Monthly Archives: May 2013

0 – 60 in whatever……..

Great ad on YouTube for the new Kubota Grand X factor, sorry tractor,  currently being aimed at the Australian market, presumably to be rolled out elsewhere in the future.

 

Aside from the pleasure of watching such a great ad, there is a real encouragement for a sense of adventure and it captures something of the spirit of the delight of driving a proper tractor.

 

Full story : Skiddmark

New Kubota plant in Georgia

Lots of excitement about a new Kubota manufacturing facility costing $73 million being opened in Jefferson, Georgia.

Aside from the good news in terms of jobs in Georgia, it is actually also good news for people who own or intend to buy any type of Kubota tractor.

This is largely because it shows a vote of confidence by Kubota, based in Georgia and in the United States generally.

This type of commitment is important especially for Kubota tractors and agricultural machinery generally in part because of the longevity of use of the equipment.

Kubota tractors can last easily 20/30 years, the issue becomes servicing and maintenance and Kubota parts.

This type of investment and opening of a manufacturing plant shows that Kubota is looking forward.

Kubota also hint that they want to expand significantly within all of the US, which is at least an indication that they are committed for the long-term.

Full story – Kubota

Kubota scam on ebay ?

Story on eBay concerning a potential scam regarding Kubota tractors.

The gist of the story is to be wary of an increased number of Kubota tractors that are becoming available for sale on eBay.

There are obvious pitfalls and dangers with any online auction site as it fundamentally relies on trust on both sides. It is impossible to verify the truth of this but it is worth always being careful.

The interesting thing about this news item is at it is reporting a significant increase in the number of Kubota tractors that are becoming available for sale from one particular site.

Anything that raises awareness of potential fraud is probably a good thing, as potential buyers need to weigh up the balance of probabilities as to whether they think it is worth the risk or not.

Full story – eBay

Kubota run overs – safety

News report of an accident in Murphy’s California highlights the dangers of tractor run overs.

The incident involves a seventy five year man who was driving a Kubota tractor, parked it without engaging the break properly, got out of the tractor and was run over by it.

Apparently the tractor rolled over his legs stomach and chest before coming to a stop.

The news report says he was airlifted with moderate injuries, which must be a God send if that turned out to be the case. A sober warning for all of us.

Full story – The Union Democrat

Kubota recall

Kubota is recalling a number of zero turn mowers because of a problem with the fuel tank which could potentially pose a fire risk.

The affected models are :

ZG 123S – 12505 and below

ZG 127S – 12959 and below

ZG 124E – 12179 and below

ZG 127E 11574 and below

 

Owners of these models are advised to stop using them immediately and contact their local Kubota Dealer. Apparently the problem concerns the fuel tanks pressure relief valve, which can malfunction, causing wear of the fuel tank, obviously a major safety issue.

 

Further info : Kubota Corp USA

US Consumer Product Safety Commission

Kubota lawn tractor safety 8

Kubota lawn tractor

 

The Kubota lawn tractor will have a number of buttons and levers and various control mechanisms vacated on the dashboard and the cabin area of the tractor with the operator sits and handles the various functions that are needed to make the Kubota lawn tractor work.

 

It is a good idea for the driver of the Kubota lawn tractor to familiarise themselves with these various buttons and levers to understand what they do prior to using the tractor for the first time, not least to be aware of what they do.

 

Knowing what a button or a lever does is important both in terms of what it does and what it does not do. You do not want to press it to have to find out.

 

Somewhere on the control panel of the Kubota lawn tractor will be a mechanism for starting and stopping the blades of the Kubota lawn tractor whilst the tractor is in use.

 

It is important to remember that if you are driving the Kubota lawn tractor over any type of land that could damage the blades, such as a gravel path or a concrete patio or similar’s, then the blades should be switched off prior to driving over that type of land.

 

The blades of the Kubota lawn tractor can then be re-engaged when the tractor is back on land such as grass where the blades can be turned back on.

 

There are a number of residential settings where the Kubota lawn tractor will be used which involve moving from one piece of land to another, often crossing paths or public highways or similar in the process.

 

It is important to be especially aware when moving from one piece of land to another of potential risks or hazards, such as pedestrians or other motor vehicles that may be in the facility.

