v7d_transform --input-format=BUFR --comp-stat-proc=254:2 --output-variable-list="B12101" --comp-step='1 00' --comp-start="2017-11-20 18:00" --output-format=csv --comp-frac-valid=0 t2m.bufr tmax.csv
...creates a tmax.csv with no data. Changing the comp-start hour to "00:00" works.
(@dcesari already know the details and has the needed test data in /tmp/kalman)