Kubota GR2100 Hydrostatic drive issues

10 years ago

I was going to tack this onto one of the existing threads. But I suspect others might be trying to make the same decision I made and now regret.

I had one of the gas engine Kubota tractors for a couple of years and while I thought I had purchased enough tractor to just mow my lawn. it was a little short on power. So I traded it back to the dealer for a GR2100. Mind you all this thing does is mow my 1.25 acres of lawn. That is it. I have had it since May 2007. Today, the thing is leaking UDTS fluid. The Kubota dealer tells me that 90% of the time, it is caused by a gear or spacer breaking inside the drive which runs the width of the rear of the tractor sending metal through the system and cutting a seal, Further the only way to fix it is to tear down the back of the tractor, find the broken part, repair it, repair what it has damaged and put everything back together again...roughly a $3,000.00 job!!! Occasionally a clamp goes and that causes the leak but that is very very rare. This was a $7,600 tractor which has been used about 35 minutes per week since 5/07 on nothing more dramatic than a lawn and now needs a $3,000 repair. You have got to be kidding me.

I bought a Kubota figuring I would buy more tractor than I needed from a reliability standpoint and make out on the back end in reduced down time or repair needed. That equation does not work with this tractor. I live in NE so it is used about 30 times per year, about 35 minutes per usage to mow my lawn. I could have had my lawn mowed by a contractor for what this has cost me over the short period of time is has been in service. Needless to stay I am extremely disappointed in this tractor and in Kubota for designing something at a $7,600 price point that requires such extensive servicing after such limited usage.

In addition, I have a question for tractor pros. I can't afford to repair this thing...it is senseless to repair it. The repair is going to cost most of what it is worth if not all of what it is worth.

Once this happens is there any life left in the sealed system transaxle at all? Can I simply top off the fluid and get maybe another summer of cuts out of this thing or is the more likely scenario that a couple of cuts after topping the fluid, the hydrostatic drive will grind to a halt?

