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Kubota kx057-4 troubles

DGMM

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Australia
Hi all, just wondering if anyone is having dramas with the new kx series excavator. I've got a 2011 kx057-4 which I'm having hydraulic problems with. Basically hydraulics are super slow/weak when using more than one function and attachments ie flail mower rapidly winds down to about half speed every time you you move any other part of the machine. Kubota are very reluctant to admit a problem but just today they have told me that there may be an inherent problem with these new machines and need to get an answer from kubota in japan before they will tell me what the go is.
Has anyone else had issues and were they sorted any faster than the six monthes it's taken me?
 
Last edited:

roadrunner81

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
275
Location
Tacoma Washington
Occupation
Managing member KSR Excavating, LLC
I have a few hundred hours under my butt on a 057 and so far its been a great machine. No noticeable problems with the hydraulics but I haven't used any attachment other than buckets. I will be using an auger on this machine but they don't seem to be to much of a load. I have to admit that the hydraulics(boom,swing) slow considerably while tracking or even slightly resting your foot on travel pedals.
 

DGMM

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Australia
Yeah my machine is still under warranty. The biggest problem is the mower. the mower was matched up to the machine by Kubota, to run at flow of 70L/min. Which is two of the three pumps added together. as I understand the third pump should run everything else while the mower is running so that it keeps up full RPM, but it seems the machine is taking flow from one of the pumps going to the mower, reducing it to 30L/min at the mower... every time you make the slightest movement of ANYTHING!
It is also noticeable when loading trucks or lifting out of a deep hole, where you would nomally be boom up, stick/dipper away and crowding bucket, only crowd will move, let go of crowd and stick will move, let go of stick and boom will lift.
I dont know if this will be a problem with every machine or just a computer glitch is a few.
Cheers for the replies. I'll let you know if I learn anything else.
 

andmac

Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2010
Messages
10
Location
melbourne
Hey mate i got U45-3 and it slows down when tracking and moving the arm, if i got a full muddy sometimes the boom wont lift at all unless i stop. it can also get real jumpy when doing this. i have the same issue you do loading trucks with a real full muddy cant use boom/dipper/bucket simultaneously only 2 at a time. wasnt sure if it was a problem or it just lacked a bit of strenght i might have same bucket sizes as the kx161 which is a slightly bigger machine. will be interested how u go with kubota mines still got warranty too. hope it all gets sorted for you.
 

berry

Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
18
Location
arkansas
i wish i would have read this last month!!! i just bought a new 057 it now has 100 hrs on it. this has become the illest operating machine i have ever sat on!!!!!!! super slow when trying to do anything while traveling, tends to surge one motion when letting completely off of another, bucket curl so slow its not funny... it seems if you are not doing basic easy digging the machine wont do what u tell it,, it seems to operate with different pressures to the cylinders each time you switch motion. i have put alot of hours on alot of different machines, i put 1000 hrs on a 305 in the last 8 months and it was kinda worn bad still strong as ever just made with alot of chinese parts... i did like kubota because in 02 i had the oportunity to operate a brand new kx 91-3 it was a sweet smoothe little machine!!! so i did some research and on paper the kubota was stronger and had some differnt measurements making it easier to load a truck.......60 grand later i am pissed!!!! dealer says "next time u have it loaded up, bring it by and we will look at it.... oh yeah does your window washer fluid leak out all over the inside? i havent used it once and it is half gone!!! sweet!!! ill be headed to the dealership in the next couple days
 

Carl Peter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
50
Location
NewJersey
i wish i would have read this last month!!! i just bought a new 057 it now has 100 hrs on it. this has become the illest operating machine i have ever sat on!!!!!!! super slow when trying to do anything while traveling, tends to surge one motion when letting completely off of another, bucket curl so slow its not funny... it seems if you are not doing basic easy digging the machine wont do what u tell it,, it seems to operate with different pressures to the cylinders each time you switch motion. i have put alot of hours on alot of different machines, i put 1000 hrs on a 305 in the last 8 months and it was kinda worn bad still strong as ever just made with alot of chinese parts... i did like kubota because in 02 i had the oportunity to operate a brand new kx 91-3 it was a sweet smoothe little machine!!! so i did some research and on paper the kubota was stronger and had some differnt measurements making it easier to load a truck.......60 grand later i am pissed!!!! dealer says "next time u have it loaded up, bring it by and we will look at it.... oh yeah does your window washer fluid leak out all over the inside? i havent used it once and it is half gone!!! sweet!!! ill be headed to the dealership in the next couple days

Did you demo the machine before you bought it ??
 