 

It is important to remember that the Kubota lawn tractor is not designed to be used on roads or public highways. It is also important to remember that other people whatever they are doing, are not expecting to see or encounter a tractor and as such will be unprepared.

 

It is important for the driver or operator of the Kubota lawn tractor to take the initiative in making sure that there are no safety issues, and that an awareness of the environment is paramount when moving from any type of land to another, especially public highways.

Kubota lawn tractor safety 7

Kubota lawn tractor

 

This a lot of the factors concerning safety around driving or operating a Kubota lawn tractor in many ways simply common sense, but often need restating or clarifying in the context of a particular situation where they may either be lost or simply not thought about.

 

When using a Kubota lawn tractor as a mechanism for mowing lawns, which is its primary function although there are other potential uses, one of the main considerations will be the discharge of grass, i.e. where it is to go.

 

So long as this is thought of before using or driving the Kubota lawn tractor, it need not be a dangerous hazard. An awareness of the fact that grass is to be discharged, and an awareness of the land on which the Kubota lawn tractor is to be used will give the operator a sense of the best way of disposing of the discharge of grass from the tractor.

 

It is always important when using the Kubota lawn tractor to make sure that the discharge cover or grass catcher if one is being used, is in its proper place and fitted and working properly. This is one of a number of safety checks should be carried out prior to the Kubota lawn tractor being started and being used.

 

The most dangerous element of a Kubota lawn tractor is also its most important feature in terms of its function as a tractor, that of the blades that are used to cut the grass.

 

It is important that neither the operator or anyone else ever put their hands or any other part of their body underneath the tractor where the blades are located, whether the Kubota lawn tractor is switched on or off. Even when the tractor has been switched off and is stationary, there is always a danger of someone harming themselves into some way.

 

The dangers of this are more apparent with snowblowers, which can include a Kubota lawn tractor which is adapted as such by way of an accessory. Many people will put their hands into the area of the blades when a snowblower has been turned off, in the mistaken belief that there is no power and therefore it is safe to do it.

 

With snow blowers particularly there is a buildup of energy that still remains even once the tractor or snowblower has been turned off. This means the blades can still go round and cause serious damage to someone’s hand or foot.

 

The same principle applies to a Kubota lawn tractor, whatever it is being used for.

 

 

 

Kubota lawn tractor safety 6

Kubota lawn tractor

 

One of the most important but underrated safety features of driving a Kubota lawn tractor is the clothing or apparel that the operator or the driver of the tractor is wearing. This may seem slightly odd in one sense.

 

This is a very practical but important safety issue. Whatever clothes the operator is wearing they must be such that there is no risk of any part of them getting caught in any of the operating machinery, especially the blades, of the Kubota lawn tractor.

 

Ideally, overalls or similar types of clothes would be worn, but given that the Kubota lawn tractor will primarily be used in a residential or semi-residential typesetting, it is much more likely that the operator or driver of the tractor will wear every day’s household or leisure clothes.

 

As such, perhaps it is worth mentioning a couple of specific items. Loosefitting clothes and jewellery and similar unattached clothing items such as scarves can easily get caught in things and should be avoided.

 

It is important to wear sturdy solid shoes or boots’s when driving or operating a Kubota lawn tractor. The Kubota lawn tractor should never be used by someone who is not wearing any shoes i.e. is barefoot, or wearing sandals or slippers.

 

It is always important for the operator or driver of the Kubota lawn tractor to wear protective eye goggles or eye glasses. There is always a danger, however careful the operator is, that the operator or driver of the Kubota lawn tractor can be hit in the face by an object in someway discharged by the motion or action of the tractor.

 

This is an inherent risk when using any type of garden tractor or non-tractor and should be allowed for by doing whatever it is possible to minimise the risk.

 

Protective eye goggles can literally help prevent real damage being done by an obstacle being thrown up by the blades of the Kubota lawn tractor.

 

There is also a danger of grass being inadvertently discharged incorrectly in some way this, and this ending up in a very forceful manner being directed towards some part of the operators face or eyes. Obviously protective eye goggles again could be an important factor in preventing serious damageto someone’s face or eyesight, whilst driving the Kubota lawn tractor.

