Do your own Fluids and Filters on a BX

[brucewj]

As far as oil types, my manual states to use SAE 10W-30 or 15W-40.
I use only 10W-30

But then again the manual states it takes 3.7 quarts when it actually takes 4,25 quarts

I wish I would have read/remembered reading Usta's post.

I just completed all the 50 hr changes and it went really smooth thanks to all the input here. I did have to drive to the store to get more oil. I had a gallon, and by the specs I thought it would be enough, but it is not.

I did have shavings on my screen though. I'm glad I pulled it and cleaned it. I had thought about not cleaning it until I read these posts.

Thanks again John for all the pictures, and everyone else for your input.

 

[LostInTheWoods]

I also just completed my 50-hour service on my BX2660. It was EASY. And this is from a guy who has little mechanical skill, and even less experience with tractors.

If anyone is out there and unsure of whether or not to go for it on routine maintenance on the BX, do it. The owner's manual has good pictures and easy-to-follow directions. Or you can just follow Mr T's directions above.

Just don't get too worked up if you notice a couple of bolts protruding out of the back of the front axle. They're probably just the steering stops, and DON'T need to be screwed back in. Trust me, I know.

Another tip...I'd read several posts here on how the filters can be difficult to reach and/or remove (on tractors in general, not necessarily just with the BX line) and got a set of channel lock oil filter pliers, and they worked great!

Amazon.com: Channellock 209 9-Inch Oil Filter and PVC Plier: Home Improvement

 

[Inky05]

... I'm a hunt and pecker ...

Say that out loud, three or four times, real fast at the tractor shop and see what kind of reaction you get! :laughing:

 

[BANDAMAN]

Nice post

Just an FYI: I am not sure about the other BX's, but I can change the engine oil and filter on my BX1860 without removing the front grille guard or the engine covers. I even left the mower deck on, just dropped it all the way to the floor. I used an oil pan that was slim enough to fit in there. It holds less than 2 qts of oil, so a small pan will do. Whole thing takes 10 minutes or so.

 

[LBrown59]

Nice post

Just an FYI: I am not sure about the other BX's, but
I can change the engine oil and filter on my BX1860 without removing the front grille guard or the engine covers.
I even left the mower deck on, just dropped it all the way to the floor. I used an oil pan that was slim enough to fit in there. It holds less than 2 qts of oil, so a small pan will do. Whole thing takes 10 minutes or so.

I can change the engine oil and filter on my BX23 AND BX1500 without removing the front grille guard or the engine covers.

 

[rdsaustintx]

I pull the cowling to change oil.

I almost always find something else to tweak. Loose alternator wire, gunk around the injector pump, harness too close to exhaust, steering hoses rubbing the frame, etc. There's always something.

It's nice to get a look around every once in a while.

 

[shownuff]

the bx 24 is even easier because the oil filter is so much smaller

 

[YotaBota]

Hey JT, thanks for the info and the pics. Great job as always. I had taken mine into the dealer for the 50 hour servicing. Won't do that ever again. As far as I'm concerned, I got raked over the coals-but I will chalk that one up to live and learn. The easy maintenance stuff I can handle, and keep the money in my wallet.:thumbsup:

 

[Paul Wise]

I can change the engine oil and filter on my BX23 AND BX1500 without removing the front grille guard or the engine covers.

I think it must be a BX2660 thing when it come to the front grille guard. I had to remove mine from my BX2660 in order to remove the hood.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Here are the pictures someone requested.

 

[sw03]

I think it must be a BX2660 thing when it come to the front grille guard. I had to remove mine from my BX2660 in order to remove the hood.

Not really, I can do it on my bx24 if I had girly hands! LOL

 

[radioman]

Here are the pictures someone requested.

pics? wha? where? forgot to add them?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

pics? wha? where? forgot to add them?

Go to page one. Not posting same pics again.