firetrack

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
144
Location
Australia
DGMM,
Any update on your KX057 - 4 hydraulic issues. I'm about to put an order on a similar size machine and Kubota KX057 -4 was my pick. After reading this thread I'm now having doubts. We'll be putting a 900dig and 1500mm tilitng muddie on it. Will be doing a lot of work with the muddie in some really wet conditions to track through. Do you think this is a situation where the Kubota can shine?
After that my choices were in the following order JCB8055 or 8060, Hitachi 60U, Bobcat E50 and possibly Cat 305CR.
I've got a Hitachi 35U purchased new in Dec 2010 and now has 1600 + hr on it. Problem is all the pins and bushes from(and including) the swing post to the bucket are showing sign of excessive wear. This machines gets greased daily with a lithium based EP(Mainly Caltex red) grease. I realise we operate in trying conditions but Hitachi have looked at it and so far not offerred anything. This has put me off Hitachi a bit. I'm a bit shy on JCB given that they have very expensive parts. Bobcat is a ballsy little unit but the one we hire(400hr on it only) has issues with cab hardware - doors rattle, front slide window tension is a joke - so I'm cautious of what it will be like with 2500hrs on it.
Had a Yanmar once and it was a good machine but I couldn't get any service from the Queensland distributors. Liked the look of Kobelco but their breakout specs aren't up to the others.
Now I've found this thread it has "thrown a spanner in the works" and I'm confused!!
Firetrack
 

roadrunner81

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 22, 2009
Messages
275
Location
Tacoma Washington
Occupation
Managing member KSR Excavating, LLC
DGMM,
Any update on your KX057 - 4 hydraulic issues. I'm about to put an order on a similar size machine and Kubota KX057 -4 was my pick. After reading this thread I'm now having doubts. We'll be putting a 900dig and 1500mm tilitng muddie on it. Will be doing a lot of work with the muddie in some really wet conditions to track through. Do you think this is a situation where the Kubota can shine?
After that my choices were in the following order JCB8055 or 8060, Hitachi 60U, Bobcat E50 and possibly Cat 305CR.
I've got a Hitachi 35U purchased new in Dec 2010 and now has 1600 + hr on it. Problem is all the pins and bushes from(and including) the swing post to the bucket are showing sign of excessive wear. This machines gets greased daily with a lithium based EP(Mainly Caltex red) grease. I realise we operate in trying conditions but Hitachi have looked at it and so far not offerred anything. This has put me off Hitachi a bit. I'm a bit shy on JCB given that they have very expensive parts. Bobcat is a ballsy little unit but the one we hire(400hr on it only) has issues with cab hardware - doors rattle, front slide window tension is a joke - so I'm cautious of what it will be like with 2500hrs on it.
Had a Yanmar once and it was a good machine but I couldn't get any service from the Queensland distributors. Liked the look of Kobelco but their breakout specs aren't up to the others.
Now I've found this thread it has "thrown a spanner in the works" and I'm confused!!
Firetrack

It may be just me but I really like the 057, now approaching 400hrs with zero problems. All digging in rocky compacted soil and fine grading crappy rocky topsoil. I've found the machine to be smooth and powerfull although not the fastest but by no means slow. I also like that I can operate the foot controls and hand controls at the same time, kinda makes me look like a rock star when crossing flat work and ditches.
 

DGMM

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Australia
Hey Firetrack,
There is no doubt that this is a good machine, very smooth with plenty of power.Look, I may just be unlucky and have a 1 in 100 lemon, you might get a goodie, Roadrunner81 seems happy.
I was once told not to trust break out specs because they dont all test them the same, some test them with blade down some not, some with the machine chained down, some use optional counterweight etc. I think demo the machines you like and go with what feels right.
As soon as I know anything I'll post it.
 

berry

Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
18
Location
arkansas
my machine will be at kubota monday,,, they are telling me that they will check pressures.....i mean there has to be something wrong with pressure settings and ,over ride shimms..... there are other things that arent right also....The blade also collapses real easy when u pull on things....when you try to use the blade to grade it slows the travel abruptly and makes it hard to grade
 

berry

Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
18
Location
arkansas
i had the same kind of wear problem with the 305cr, i use a high pressure grease sig3000 or cmx thends not to squish out. i tore the side out of the bucket and kept breaking teeth,until i put john deere teeth on it. cat teeth and the quick change and the bucket say made in china...the jcb is the weakest of them all...my list was pretty much the same as yours except i totally forgot to spec the bobcat....the kubota is built stronger than the 305cr and it is a pure bread machine (all kubota parts) you can see the difference with a side by side comparison... mine just wont act right!!!!
Any update on your KX057 - 4 hydraulic issues. I'm about to put an order on a similar size machine and Kubota KX057 -4 was my pick. After reading this thread I'm now having doubts. We'll be putting a 900dig and 1500mm tilitng muddie on it. Will be doing a lot of work with the muddie in some really wet conditions to track through. Do you think this is a situation where the Kubota can shine?
After that my choices were in the following order JCB8055 or 8060, Hitachi 60U, Bobcat E50 and possibly Cat 305CR.
I've got a Hitachi 35U purchased new in Dec 2010 and now has 1600 + hr on it. Problem is all the pins and bushes from(and including) the swing post to the bucket are showing sign of excessive wear. This machines gets greased daily with a lithium based EP(Mainly Caltex red) grease. I realise we operate in trying conditions but Hitachi have looked at it and so far not offerred anything. This has put me off Hitachi a bit. I'm a bit shy on JCB given that they have very expensive parts. Bobcat is a ballsy little unit but the one we hire(400hr on it only) has issues with cab hardware - doors rattle, front slide window tension is a joke - so I'm cautious of what it will be like with 2500hrs on it.
Had a Yanmar once and it was a good machine but I couldn't get any service from the Queensland distributors. Liked the look of Kobelco but their breakout specs aren't up to the others.
Now I've found this thread it has "thrown a spanner in the works" and I'm confused!!
Firetrack[/QUOTE]
 

