50 hour service questions

[Carl Bert]

First off, do I change my hydraulic fluid and filters or not? If so should I stick with Kubota's hyd fluid?

Second, should I use regular or synthetic motor oil? And what brand?

Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks

 

[kuboman]

First off, do I change my hydraulic fluid and filters or not? If so should I stick with Kubota's hyd fluid?

Second, should I use regular or synthetic motor oil? And what brand?

Any other suggestions are welcome. Thanks

Well your going to get a whole lot of advice on this one. Since I am the first responder my advice is to yes change all the fluid and filters and use Kubota oil and filters. If you don't mind spending the money use synthetic too. But that is just MHO.:thumbsup:

 

[wdchyd]

Carl,

This may open up a fire storm but my take on it was to replace the hyd trans oil and filters.......owners manual says to only change the hyd filters and add oil to top off......

I didn't see the need to be skimpy on oil when I spent alot of money to buy mine......sure Kubota says different but the costs of a few gallons of oil was worth changing.....

You'll never do any damage if changing oil too often, but overtax it and the damage is already done before you know it.....

Here's a link to my earlier thread

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...830-added-benefits-diy-50-hr.html#post2095003

 

[paulwestski]

I'd wait on the synthetic motor oil until the engine is broken in. Say 200 hours.

As far as the Hydro oil I purchased enough to change mine when I bought the tractor. As a matter of fact I purchased all of the required Kubota fluids and filters for the 50 hour service and then some from the dealer when I purchased my tractor.

 

[kcender]

Another reason to use Kubota fluid is that you are only changing the fluid in the tractor,not the FEL or BH.Because it is one complete system the old fluid in the FEL and BH mixes with the new fluid once you run the machine.Seems odd but that is how it is.I just did the full service on my tractor and that is what my dealer was saying to me.

 

[sw03]

I'd wait on the synthetic motor oil until the engine is broken in. Say 200 hours.

As far as the Hydro oil I purchased enough to change mine when I bought the tractor. As a matter of fact I purchased all of the required Kubota fluids and filters for the 50 hour service and then some from the dealer when I purchased my tractor.

Good myth but I have changed every auto/engine for the last 20 years to a group 4/5 engine oil without issues. The breakin is a a myth. Use a synthetic it will just take long but will have less wear etc. I will take a slower break-in for less wear...

I will not use Kubota filters as long as I can. Not worth the $$$. An oil filter for a BX is $9 but a better aftermarker is $4.50, and better!! JOKE..

Kubota fluids are over priced. Their older SUDT was more then Amsoil synthetic...Now their new Super Duper SUDT is better? The SUDT was overpriced years ago.

Fuel filters are like almost $7 each when you can buy the same filter wholesale for 50% less.

YMMV

 

[timswi]

My opinion...Stick with all Kubota fluids and filters. Yes, they are slightly more expensive than the aftermarket but you bought an expensive piece of machinery, so the maintenance costs should be a secondary concern.

Besides, if something out of the ordinary happens, you have proof that you used all of Kubota's stuff for your warranty claim.

My BX23 is 7 years old and nothing but OEM anything has ever gone into it and I've never even replaced a light bulb, let alone have any mechanical failures. My RTV1100 just went through the 50HR service with all Kubota materials including the motor oil.

 

[snpower]

I just did the 50 hour on my bx2360 and opted for doing the hydro fluid per the advice gleaned on this forum. I used all Kubota parts although I am researching the other options for future use. Got everything from Messicks.

 

[cwilliams2000]

Other than the SUDT, my BX tuneup parts were less expensive the my Kawasaki engine parts, I was thrilled to see what the prices were considering I had expected most of the parts to be more than double. I used Messicks so that helped of course but the parts required were short money for this machine IMO

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I follow the manual and the email reply from Kubota. I change the Engine oil and the transmission/hydraulic oil filters at 50 hours.
I use Kubota filters and fluids, yes SUDT in my HSTs.
COPY OF EMAIL REPLY FROM KUBOTA CORP:
John, the person or persons from TBN do not know what they are talking
about. There has not been a Service Bulletin or even a notice sent to the
dealers that this is a mistake in the Operators manual. Kubota Tractor
recommends for you to follow your Operators manuals for servicing of each
unit you have. The BX2660 and the BX25 do not have to have the transmission
fluid change until it reaches the 400 hour mark. For the F2680, it is the
200 hour mark. The transmission oil filters need to be replaced and the
suction strainers cleaned at or before the 50 hour mark for all three
units. Your selling dealer can also assist you if you have any questions in
regard to servicing your tractors. Thank you for purchasing and contacting
Kubota Tractor Corp..




,

 

[deminin]

I would follow the Kubota owners manual recommendations so long as the unit is under warranty....with one exception. When changing the engine oil, I would go to Shell Rotella 15w40 oil, rather than the Kubota brand. The Rotella oil is designed for diesel engines, and is probably the number one oil used by most farmers in their heavier equipment. Kubota doesn't make or refine oil...they just buy it from whoever gives them the most profit to put their name on the bottle.

Once out of warranty, I would use nothing but WIX filters. They are far superior to most brands, and cheaper than buying the Kubota "Name". The WIX website has a conversion area that will give you the proper numbers...and there are dealers all over the country.

I would continue to use the SUDT in the hydraulics, but if you have 4WD you might want to switch to 80W90 lube in the front axle. I don't think that flimsy hydraulic fluid is a very good lube for the ring and pinion, or the bearings. I had to rebuild my front axle a couple of years ago when a bearing froze and spun. After switching to 80w90, I have had no further problems.

