50hr service do it yourself???

Typhoon · Feb 20, 2009

Just curious, but do most of you do the 50hr service yourself or take it to the dealer? Do you save alot by doing it yourself? And is it difficult? I am mechanically inclined, but being that this tractor cost a lot of $$$, I want to make sure it is right. Opinions? I have a DK40SE HST.
Thanks.

DK35vince · Feb 20, 2009

Just curious, but do most of you do the 50hr service yourself or take it to the dealer?

I did it myself. Not hard to do, just takes some time.

Do you save alot by doing it yourself?

I'm sure you do. But I didn't get any prices from dealers what a service would cost.

kentrodngun · Feb 20, 2009

Not hard to do and it can give you satisfaction doing it yourself.

My truck cost more than my tractor and I work on that - bet you do too

.

Take it easy, follow the manual and don't forget to browse TBN's Kioti section. Search on "50 hour service" - you'll find plenty of good advice.

radman1 · Feb 20, 2009

Similar topics have been discussed in the past. It really is up the individual to decide if doing it yourself is worth the hassel and cost savings. Do you have the knowledge/ability? Do you do your own taxes? If yes, then good for you. If you don't do your own taxes - then good for you.

I do my own. Mainly because it takes me more time to load, haul, unload and leave it. Then return, load, haul and unload again.

dilbertnomore · Feb 20, 2009

If you have changed the oil and filter on your car you can do the 50 hour drill. Search the forum for the specific how-to's and lessons learned to save yourself from the rigors of the learning curve. Many others have traveled the path before you.

If you are planning to maintain your tractor yourself, you probably will want to invest in the shop manual and parts list. Very useful pubs.

JoelD · Feb 20, 2009

Shop manual and parts lists are must reads, I actually browse mine every night at bed time, very relaxing.

Doing it yourself really helps to familiarize you with your machine. I think it is time well spent, I also find this sort of thing very relaxing.

There is a lot of good advice on this forum with regards to filling the hydraulic oil (better than 7 gallons for my tractor).

Dealers like Wallace typically have good deals on filter kits, I bought mine from him and bought my manuals, hat and T-Shirt all at the same time.

Good luck,
Joel

greenmule · Feb 20, 2009

I take my trucks to garage to get oil changed,but I do the tractor stuff like that myself,just seems the way to go.Like others have said,kinda satisfying,and you know its done right.

Cars and trucks don't rate up there with tractors,kinda like building a shed or something.

rimshot · Feb 20, 2009

It's all laid out in the owners manual or in a shop repair manual. Certainly if you are mechanical minded enough to operate and own a tractor you should be capable of unscrewing a drain plug. On top of that it is a good reason to become familiar with your tractor and come face to face with the mechanics of the beast. Nothing like it. Just see to it you go to Walmart and secure one of those big round drain pans so you will be prepared to drain 7 gallons of tractor hydraulic fluid from the vehicle. You just can't improvise some needs.

rimshot

Typhoon · Feb 20, 2009

Thank you all so much for the input. I have decided to do it myself. Will the owners manual be enough or will I need to order a service manual? Looking forward to doing it now!
28 hrs to go!!

DK35vince · Feb 21, 2009

rimshot said:
Just see to it you go to Walmart and secure one of those big round drain pans so you will be prepared to drain 7 gallons of tractor hydraulic fluid from the vehicle.

I doubt the transmission fluid in a DK40 will all fit in a 7 gallon drain pan.
My DK 35 transmission holds 11 or 12 gallon.
I have to be ready to put my drain plug back in before my drain pans overfill, dump the pans in a storage drum then put them back under the tractor and drain the rest of the fluid.

greenmule · Feb 21, 2009

When I changed mine,did it on gravel[cause]. And had plenty o drain pans,two big ones,just couldn't get them switched in time,so,probably 1 gal at least went in ground,so,when you get ready to do this,garage might not be best place.

My owners manual for ck25,30,35 tractors is very good,and it tells you all you need to know. One thing though,there are two plugs on bottom rear beside rear tires,that you have to look for a little,but my manual showed them.

One other thing,the front axil holds a good bit more than manual says[0n ck 30 anyways] and it takes a long while for it to settle,you got to run it a min or two,than check,than repeat,than repeat,than next time you use it,it will be a little low,than next time you use it,it will be a little low,.In other words if you just drained my front axil and filled to middle of sight hole,than didn't check it again for a month or two,you would have probably been running it 2 qts low.

IslandTractor · Feb 24, 2009

I did my own 50hr on the DK40se. I used a large wheeled oil drain device I bought from Northern Tool. I cannot recall the exact amount of HST oil right now but it was pretty close to 10gallons.

One tip, don't limit your 50hr (or any other) service to changing fluids. Tighten bolts especially if you have a backhoe subframe and make a general inspection under the tractor. Inspect the radiator and clean the screen. Double check that you've hit all the grease zerks. There are a few tricky ones like near the 3pt, under the operator station and on the axle that are sometimes easy to forget when you grease routine loader/BH zerks.

