraulics to work against themselves.
Once they cleaned the factory paint off of the valve where it makes contact, they reinstalled it. Now the pressure holds steady, and after 2 hours of use, none of the problems that I experienced since I purchased the tractor new almost 2 years ago (July 3rd, 2015, from a different dealer) have reoccurred as of yet. I’m also not having hydraulic issues with the FEL either (i.e. the tractor would die when I tried to pick up a half load of sifted top soil with the front-end loader), which I never focused on as much, since it was the lesser of the two problems; I needed the backhoe most of all, which is why I purchased the tractor in the first place.
So as of this post, and after 6 separate service trips in less than 2 years to two different dealerships (4 months total shop time), my tractor is working, including the Backhoe, the Struts/Stabilizers on the BH, the Hydraulic Thumb on the BH, and the Front-end Loader too. Again, I've only used the tractor for 2 hours since picking it up this past weekend, but I would say there is a very good chance that the primary issue/causal has been resolved.
My experience with Kubota these past 23+ months has been nothing short of deplorable (and I’m being extremely generous). As a corporation, they overwhelmingly didn’t listen to or believe me. However, the dealership in Danville, IN, stood above it all, helped me when I didn’t even buy the tractor from them, exercised remarkable and extreme professionalism these past couple of weeks/month, and figured out/fixed my problem – for that I can’t thank them enough for what they have done for me, because that’s all I wanted all along. I also greatly appreciate everyone’s help and advice on this board, you kept me sane throughout it all.
My L4701 was showing 3,200 psi at the tractor relief valve but after just a short period of time the backhoe was losing 1,200 psi, causing it to not pick-up a load of dirt, the struts/stabilizers to drop in a matter of minutes, and the thumb on the BH to start dropping almost immediately.
It's my understanding that after every possible diagnostic, the technicians from Groveport, along with the Team at the dealership in Danville, IN, removed the new valve from the backhoe (this was replaced back in Dec, 2016). What they found as the causal was paint overspray on the section of the valve where it makes contact with the backhoe. Although external leaks were not found themselves, the overspray paint was just thick enough to cause internal leaks, and the hydraulics to work against themselves.
Once they cleaned the factory paint off of the valve where it makes contact, they reinstalled it. Now the pressure holds steady, and after 2 hours of use, none of the problems that I experienced since I purchased the tractor new almost 2 years ago (July 3rd, 2015, from a different dealer) have reoccurred as of yet. I’m also not having hydraulic issues with the FEL either (i.e. the tractor would die when I tried to pick up a half load of sifted top soil with the front-end loader), which I never focused on as much, since it was the lesser of the two problems; I needed the backhoe most of all, which is why I purchased the tractor in the first place.
So as of this post, and after 6 separate service trips in less than 2 years to two different dealerships (4 months total shop time), my tractor is working, including the Backhoe, the Struts/Stabilizers on the BH, the Hydraulic Thumb on the BH, and the Front-end Loader too. Again, I've only used the tractor for 2 hours since picking it up this past weekend, but I would say there is a very good chance that the primary issue/causal has been resolved.
My experience with Kubota these past 23+ months has been nothing short of deplorable (and I’m being extremely generous). As a corporation, they overwhelmingly didn’t listen to or believe me. However, the dealership in Danville, IN, stood above it all, helped me when I didn’t even buy the tractor from them, exercised remarkable and extreme professionalism these past couple of weeks/month, and figured out/fixed my problem – for that I can’t thank them enough for what they have done for me, because that’s all I wanted all along. I also greatly appreciate everyone’s help and advice on this board, you kept me sane throughout it all.
Glad to hear that they have worked to fix your problems, keep us updated on how things work out with the tractor. And thanks for your updates on your problems/fix.
Thank you. It's been an overwhelming process, but if I can help one other owner who might potentially have this same problem now or in the future, it was worth it.
Am hoping Kubota takes note, too, and performs QC checks on these replacement pumps.
Am hoping Kubota takes note, too, and performs QC checks on these replacement pumps.
Unreal, I hear storys like this all the time. Some employee thinking he is doing a great job, Look how many valves I painted today! 
When in reality he is creating a job/hassle/headache for someone else
Kubota/dealer messed up with your problems. If you had a complaint the dealer should have made sure the complaint was resolved.
When in reality he is creating a job/hassle/headache for someone else Kubota/dealer messed up with your problems. If you had a complaint the dealer should have made sure the complaint was resolved.