Kubota Air Filter Cleaning???

[snurd]

Hi All,

I have a Kubota L2800 that I've been really happy with. I try to give it great service/maintenance in hopes of having for the rest of my lifetime.

I've been replacing the air filter every spring, even though the tractor gets only light use, approx. 100 hrs. each year. I ran across a note in the owner's manual that surprised me, stating: "When carbon or oil adheres to the element, soak the element in detergent for 15 minutes then wash it several times in water, rinse with clean water and dry it naturally. Replace the air filter once yearly, or after every sixth cleaning, whichever comes first.

This is a paper filter, Kubota #TA040-93230, so I'm amazed that it could be safe to wash??? Anyone doing this with their Kubota filters? If so, no need to waste money for a new filter every year in my case. They are expensive!

Thanks,

Keith

 

[mmorisoli]

If everything is working correctly how do you get oil or other containments on the filter in the first place? Seems like a bigger issue if you do.

I have never washed a paper filter I just tap out the dust every few months and replace each year... You should avoid using compressed air as well unless it is super low pressure and from inside out. A new filter is Cheap insurance considering the damage dust can do.

I do replace the inner filter once every few years as well.

 

[abeal]

I've cleaned the one in my B2320 in a fashion similiar to the above mentioned several times with no apparent adverse effects. This will be my 4th season so I am thinking that I may buy a new one this year.

 

[Happy Gilmore]

You can use compressed air to blow from the inside of the filter out in order to blow dust/dirt particles outward from the element. Exactly how dirty the air filter becomes is dependent on conditions and use. Also, hold the filter up towards light and look in to the filter element, you should be able to see light inside of it.

 

[kcender]

I wash mine occasionally,it is surprising how much fine dirt comes out of it.

 

[BeezFun]

Paper filters are impregnated with chemicals to make them resistant to moisture. I've washed mine, seemed fine.

I've started tapping my filter out every time I use the tractor for any amount of time. I also put 3 numbers on the perimeter of the filter and rotate the area of the filter that directly faces the air intake tube. That's the spot that gets the most dust accumulation so I figured it would help to distribute that over the entire surface of the filter.

 

[k0ua]

I have always used a vacuum cleaner on the outside this gets rid of any possibility of blowing a hole in it with the air

 

[snurd]

Thanks for all of the kind replies...

I decided to go ahead and wash the filter since I intended to replace it anyway if it failed. The filter washed easily in a mild liquid detergent and warm water. It came out much cleaner with no damage whatsoever. I was amazed at how much dirt came out of it!

Even though the tractor sees few hours of use, less than 100 hrs. per year, it's mainly used for field/hay mowing. Obviously the filter gets dirtier than I realized.

Lesson I learned- Check your filter more often and clean it or replace it as needed, even with "light" use.

Thanks Again!

 

[Happy Gilmore]

If your using it doing hay, you'll get more fine particles than you'd expect. Also, be sure to clean the radiator regularly to get all of the junk out.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

if that does not have a safety filter inside of it, one will fit inside the can. then you don't need to be as careful with the primary. The earlier Std L's did not have a safety filter.

 

[snurd]

My L2800 is 6 years old and does not have the "safety filter" inside. Do you have a part number for it?

My current filter (and the type that came new with the tractor) is a single cartridge type filter Kubota #TA040-93230.

 

[c127]

New filters are cheap compared to a new engine. very easy to blow a hole in the paper with compressed air

 

[Happy Gilmore]

If a hole is blown in the filter, which is unlikely if done correctly, I would hope a new one would be purchased. Blowing them out occasionally when dirty is good, free preventative maintenance.

 

[David_Kb7uns]

My L2800 is 6 years old and does not have the "safety filter" inside. Do you have a part number for it?

My current filter (and the type that came new with the tractor) is a single cartridge type filter Kubota #TA040-93230.

Inner is TA040-93220

David Kb7uns

 

[motownbrowne]

That's what the drag racers do, except they do it every night in the shower, so I've heard. I don't like the compressed air method, I wash filters in soapy water and air dry. Make sure to put a clean rag in the intake after you take off the filter to keep the junk out of there.

 

[MHarryE]

Referring to the paper element, remember that there is no restriction against driving in the rain. The element needs to be tough to handle the high air volume passing through along with the water in the air. If they made a filter element that can be damaged by water a person would need to stop with the first raindrop or snowflake.

Sure my L5740 filter gets sooted. The exhaust is directed where it can be drawn into the air cleaner depending on wind direction. I can see the smoke head that direction every time I start drawn by the fan. I would like to have a vertical exhaust like 4Shorts and all of our larger tractors but alas I don't have his build talents,

 

[snurd]

Just looked up the inner filter in Kubota's online catalog using the number TA040-93220 provided by David Kb7uns. Thanks for the part number...

Very strange to see that the part is shown as an option. Why in the world would they not have made this standard? Seems odd that this wasn't included originally given that mine is an HST 4WD tractor.

Just to be sure, I assume it can be safely added to my existing #TA040-93230 outer filter and still get the proper air flow for my L3400?

Thanks...

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Your tractor is know as an "Economy L" the Grand L tractors do have them from the factory. I also have added the filter minders to the ports on the filter housing.

http://www.donaldson.com/en/engine/support/datalibrary/053979.pdf

David Kb7uns

 

[sixdogs]

If everything is working correctly how do you get oil or other containments on the filter in the first place? Seems like a bigger issue if you do.

I have never washed a paper filter I just tap out the dust every few months and replace each year... You should avoid using compressed air as well unless it is super low pressure and from inside out. A new filter is Cheap insurance considering the damage dust can do.

I do replace the inner filter once every few years as well.

This is what I do and is all anyone ever needs to know about air filters. Pay attention.

Changing air filters is really is cheap insurance because just the tiniest bit of dust can raise all sorts of problems that you would gladly pay many times the price of the air filters to fix.

 

[jb62901]

I replace the air filter every 100 hrs with new. Every 25 hrs it is wrapped with a cut to size shop vac filter paper. When this is done the filter is as white as it was at new.