Do your own Fluids and Filters on a BX

fischerco · Sep 27, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

i have been reading page after page of this thread in hopes of finding specifics on how to check and add hydraulic fluids for my BX 24(purchased second hand a few months ago with only 90 hours of use!) I want to add a hydraulic powered wood splitter and down to hooking up new lines from my hydraulic lines to the splitter, will need to add some fluid for the splitter cylinder. However, in reviewing my owners manual front and back several times I Find no references to how to check or change hydraulic fluid. On this thread I found reference as to how to drain fluids and clean the cigar shaped filter from 2010 but so far no reference on checking levels or adding fluid. AzNearest dealer is 100 miles away. I'm a newbie at tractors but determined to do as much as I can. Any guidance or suggestions would be much appreciated!

zoltanthegypsy · Sep 27, 2015

Combo dipstick/fill hole plug on the HST behind and below the seat. The pinkish thing in the pic.

fischerco · Sep 27, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

Well shucks, no sooner did I post my message than I realized what now seems obvious- the transmission and hydraulic fluid are one in the same source! I check the dipstick just to the right and above the PTO and I Assume that's where I fill in new fluid. My local farm dealer doesn't have the Kubota brand transmission fluid for transmission/hydraulics and thinks no problem mixing his with the Kubota fluids, offering me AGCO Permatrans 821XL. Any opinions?

k0ua · Sep 27, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

fischerco said:
Well shucks, no sooner did I post my message than I realized what now seems obvious- the transmission and hydraulic fluid are one in the same source! I check the dipstick just to the right and above the PTO and I Assume that's where I fill in new fluid. My local farm dealer doesn't have the Kubota brand transmission fluid for transmission/hydraulics and thinks no problem mixing his with the Kubota fluids, offering me AGCO Permatrans 821XL. Any opinions?

Some Kubota Bx owners have reported possible reduced cold weather performance by not using SUDT or SUDT2. Some have reported more whine from the hydrostat using some other fluids. I don't know, I am just repeating "what I heard"

JOHNTHOMAS · Sep 28, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

fischerco said:
Well shucks, no sooner did I post my message than I realized what now seems obvious- the transmission and hydraulic fluid are one in the same source! I check the dipstick just to the right and above the PTO and I Assume that's where I fill in new fluid. My local farm dealer doesn't have the Kubota brand transmission fluid for transmission/hydraulics and thinks no problem mixing his with the Kubota fluids, offering me AGCO Permatrans 821XL. Any opinions?

:2cents: I. Me. Personally would never use anything but SUDT or SUDT2 (SUDT2 replaced SUDT several years ago but some dealers may have SUDT left and it works OK) in the transmission of a Kubota HST. Surely you, friend or family member will be going by or near a Kubota dealer some time in the future. If all else fails it can be ordered on line or on the phone from a Kubota dealer and your friendly UPS or Fed Ex person will bring it to your house. It's an expensive experiment to try a different brand and discover it doesn't function as well as the Kubota branded product for which most Kubota HST owners are satisfied with. Many dissatisfied users that have tried to save a few dollars or save a trip and installed a different brand. :2cents:

sixdogs · Sep 28, 2015

I have a B7800 hydro that I switched to two different fluids and ultimately switched back to SUDT2. There's a thread on it somewhere but the bottom line is the SUDT offers less gear whine and "tighter" starts than with other brands of fluid. Maybe it's part or all synthetic but it's SUDT2 for me in Kubota hydros.

Tractor Seabee · Sep 28, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

fischerco said:
Well shucks, no sooner did I post my message than I realized what now seems obvious- the transmission and hydraulic fluid are one in the same source! I check the dipstick just to the right and above the PTO and I Assume that's where I fill in new fluid. My local farm dealer doesn't have the Kubota brand transmission fluid for transmission/hydraulics and thinks no problem mixing his with the Kubota fluids, offering me AGCO Permatrans 821XL. Any opinions?

I will not get into the yeas and nays on SUDT2 as I have stated my thoughts many times as late as on the previous page this thread. The NAPA I use is their 85-405. Specs match SUDT2 and I am happy at 1600 hours on a BX25. If you go that route their negotiate for their fleet discount or military if eligible.

Ron

dragoneggs · Sep 28, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

Tractor Seabee said:
I will not get into the yeas and nays on SUDT2 as I have stated my thoughts many times as late as on the previous page this thread. The NAPA I use is their 85-405. Specs match SUDT2 and I am happy at 1600 hours on a BX25. If you go that route their negotiate for their fleet discount or military if eligible.

Ron

Who knows... maybe the NAPA brand is from the same formulator as Kubota? Anyways with anything there are different grades, qualities, etc. Best to do your homework and listen to experience. Cheers, Ron!

sixdogs · Sep 29, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

dragoneggs said:
Who knows... maybe the NAPA brand is from the same formulator as Kubota? Anyways with anything there are different grades, qualities, etc. Best to do your homework and listen to experience. Cheers, Ron!

