50 hour service on a L3430

[pmoon]

I'm going to do (try) the 50 hour service this weekend on my 3430. Can anyone offer any tips in advance? Are the drain plugs for the transmission all hex heads? I see a plug underneath that has an allen wrench head and another with a pin in it that moves up and down? Don't want to screw this up! Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Patrick

 

[cchoate]

Hi Pat,
I got your PM but I figured I'd talk to you here. Did you talk to someone at Alexander Equipment? Just wondering how you knew I was doing my 50 hour service this weekend since I just got all the stuff for it yesterday.

I'm not exactly sure what to expect as far as tools, but if you have a good socket & open end set, that will probably do it. I'm going to follow the manuals instructions and see how it goes. When I did the 50 hour service on my B7500 it wasn't hard at all.

Buying everything you need is an eye brow raising experience. $52 for one of the filters, $185 worth of super UDT with a total of around $300+. It was like making two tractor payments this month, good thing the first 50 hours only comes once. I do plan on changing the oil & oil filter every 50 hours but will follow the manual for everything else.

The 3430 is one awesome machine isn't it!

 

[pmoon]

Honestly, I didn't know you were doing your service this weekend Chris! Kind of weird that we're both doing it on the same weekend. The 50 dollar filter was definitely suprize as was the 70 dollars for 5 gallons of UDT. Do you know what I'm talking about with the drain plugs for the transmission? The 3430 has exceeded my expectations! Great machine.

 

[jrabb5]

The one with the pin in it is to drain water from the clutch housing, at least on a L3400.

James

 

[AB4D]

That's odd, I am also doing the 50 hour service on my L3430 HSTC this weekend. Must be a 50 hour service weekend /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif. First, I am going to the tool store at lunch time to purchase a set of large metric sockets to fit the drain plugs. I also ordered a 58qt Drain Pan to hold all that used SUDT, but I don't think it will be here in time, so I will probably have to delay the hydraulic service for a week. What are you using as a drain pan for the 11.5 gallons of SUDT?

Jim

 

[N80]

I used a large galvanized wash bucket. It was a PITB because once full, it is too big and awkward to lift or pour. So I had to dip the fluid out with a small bucket and put it in the empty UDT buckets. Messy and slow but it did work. I'd wait for that drain pan to arrive. Wish I'd had one of those.

You will also need filter wrenches, and a long necked funnel for putting the new UDT back in. Bring plenty of rags and/or paper towels and some oil dry/cat litter is a good idea too.

The only hard part is draining the front axles. It will be much less messy if you remove the wheels.

Also, for the uninitiated, when pouring from the 5 gallon UDT bucket, pour with the hole on top and it will come out smoothly. If the hole is down, it will slop all over the place.

Good luck.

 

[deminin]

The best way to install new hydraulic fluid is to get one of these cheap little pumps that fit an electric drill. Fix up a couple of lengths of old garden hose with male fittings for the drill pump, stick one hose into the 5 gal bucket, and the other hose into the fill port, and within a couple of minutes the job is done...with little or no mess. I think I paid about $7 for one of these pumps at NAPA. The first time I tried replacing the Super UDT by pouring into a funnel, I probably wasted enough fluid to buy 2 pumps.

 

[AB4D]

Well, I started the 50 hour service on my L3430. However, the amount of fluid I was able to put back into the front axle is less than Kubota indicates. The manual indicates 6.9 quarts but so far I have only been able to put in 5 quarts, and that amount tries to run out of the check plug hole. When I drained the front axle I removed each front tire from the front axle as I drained each side. I even lowered the side of the tractor that was draining to make sure all of the fluid came out of the front axle. At first, even the second quart tried to run out of the check plug hole, but by turning the front tires after each quart, I was finally able to get in five. Any suggestions???

Jim

 

[Diesel_Boy]

hey there,
just had my 50 hour service done on my L3130. the dealer did the service. good deal, i pay for the fluids and filter, they provide the mechanic on site. to drain the front axle, no need to remove the front wheels, though. i watched with interest as they drained the front axle, and it did get all over the inside bottom of the wheel and tire, and then drained into a larger drain pan. the drain pan was large enough to catch the oil from the axle and the drippings from the tire. before they removed the drain pan, they sprayed the inside of the tire and wheel with a spray can of some kind of solvent. it was listed on my invoice as "parts cleaner spray" for $3.95. the spray removed the oil very nicely and an ounce or so of it just drained into the drain pan. took all of about 5 seconds. real slick, no pun intended. just my observations on a beautiful day in May.

 

[CTyler]

Your done...you got in about the same amount as everyone else.
I think the spec is wrong.