DGMM

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Australia
Berry, let me know what your outcome is. All the pressures/relief pressures seemed to be to spec on my machine. I recon its a computer problem??? sending too much oil to the wrong place. there is no doubt that everything moves fast with ****loads of power, its just when another function is used it all goes downhill.
 

berry

Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
18
Location
arkansas
Berry, let me know what your outcome is. All the pressures/relief pressures seemed to be to spec on my machine. I recon its a computer problem??? sending too much oil to the wrong place. there is no doubt that everything moves fast with ****loads of power, its just when another function is used it all goes downhill.
I agree mine does the exact same thing....I did drop it off today.. The general manager, the salesman and the service guys, swear they will do what ever it takes to make it right....I do have to go up there tomorrow and make it act up for the service guy in a parking lot :) .. There customer service seems great. I believe if it can be fixed the will do it . On kubota's website the say this machine has a new three pump load sensing system....I told them we can take that sh“* off and let me sense the load. Then ill tell the machine what to do! thought that was how it is supposed to work... I guess we are guinea pigs on something new.....I just hope they fix it soon.... I will let u know the outcome
 

DGMM

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
19
Location
Australia
The guys here recon there is nothing wrong with my machine... HAHA. trying to tell me the mower is the problem, the mower which THEY matched to the machine! they wouldnt comment on the digging/lifting problems, just kept saying the only problem is the mower! IT'S NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM! If anyone else has more luck. Berry I'd really appreciate anything you get out of your guys.
 

firetrack

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2009
Messages
144
Location
Australia
Had a look at JCB 8065, Yanmar Vio55, KobelcoSK 55SRX, bobcat E50, Cat 305, Volvo 58 and Kubota 057. Kubota had nice cab but you can't see the right hand side of the blade and compared to bobcat parts pricing they were 222% more expensive.
JCB looked but once again vision to the right side of the blade was poor and their parts pricing compared to Bobcat was 198% more expensive
Kobelco had a nice simple and large cab with minimal electronics but again the parts are expensive being 192% more expensive than Bobcat
Cat didn't have the new 305E series in stock so i can't tell but if it is similar to D series then vision and cab OK and parts compared to Bobcat were only 95% the price of Bobcat.
Volvo was nice with some vision restrictions but breakout and other performance indicators not as good as BC. Parts are good though being 97% the price of BC.
I am leaning towards BCE50 with angle blade. Only bitch I have is that on a BC E35 that we sometimes hire in the front window rattles and the E50 has the same mechanism.
any comments
Firetrack
 

berry

Member
Joined
Apr 12, 2012
Messages
18
Location
arkansas
The guys here recon there is nothing wrong with my machine... HAHA. trying to tell me the mower is the problem, the mower which THEY matched to the machine! they wouldnt comment on the digging/lifting problems, just kept saying the only problem is the mower! IT'S NOT THE ONLY PROBLEM! If anyone else has more luck. Berry I'd really appreciate anything you get out of your guys.


Well I went to kubota this morning. I was able to show the main guy in the shop what some of the problems were,, he did agree things should work better. The machine is fast and stout as can be when using one motion. Use two three or try four and you better give up...the shop is two weeks behind and they moved me to the front.. I can't complain about there service that is for sure!! I will post any news I get
 

Carl Peter

Well-Known Member
Joined
Apr 24, 2011
Messages
50
Location
NewJersey
Had a look at JCB 8065, Yanmar Vio55, KobelcoSK 55SRX, bobcat E50, Cat 305, Volvo 58 and Kubota 057. Kubota had nice cab but you can't see the right hand side of the blade and compared to bobcat parts pricing they were 222% more expensive.
JCB looked but once again vision to the right side of the blade was poor and their parts pricing compared to Bobcat was 198% more expensive
Kobelco had a nice simple and large cab with minimal electronics but again the parts are expensive being 192% more expensive than Bobcat
Cat didn't have the new 305E series in stock so i can't tell but if it is similar to D series then vision and cab OK and parts compared to Bobcat were only 95% the price of Bobcat.
Volvo was nice with some vision restrictions but breakout and other performance indicators not as good as BC. Parts are good though being 97% the price of BC.
I am leaning towards BCE50 with angle blade. Only bitch I have is that on a BC E35 that we sometimes hire in the front window rattles and the E50 has the same mechanism.
any comments
Firetrack

Didn't even know Cat had an E series out not listed on there website yet.. checked them out online looks like they have raised the bar very suite unit..
 

90plow

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
371
Location
Northern New Jersey
I own a kubota 057 and love it have about 15O hours on it now and its great. We owned a 94 kx 151 and it was slow but strong but had some of the same hydrualic control issues. The new machine does slow when you move the blade and arm while traveling but so did my new holland, my kx 151, and my pc 120. I dont know its wrong or not but its fine for me.
 
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