 

 

Kubota lawn tractor safety 5

Kubota lawn tractor

 

A Kubota lawn tractor will primarily be bought to cut grass and mow lawns, although certain models can also be adapted so they have other functions and other uses, such as being turned into a snow blower.

 

When primarily being used as a Kubota lawn tractor, one of the most important safety considerations is, is to be aware of the discharge of the grass or the snow if it is being used as a snow blower, as to where the grass is going to go.

 

There are many different options as to what to do with the grass that is being cut or ejected from underneath the mainframe of the Kubota lawn tractor, but there is an important consideration concerning discharge.

 

This is to be aware, especially if using the Kubota lawn tractor anywhere near any pedestrians or public highways all roads, that any discharge or ejection of grass from the Kubota lawn tractor should not get anywhere near anywhere where it could cause a hazard either directly or indirectly to other people or traffic or any vehicle that might come into contact with such a discharge.

 

In this regard it is also important to be careful when using a Kubota lawn tractor anywhere near a building of any description.

 

This in part is because people could suddenly emerge from a building unexpectedly, and potentially pose a hazard or a risk to the safety operation of a Kubota lawn tractor. The other reason is simply that any building will have walls and windows of some description.

 

If there is a discharge of anything by the Kubota lawn tractor, it could either damage the walls or the windows of such a building.

 

Equally there is a danger that any object or discharge by the Kubota contract could bounce back off the walls or windows of a building and potentially hit or become an obstruction for the driver or the operator of a Kubota lawn tractor.

 

In this regard it is worth mentioning that it is often advised that the driver/operator of a Kubota lawn tractor should always wear protective goggles, or some type of protective eyewear when using the Kubota lawn tractor.

 

There are a number of good reasons for this. Perhaps the most important one is that with the amount of discharge of mown grass that’s going to be resulting from the work of the Kubota lawn tractor, there is always a risk of some of this grass blowing into the face and/or the eyes of the operator of the tractor.

 

Obviously this can be a real danger, and careful thought should be given to this, and protective eyeglasses or eyewear always used when anyone is using or driving the Kubota lawn tractor.

 

 

 

 

Kubota lawn tractor safety 4

Kubota lawn tractor

 

The word environment is perhaps a bit of a clumsy word at times to use when referring to the type of land that a Kubota lawn tractor can be used on.

 

There are however an important number of considerations concerning the land itself that can potentially cause damage both to the Kubota lawn tractor and to any pedestriansor bystanders who may be in the vicinity of the area where the Kubota lawn tractor is being used.

 

It is important when using a Kubota lawn tarctor to clear away as much rubbish or debris general household clutter that may be covering the land or the area of land where the Kubota lawn tractor is to be used.

 

It is inevitable and almost a common part of most residential settings that there is a lot of stuff left lying around outside, and at times this can pose a danger.

 

When using a Kubota lawn tractor it is a really good idea to make the area of land that is to be driven over as clear and as clean as possible from any type of object that might be left upon it.

 

This can include stones, rocks, old watering cans etc.

 

There are a number of good practical reasons why this area should be cleared of any debris or objects, when about to use a Kubota lawn tractor.

 

Any of these objects that get hit or come into contact with the blades of the Kubota lawn tractor can be rejected forcibly by the speed of the blades in a number of different directions as ejected missiles.

 

This can be extremely dangerous to anyone in the vicinity, as if they get hit by one of these objects that are being ejected by the Kubota lawn tractors blades’s, it can cause serious even potentially fatal damage to the person.

 

There can also be a real risk of damage to the Kubota lawn tractor itself, both in terms of damaging the blades and potentially other mechanical industrial damage to the workings of the Kubota lawn tractor.

 

If the blades do get damaged, it is obviously quite a major repair job to get them renewed or replaced and can involve a number of complications.

 

If the blades are damaged in any way, then it is important not to use the Kubota lawn tractor until they are repaired or replaced. This can be a dangerous job and should really only be done by a qualified Kubota trained mechanic, ideally at a Kubota dealership.

 

Obviously if this needs to be done it will be expensive, and it also means that the Kubota lawn tractor. will not be able to be used whilst this repair or replacement work is being carried out.

 

 

 

 

 

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