Be careful when replacing the gear oil in the front axle as the oil redistributes and so you need to check it after operation to make sure you really have enough oil.

Also, make sure you have a couple of different types of filter wrenches. I found with the engine oil filter I had to use one of those fiber strap types with a socket wrench because I couldn't get enough leverage with the plier type. The hydraulic filters were easier and more accessible.

And, don't forget to check the timing and gap the spark plugs!

PA hayseed · Feb 24, 2009

IslandTractor said:
I
One tip, don't limit your 50hr (or any other) service to changing fluids.

Tighten bolts

Double check that you've hit all the grease zerks. There are a few tricky ones like near the 3pt, under the operator station and on the axle that are sometimes easy to forget when you grease routine loader/BH zerks.

Be careful when replacing the gear oil in the front axle as the oil redistributes and so you need to check it after operation to make sure you really have enough oil.

Also, make sure you have a couple of different types of filter wrenches.

Very Good points IT! For FELS, check those bolts too!

I use a big feed bin from TSC for my fluid changes. It holds all the fluid for my 45 - oil, gear, hyrdo. Kinda hard to move afterwards, but not that hard.

I would also suggest a pump for the hyro fluid. In the 45 it was a PITA to get in the first time, I mistakenly thought a 2x4 platform and funnel with hose would do the trick. A pump is faster by far. You can buy an el cheapo from HF for about 25 bucks.

Also, just go to TSC or your local greasemart and just buy a case of grease. You will use it on the tractor and on the attachments, and it needs greased regularly, outside of the fluid intervals.

Buy a manual, eventually the tractor will not be under warranty.

IslandTractor · Feb 24, 2009

PA hayseed said:
Buy a manual, eventually the tractor will not be under warranty.

Mine just arrived a week ago.

Eagleview · Feb 24, 2009

I did'nt read all the posts , so someone may have mentioned this . The 50 hour service is usually done by the dealer , it is not just a matter of changing the oils and filters . They do an inspection and give it the all clear . They are then lible for the warranty , if you do it and something goes wrong with the machine . The dealer does not have to warrant the repair , they may out of good will , but they don't really have too as they never had the chance to make sure it was still OK after 50 hours of operation .

IslandTractor · Feb 24, 2009

Iron Horse said:
I did'nt read all the posts , so someone may have mentioned this . The 50 hour service is usually done by the dealer , it is not just a matter of changing the oils and filters . They do an inspection and give it the all clear . They are then lible for the warranty , if you do it and something goes wrong with the machine . The dealer does not have to warrant the repair , they may out of good will , but they don't really have too as they never had the chance to make sure it was still OK after 50 hours of operation .

That is true but some of us are too remote from the dealer to make the trip for what usually amounts to fluid changes and a check up. I had the opportunity to visit the dealer (without my tractor) and have the dealer and mechanic show me exactly what they do on a 50hr service. They even had my model up on a lift so I got to see all the bolts that needed checking etc. That tour plus a digital camera and a paper check list of what the dealer does made me pretty confident I could do the job. My dealer is also used to supporting customers by phone (amazing what you can do by using a cell phone while crawling around under your tractor).

Bottom line is that basic service on a tractor is not a mystery and not like tuning an old 12 cylinder Jaguar. It takes a while the first time as each step seems a big challenge but once you've been through the drill once it really isn't that big a deal. Worst part is figuring out what to do with all the used oil when you're done.

greenmule · Feb 25, 2009

Iron horse,you are wrong about that,never read anywhere on anything[truck,car or tractor warrenty papers] that dealer had to do it.

Now maybe your dealer told you that cause he wanted to charge you,but,that can't be right.

VictorW · Feb 25, 2009

My dealer said I could do my own 50 hour service. He just gave me a set of filters for free. Being that I have a fel, he said to check all the mounting bolts. That was it. As Greenmule advised, nothing in the manual/warranty info tells you that the 50 needs done by the dealer.

I have even done my own warranty work. I don't have a big enough trailer to haul my CK30hst. I'll explain or show the dealer what's wrong and he'll order the part. Luckily the only warranty work has been the hydro oil cooler and a valve on my bh.

Just like buying a new car, as long as you can show that you did the service as required, then you're ok for warranty aspects.

IslandTractor · Feb 25, 2009

VictorW said:
Just like buying a new car, as long as you can show that you did the service as required, then you're ok for warranty aspects.

I think that was probably IronHorse's point. It is a no brainer to provide that documentation if the dealer did the service. If you do it yourself you should keep some record just in case there is any fussing about a subsequent warranty issue.

In my case, like yours, my dealer actually delivered all the supplies necessary for the 50hr service when he delivered the tractor. I also know that he'd go to bat with Kioti if there was any issue regarding something like whether the 50hr service was done properly.