 

[Kayakin2]

Completed 50 hour service on my BX25 that arrived 4/2/2010. :thumbsup:
JT etal were a great help even though he was awol. :laughing: :laughing:
The screen cleaning was the biggest challenge. I did learn a #5 rubber stopper is better than the #4 I used. The #4 stopper almost disappeared inside at the point I was trying to stop the flow out.
Cleaning the screen raised a question. The service advice (Kubota, Messick's) states "Rinse strainer with nonflammable solvent to clean off filings" and my question is what SOLVENT should be used. Advice?
I did find filings on the scren and removed them but had no solvent. I did lose a lot of fluid but mainly because of my surprise at flow rate and slow reaction time. I suspect if I turned the screen 90 degrees as I removed it I may have slowed the fluid rush as the open hole in the assembly would be closed off a little.

Other than that, all went well! :thumbsup: Thanks JT, etal!

I did over fill the engine oil a bit as it was not clear to me when to stop pouring oil in. May just be my inexperience. THANK YOU ALL!

 

[bp fick]

Brake Kleen works well, as does soap and water, actually. Rinse completely and GENTLY blow it off with low pressure air or hair dryer at low setting. I'm not sure it matters a whole bunch as long as it clean and dry going back in.

 

[iplumb]

Dores anybody know of a wright up like this for the B Series? Nice work! :thumbsup:

 

[Bamacummins]

So what are the costs of materials for the 50 hour service to do yourself and what is the costs of the dealer does it?

I'm wondering if letting the dealer have at it during the warranty period is good due to finding other issues. For example, my post about the front axle fluid leak. Not real happy about this.

 

[bp fick]

80% ?? of the guys here do it themselves, because it is cheaper, they are assured it is done right, by themselves, plus the guys enjoy doing it and getting to know their machine better.

A dealer's charge on that service has reported to be hundreds and hundreds of dollars!!! Labor plus, you'd still pay for the parts.

oil filter $6, Sudt $50-70, hydro filter $20. So, do it yourself for under a C note. Plus 3 quarts of engine oil, of your choice. It has been reported by some guys here that their dealer charged them as much $350-400. The choice is yours, but again, most guys do it themselves.

 

[shownuff]

do it yourself save time money and the headache of moving it back and forth or having the dealer come pick it up

 

[jster804]

Sitting on tractor, the rear tire behind you on left side. Look behind the tire down low and you will see this bolt. Above the bolt is a small bolt that takes a 12MM socket to remove. This small bolt is holding a small rectanguler flat plate that comes down and fits in a slot that holds the big bolt in place. Remove the small bolt and plate. Then grasp the big bolt and pull it out. I had to work mine out with the tip of a screw driver and then work it back and forth till it comes out. Could use big pliers. When it comes out it has the screen that looks like a cigar attached, all one piece. Your fluid will start coming out when this is most of the way out so have a tapered plug that's from 1/2" at smallest end up to at least 1" if your not replacing the hydraulic fluid and stick it in the hole. If your replacing hydraulic fluid, forget plug and let it flow into your catch pan unless you've already drained all of the hydraulic fluid. Wipe screen off and make sure nothing on it. If it's gunked up then clean it with gas or some other solvent. Pull stopper plug out of hole, if it's in, and stick the cigar back in the hole. Start keeper bolt with flat plate coming down and make sure the flat plate is in the slot, turn cigar bolt head if the flat plate isn't in the slot, tighten..... then tap cigar head with a hammer to make sure fully seated then finish tightening keeper bolt. Took some pictures of screen bolt and hope they help. I didn't take pictures the other day of screen because I was having to hold my to small plug in with one hand.

I had to laugh at myself this past weekend. I'm usually pretty good about checking out this forum prior to doing any work but somehow I missed this post. I had noticed that the screen was to be cleaned at the 50 hour mark as well as replacing the tranny filter and engine oil / filter. I figured, how hard is that? Anyway, I managed to get the engine oil changed with zero issues, I didn't even have to remove the cowling although that's probably a good idea so you can look for other "issues". The tranny filter came off easy enough with only a little trickle of fluid loss. Then I got to the screen... Let's just say it was a good thing that I had enough fluid to do a COMPLETE change. Having a cork of some type would have been very welcome. Oh well, at least I have FRESH fluid now... I'll pay more attention to the posts in the future.