Kubota BX FAILS again! Diff-lock disaster.

20201102 - This is the SECOND FAILURE of the differential lock on the BX25 in 2540 hours. As one can easily see, the leverage on these FOUR tiny pins, which are less than 1/3 the cross section of the wheel bolts, is enormous, carrying maybe 10 times the torque as each wheel does. THIS design is totally inadequate considering the function of the FEL, with a backhoe for ballast on the rear.
Watch my other videos on the diff-lock, including modifying the 10mm pins to 12mm. A simple fix that provides 40% greater cross-sectional strength.
Please comment, or like, so more people will get a chance to view these important Kubota videos.

[@MIGHTYX2010]

This should be a factory recall! And they should not be pins, they should be ovals and take up about 60% of that round disc for engagement 💪

[@ya472]

I would be happy if they put any improvement in new production AND in replacement parts. It seems ridiculous to replace broken parts with inadequate replacements.

[@MrCoontastic]

Mine (bx2370) is currently stuck in the lock position. I'm going to let it break, fix it then sell. I had to replace the head gasket at 13hrs. Mine is lemon flavored.

[@ya472]

Sounds more like sour grapes. LOL. Interesting why or how it is locked. Good luck, and look forward to hearing about the final results. 🙂I am wondering if the fork shaft is seized, as happened to mine the first time, if you check my earlier video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nISVg62NlrKZobc

[@ya472]

If the fork shaft is seized, it will be a much cheaper repair, other than the labour to fix before a catastrophe like gears and case fracturing?

[@ya472]

In my opinion, the fork and shaft bind because people push hard on the pedal, expecting the differential lock to activate. Pressing hard on the pedal is the worst thing to do. Learning how to engage (and more important - dis-engage) the diff-lock is very specific, and not as Kubota manual or employees explain.

[@crxess]

Are you engaging this at speed? Rarely hear about damage like this otherwise.

[@ya472]

Unfortunately, because of my posts and involvement in Facebook Forums for BX, I hear about it all the time, even in BX tractors with less than 300 hours. Check out this other video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eGrGo2ZveMtpf9E

[@ya472]

The damage in many cases is NOT engagement, but rather dis-engagement, where the pins will not release quickly, but work their way out, creating leverage, stress and damage. When those pins break, they can become lodged in the gears and have cracked the aluminum housing... a very expensive repair.

[@crxess]

@@ya472 Same rule applies - Stop first, then disengage.

[@ya472]

@@crxess Perhaps you should watch the videos, before making that comment.

[@pondacres]

Sux the expense fixing this, good luck with that man! That design is kind of janky...alas for me, I don't know if my massey's diff lock is any beefier, probably not. Real easy to bust those pins if you try activating the lock with the wheel spinning fast.

[@ya472]

Thank you. I believe the issue is mostly with the BX tractors with the heavy backhoe installed. I have an extensive mechanical background, so do the repairs myself. In fact, I have come up with a modification I am working on, to double the number of pins to eight. I will be modifying old parts for this experiment.

[@ya472]

Now realized the case can not accommodate 8 pins. However, the stock pins are 10mm, and by installing available 12mm pins, which should fit, the cross-section area is increased by 44%. Hopefully this will be more than adequate, without compromising the integrity of all parts.

[@andrewshatlaw3290]

Mine broke to, 2017 bx25d 300 hours

[@ya472]

Has it been fixed? Did the Dealer blame you for incorrect operation?

[@andrewshatlaw3290]

@@ya472 I just got it back today, they fixed it for free under warranty but if alot of people are having this issue why don't they recall them

[@ya472]

@@andrewshatlaw3290 The odds are that they sell 100,000 and have 200 fail. According to the local dealer, they were surprised I have 2800 hours on my BX25, because most local users have 200 or less hours on their machines. Also, better chance of these failing on machines with the proper ballast, for the FEL, like a backhoe or 600 pounds of something. (mother-in-law?)

[@tomcook5813]

Your not supposed to engage while moving or the wheels are turnig, what we need to do is read the manual.

[@ya472]

LOL Good luck with that Tom.

[@ya472]

By the way, you need to re-read the manual, because it tells you at the top, when the diff-lock is engage: you will have difficulty turning. What that means, for example, if you are pulling a plow, don't expect the tractor to make the turn when the diff-lock is engaged. You are not the first person to not grasp the whole set of instructions.

[@ya472]

From the Operator's Manual To avoid personal injury due to loss of steering control: A Do not operate the tractor at high speed with differential lock engaged. A Do not attempt to turn with the differential lock engaged. A Be sure to release the differential lock before making a turn in field conditions. A When using the differential lock, always slow the engine down. A To prevent damage to power train, do not engage differential lock when one wheel is spinning and the other is completely stopped

[@MalluStyleMultiMedia]

👍👍 good video..

[@MalluStyleMultiMedia]

Joined you my friend in the journey to success

[@ya472]

Thank you. If it helps one person, mission accomplished.

[@eviloctober]

Lance Taylor Asst Director Engineering and R&D at Kubota Tractor Corporation.

[@ya472]

If this Fella can do it, maybe he can send me a locking collar with eight pins, and I will drill the extra four holes in the case.

[@ya472]

Is he in Corporate Kubota USA or Canada or ?