This post was edited by jnug on Wed, Oct 23, 13 at 13:56

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

rustyj14
10 years ago
Well, you have learned the truth about advertisisng!
Watch what ya buy, ask questions about other folks machines, don't always believe what ya see, or hear.
Do believe the cautions on basic stuff. Don't buy because of the high-sounding name. Don't figure, because the cost is high-that you are getting a really wonderful piece of machinery.
I deal mainly in used machines. Only one machine, i bought new. A Snapper Hi-vac riding lawn mower. Bought it around 1983-still using it, altho the original engine "went to lunch" Rest of parts are original.
Now, if you are operating a business of lawn mowing, then buy the more expensive machines, and do the maintenance and repairs, and correct operation!
For home use, a Craftsman lawn tractor should suffice. Lord knows, i've mowed a lot of grass with used stuff. Even Craftsman lawn tractors. Parts are reasonable, and available. And, after-market parts work as good as original brand name parts. Some times, even better. But-do as you wish. What do i know? RJ
tomplum
10 years ago
I've not had the pleasure of being inside one of these transmissions. I have a customer w/ a 2012 and I remember at the time hearing that the transmissions had been revised as they had issues w/ the earlier ones. His both has a screen lower and a spin on filter above. Little bits of metal debris floating around inside isn't good but would hopefully end up trapped in a filter. It seems that you haven't determined the source of the leak which would make the most sense at this stage of the game. The rear cover comes off easily, at least on the new version- so have a look. Maybe it is something that a simple repair could be done w/o tearing down the transaxle , clean the screen and do an UDT2 change w/ the filter.
Related Discussions
John Deere x500 or Kubota gr2010
Q
Comments (13)
Nice find, daddymack! I do recall looking at Agco tractors once, but this is Simplicity country and there are no dealers within 200 miles of me. You are correct, the Agco 1800 series is a mirror image of a Prestige, even down to the front bumper. The Kohler Command is one of best engines out there I've heard. One thing that the JD and the Kubota don't do that the Agco will do is stripe your lawn if you chose to do so. You can have that baseball field look and even make unusual patterns with some practice. For me, it makes mowing a little more fun. The power of the Kohler and K71 transaxle will knock out any job you can throw at it. Power steering and good ground speed are nice features too. Sounds like a winner! That's a lot of tractor for the price and I wouldn't hesitate if I were you. I would LOVE to have a power lift deck on my Simplicity. The dealer is nearby and it sounds like you are comfortable with them. I would hook up a blower, not a snow blade if it's in your budget. You mentioned you may want 4wd. I wouldn't spend the extra money on that if I were you. You give up maneuverability with 4wd and it doesn't sound like your terrain requires its use. If you get bogged down, get some weights and chains. Also, the locking differential will get you through just about every traction related problem. I wish my current property required the use of that tractor, I'd buy it for sure. The entire product line (Simplicity, Agco, Massey Ferguson, Snapper, etc.) has a lot of history and integrity. Yeah, I think Briggs owns all of it, but they seem to be maintaining the standards that these companies were based on for decades. Good luck and let us know which way you go.
...See More
Kubota GR2000/2100 Owners
Q
Comments (36)
I've owned a GR2100 for a little of 2 years now -- bye-bye warrantee. 1. Dropping the mow deck is fairly easy without special setups. Even though the deck weighs 200 lbs it easily slides out sideways from under the machine. Before removing the shaft push the otherwise disconnected deck forward. Reach behind the left rear wheel and pull back the collar on the shart -- comes apart easy, and remove the rear piece from the spline. You will then have to twist and turn the deck out from under the tractor -- the biggest problem is clearing the part of the shaft that doesn't come apart. The deck is relatively easy to work on -- I just recently installed the mulch kit myself. 2. I made a crude measurement of the incline on the hill in front of my house. It is just shy of 40 degrees. I can get up and down this hill without brakes just by using the toe-heel control. I do, however, periodically run into a hydrostatic-lock condition climbing the hill. I back down and get a running start and usually make it the 2nd time. If not, I will go up a less steep section and come down the more steep section. As I indicated, I rarely use the break and frankly don't feel comfortable with the brake because it is easy to lock the wheels suddenly with it. I slow down and sometimes stop going down the hill just by putting a little back pressure on my toe-heel control. 3. With that said, I now come to the main reason I'm posting at this time. I referred a friend to a local Kubota dealer to purchase a GR2000. He was told it was discontinued because of transmission problems. My understanding is the GR2100 has the same transmission and I have always wondered whether hydrostatic lock was normal. Now I'm not so sure and even concerned because I am a couple of months outside of my warrantee. Any thoughts out there?
...See More
Kubota B7100 what is one worth?
Q
Comments (13)
With weights and chains your X would handle snowblowing that area just fine, though the hitch, shaft, bearing, and blower will be pricey. There are as many tractor owners who think industrial tires work better in snow as there are ones who think turf tires have an advantage. The Kubota is a diesel CUT and a whole different league. If you go to machinefinder.com you will be able to get a feel for regional pricing for a 7100. A FEL, though my favorite of all attachments, isn't my first choice for snow removal (they will handle anything thrown at it, but aren't the fastest way of removing snow). Cheers JDFANATIC ********* I think you missed the point here JDFANATIC. It's one thing to blow a narrow drive. I'm trying to clear basically a small parking lot. I'll just be reblowing the same snow 2 or 3 times. Don't get me wrong there are places I would indeed use a blower. But in the middle of this lot it ain't going to work so well. Speed isn't really the goal here. If it was, the answer would be simple, just replace the truck. Few things will clear that area faster then a pickup truck with a full size blade on it. I'm really looking for a cheaper and more useful solution. A truck mounted snow blade has only one purpose. A FEL on the other hand can be used year round. And if it works anything like my old skid steer I used at work did. It would be an easy an fun process removing the snow. The X465 with a blade might handle it most of the time. Thing is living on the shores of lake Erie we do at times get dumped on. That's why I wanted a bigger tractor so I won't get caught with too small a machine to handle whatever we get. I have an old Bolens H16 with both a blower and a blade,and I've run into situations where it just wouldn't push the enormous volume of snow we got. The blower might have work had I had it mounted at the time or felt well enough to mount it on the tractor. It still would have taken me forever to move it all. I ended up that time having a guy with a truck come in and remove the snow. He made a total mess of my driveway and the yard. Thats why I bought my own truck. I'm much more careful plowing when the yard is soft. Thanks, Bill
...See More
JD vs. Kubota w/ a few ?'s
Q
Comments (42)
Now lets not forget the 4 wheel steer is an expensive option otherwise if not need the price will be close enough for the Deere - Either way I would look at some Garden Tractors (from other brands)especially when the price is $4k and up - IMHO Features Welded Steel Frame OHV Engines 16" Turning Radius 3.5 Gallon Fuel Cap. Full-Pressure Lubrication with Oil Filter 1" to 4" Cutting Height Quick Oil Change System X38" & X42 Side Discharge Mowers 42M" Freedom Mulching Mower X300-38" 17 HP Kawasaki V-Twin Hydrostatic Transmission X38" Mower $2,999.00 X300-42" 17 HP Kawasaki V-Twin Hydrostatic Transmission X42"Mower $2,999.00 X300-42M" 17 HP Kawasaki V-Twin Hydrostatic Transmission 42M Mulching Mower $3,199.00 X304-42" 17 HP Kawasaki V-Twin Hydrostatic Transmission 4 Wheel Steer X42"Mower $3,699.00 X320-X48" 22 HP Kawasaki V-Twin Hydrostatic Transmission X48" Mower $4,199.00 X324-X48" 22 HP Kawasaki V-Twin Hydrostatic Transmission 4 Wheel Steer X48" Mower $4,699.00 X340-X54" 25 HP Kawasaki V-Twin Hydrostatic Transmission X54" Mower $5,199.00
...See More
rcbe
10 years ago
OP - for a 3 grand repair quote, I'd surely want a 2nd opinion...
jnug
Original Author
10 years ago
Well I guess there are two things that can cause the leak...a loosened clamp...already checked and t cut seal via metal from somewhere.

Fortunately it looks like there is a good chance that I have caught this before it has torn up a bunch of glide steering and other hydraulic parts. That fluid goes everywhere in this tractor.

As such chances now look good for the repair to come in at less than $3k (I hope). At a minimum the tranny comes out and gets changed to the new tranny style that Kubota changed to because of this problem. Also while it remains to be seen how this all comes out in the wash, Kubota is stepping in to help me out with this because of the limited time on the machine. Even though it is unclear at this point how this is all going to pan out, I have to commend Kubota for that.
HU-613398556
last year
Well here it is 8 years later on your posting. My GR2100 bought 2005 now has 330 hours and Kubota hides behind the warranty years, ignoring their need to REDESIGN the entire Glide Steer rear axle. My now 3-WD fails to 2WD if slightly turning right. Critical engineering failure as I bought the unit at $7,800 new to deal with steep slopes. Easy to fix - $4,000 + $1,000 labor = $5,000 and presto, a faulty Kubota engineering design is corrected by the customer going to generation II rear axle redesign. Last Kubota I will ever buy!

Kubota GR2100 Hydrostatic drive issues

Comments (5)

rustyj14

tomplum

Related Discussions

rcbe

jnug
Original Author

HU-613398556

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Kubota GR2100 Hydrostatic drive issues

Comments (5)

rustyj14

tomplum

Related Discussions

rcbe

jnugOriginal Author

HU-613398556

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

jnug
Original Author