 

[OrangeRidge]

Change the SUDT for fresh . It's cheap IMO.
This was the state of mine at 4 hours or so.
A 1850psi pump doesn't need any metal particles
in the mix . Ditch it. 400hrs is total BS . What is
this , a bragging-fest between manufacturers service
intervals ? I do engine oil at every 50hrs too.

 

[harrelson]

I tried to use wix filters for the transmission but they were made different and would not except a magnet that is inside the filter. This was for a M7040HD1

 

[MHarryE]

People who know best as to what your tractor needs are the ones put the numbers in the manual. Having said that, my L3710 called for a complete hydraulic oil and filter change at 50 hours while my new L5740 calls for only a filter change at 50 hours and not to replace oil until 400 hours. From my personal experience as an engineer at a major equipment manufacturer and analyzing literally thousands of oil samples, the dirtiest oil (except for a machine suffering a component failure) is new oil. At our plants we spent tens of thousands of dollars to filter oil prior to installing it in machines. We had cleanliness limits the hydraulic oil needed to pass before a machine could leave a plant. Much of the new oil we sampled was dirtier than our ready to ship requirement. The solution when a machine failed its cleanliness test was to let the machine run so the on board filters could clean up the dirty oil, then change the filters before shipping. Our equipment was designed so if a filter began to plug, it would never bypass unfiltered oil into the system. I don稚 know if the Kubota system is similar but on the chance the system is designed to bypass a plugged filter, it makes sense to change filters more frequently than you change oil. The piston pumps and motors used in the hydrostatic system require extremely clean oil and unless failing, don稚 generate significant wear particles. The hydraulic oil also lubricates gear trains that are notorious particle generators during break-in. As a manufacturer knowing how dirty new oil can be, we put cleanliness requirements on any hydraulic oil packaged with our name. I don稚 know if Kubota does the same but I use Kubota oil just to be safe. One exception on my front axe, the factory fill gets drained and replaced with a synthetic 75W-90 gear lube.

 

[fredhargis]

I'm one of the "follow the manual" guys. One reason to do that is to read the diversity of opinions offered here; all from very knowledgeable guys but yet they are all slightly different to one degree or another. I suspect they are all correct, but following the manual gives you a more established procedure. For 50 hours on my B2920, it was engine oil/filter and the transmission filter...top off the fluid. I found I had to add less than a quart, and I used the Kubota SUDT. I used a Wix filter on the engine, but there isn't one for the transmission. There is a Wiz for the hydraulic filter, and I'll likely use it when that one has to be changed. As for the synthetic oil, I'll probably go with it on the next oil change (planning on 100 hours) but for the moment I put in the Rotella 15W40.

 

[bellweather]

I generally follow the manual too. At my 50 hr service I did however drain/replace the HST fluid, figured it can't hurt...I also throw out a lot of stuff in the fridge that my wife thinks is still good.

PS - And I use all Kubota filters and fluids.

 

[kuboman]

People who know best as to what your tractor needs are the ones put the numbers in the manual. Having said that, my L3710 called for a complete hydraulic oil and filter change at 50 hours while my new L5740 calls for only a filter change at 50 hours and not to replace oil until 400 hours. From my personal experience as an engineer at a major equipment manufacturer and analyzing literally thousands of oil samples, the dirtiest oil (except for a machine suffering a component failure) is new oil. At our plants we spent tens of thousands of dollars to filter oil prior to installing it in machines. We had cleanliness limits the hydraulic oil needed to pass before a machine could leave a plant. Much of the new oil we sampled was dirtier than our ready to ship requirement. The solution when a machine failed its cleanliness test was to let the machine run so the on board filters could clean up the dirty oil, then change the filters before shipping. Our equipment was designed so if a filter began to plug, it would never bypass unfiltered oil into the system. I don稚 know if the Kubota system is similar but on the chance the system is designed to bypass a plugged filter, it makes sense to change filters more frequently than you change oil. The piston pumps and motors used in the hydrostatic system require extremely clean oil and unless failing, don稚 generate significant wear particles. The hydraulic oil also lubricates gear trains that are notorious particle generators during break-in. As a manufacturer knowing how dirty new oil can be, we put cleanliness requirements on any hydraulic oil packaged with our name. I don稚 know if Kubota does the same but I use Kubota oil just to be safe. One exception on my front axe, the factory fill gets drained and replaced with a synthetic 75W-90 gear lube.

Ditto to that. It always baffles me as to how there can be any argument to changing the oil early on a new machine or one that has been apart. Just plain weird.:confused2:

 

[bstrom]

Personally I think following the manual, especially on the HST oil change is the way to go. I changed mine at around 100 hrs and I think it was a waste of time, money and resources. It was as clean looking as the new stuff I put in, with no metal that I could see. The two filters had been changed at 50 hrs.

I think the only thing you might want to accelerate the interval on is the engine oil and filter change. My dealer recommends 100 hrs. or once a year for that after the first 50 hr. change.

 

[Twinkieflyer]

I took my 3540 to a very large dealer several months ago for 50 hours service at 48 hours. They told me the would change the hydraulic oil if I wanted it but they recommended only a new filter. Changed engine oil and greased and blew out cab filter.

 

[Carl Bert]

What to do, what to do, what to do. I guess I will go with synthetic oil, I believe Rowenta is the best? I will also change the hyd fluid and filters. I look at it this way. Since it seems that everyone is split down the middle, and I can't make an educated decision, based on the information I have. I will change the fluid, just to be on the safe side. Thanks for all the input guys, I do appreciate it.