This is probably already out there but I think you can look at the MDSS (Material Data Safety Sheet)and determine who the manufacturer is and cross check to other makers to see if they are the same. no guarantees they will have the same additive packs but it's a start.

xzcVAbc5 · Sep 29, 2015

fischerco said:
Well shucks, no sooner did I post my message than I realized what now seems obvious- the transmission and hydraulic fluid are one in the same source! I check the dipstick just to the right and above the PTO and I Assume that's where I fill in new fluid. My local farm dealer doesn't have the Kubota brand transmission fluid for transmission/hydraulics and thinks no problem mixing his with the Kubota fluids, offering me AGCO Permatrans 821XL. Any opinions?

I run Mystik JT5 since the previous owner used that in the tractor and his other Kubotas for lots of hours.

MessickFarmEqu · Oct 6, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

sixdogs said:
This is probably already out there but I think you can look at the MDSS (Material Data Safety Sheet)and determine who the manufacturer is and cross check to other makers to see if they are the same. no guarantees they will have the same additive packs but it's a start.

there are several for Kubota UDT, but SUDT2 has no one else that meets the spec. Generally in gear drive tractors, or those in warm climates UDT is fine, SUDT is worth the extra money for those in the north or in smaller HST transmissions where the whine is most noticeable.

MessickFarmEqu · Oct 6, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

sixdogs said:
This is probably already out there but I think you can look at the MDSS (Material Data Safety Sheet)and determine who the manufacturer is and cross check to other makers to see if they are the same. no guarantees they will have the same additive packs but it's a start.

there are several for Kubota UDT, but SUDT2 has no one else that meets the spec. Generally in gear drive tractors, or those in warm climates UDT is fine, SUDT is worth the extra money for those in the north or in smaller HST transmissions where the whine is most noticeable.

Poopdeck Pappy · Oct 6, 2015

Re: Hydraulic fluids for BX24

MessickFarmEqu said:
there are several for Kubota UDT, but SUDT2 has no one else that meets the spec. Generally in gear drive tractors, or those in warm climates UDT is fine, SUDT is worth the extra money for those in the north or in smaller HST transmissions where the whine is most noticeable.

Most of the Kubota dealers I've visited down here in Texas don't carry anything but UDT, and have told me SUDT and SUDT2 is not necessary in our warm climate.

I'm using UDT in my BX23, but I did order SUDT from you guys for my BX2660.

sixdogs · Oct 7, 2015

As noted earlier, SUD2 gives less gear white and better starts in my B7800 and in the middle of summer when it's 85 degrees or more. I notice the difference in summer and I can compare to the other brand fluid I tried earlier. Just my two cents here.

mikeharold · Oct 7, 2015

sixdogs said:
As noted earlier, SUD2 gives less gear white and better starts in my B7800 and in the middle of summer when it's 85 degrees or more. I notice the difference in summer and I can compare to the other brand fluid I tried earlier. Just my two cents here.

How does SUD2 give you better starts? I hope you're not putting it in the motor...........

BlacknTan · Oct 7, 2015

Just drained and refilled my B-7800 with SUDT2. To be honest, I can't tell any difference in the sound or performance, but it's not cold yet.

TripleR · Oct 7, 2015

I've used several different types of fluid in my BXs including SUDT and honestly can't tell any difference. I bought some SUDT2 for my L5740 to see if it makes any difference; does fine as is, just curious.

Tractor Seabee · Oct 7, 2015

TripleR said:
I've used several different types of fluid in my BXs including SUDT and honestly can't tell any difference. I bought some SUDT2 for my L5740 to see if it makes any difference; does fine as is, just curious.

3R, I am with you. I have used NAPA 85-405, 1500 hours for my BX. Just had some HST work done at the dealer (unrelated to lubrication) and they filled with SUDT-2. They charged over $100 for less than 3 Gallons. As far as my experience goes there is no whine factor, they both sound the same. 85-405 is a multi season oil also, heavy duty, and developed by Warren Petroleum for the newer tractor HSTs. SUDT-2 is made by Ashland Oil who also maker Valvoline.

Ron

Poopdeck Pappy · Oct 7, 2015

Tractor Seabee said:
3R, I am with you. I have used NAPA 85-405, 1500 hours for my BX. Just had some HST work done at the dealer (unrelated to lubrication) and they filled with SUDT-2. They charged over $100 for less than 3 Gallons. As far as my experience goes there is no whine factor, they both sound the same. 85-405 is a multi season oil also, heavy duty, and developed by Warren Petroleum for the newer tractor HSTs. SUDT-2 is made by Ashland Oil who also maker Valvoline.

Ron

That NAPA 85-401 / 85-405 is what I use in my Kioti DK50SE.

Just for information for others reading this, 85-401 and 85-405 are the same thing, the 85-401 is the 1 gallon jug and the 85-405 is the 5 gallon can. It is the NAPA Premium heavy duty hydraulic fluid. It is an all-season fluid.

sixdogs · Oct 8, 2015

mikeharold said:
How does SUD2 give you better starts? I hope you're not putting it in the motor...........

First, no gear whine now in my B7800. I had whine with a different brand and by better starts I mean that there is less hesitation and a faster response when I step on the pedal. My guess is the SUD2 is a full synthetic and if you found another full synthetic that met specs it would probably work. It wasn't worth my time so I'm going with SUD2. It's not the cost of the SUD2 that's the issue but rather the difference in price between what you might use and the price of the SUD2. It's probably $10 or $20 or whatever and that's no big deal. It's not going to make me poor or Kubota rich so I'm OK with it. It's nice to support my dealer as well if I'm going to spend a few $$.