50 Hour Service

[Texas Dodge]

Going to do my 50 hour service tomorrow on the tractor. What do you guys recommend for draining the motor oil, hydraulic fluid, and front axle oil into? I should have right at 10 gallons all together.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

Is your L3400 gear or hydro?

 

[Texas Dodge]

Is your L3400 gear or hydro?

Gear 4L/4H/4R

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

standard UDT for the transmission, 80W or gear oil for the axle. 30W for the engine.

Kubota L3400 Parts

 

[Happyman]

Do you really need to drain the gear and hydro oil?
My Grand L3940 50 hour service said to just change the engine oil and filter, and then the 2 hydro filters (HST). I do not have to change the hydro/hydraulic fluid until about 250 hours.
Could be just different service schedules for different model tractors.

 

[EddieWalker]

I use five gallon buckets for draining just about everything. I try not to go over half full since it's more effort to move them, and I have several buckets lined up for this. To get rid of the oil, I use it on my burn pile. One thing that I'm considering is to soak a post in oil and use it for a rub for wild hogs. A few guys, all teenagers, who hunt allot have said it works really good at bringing them in. I know that every one of my power poles are used by the hogs to rub on, from the one right on the highway, to the one next to the house. It's a magnet for them that used engine oil is supposed to duplicate. If not, it will be good for starting a fire with. LOL

At 50 hours, I drained and replaced everything. I just did it again at 300 hours. Then I do it at the beginning of spring when mowing season starts regardless of the hours. I've had mine five years, so 300 hours in that time works out to pretty good maintenance once a year.

I've only drained my hydraulic fluid the two times and won't do it again for another five years.

Eddie

 

[Fug1000]

Do you really need to drain the gear and hydro oil?
My Grand L3940 50 hour service said to just change the engine oil and filter, and then the 2 hydro filters (HST). I do not have to change the hydro/hydraulic fluid until about 250 hours.
Could be just different service schedules for different model tractors.

The 50 hour service is probably the most important service of them all.
You need to drain everything.

A new engine will naturally shed off some small and microscopic metal shavings into the fluids. Draining it all is the only way to purge your system.

If you wait until 250 hours..that's 200 more hours with metal shavings in your system.

No one wants that...except your service dept. Time to find a new service guy...someone a bit more honest maybe?

 

[rosey]

The 50 hour service is probably the most important service of them all.
You need to drain everything.

A new engine will naturally shed off some small and microscopic metal shavings into the fluids. Draining it all is the only way to purge your system.

If you wait until 250 hours..that's 200 more hours with metal shavings in your system.

No one wants that...except your service dept. Time to find a new service guy...someone a bit more honest maybe?

Follow the recommendations in your OWNERS MANUAL........... front axle fluid change is listed @ 300 hours. Anything less than that is overkill in my opinion.

 

[canoetrpr]

The L3400 manual lists draining all fluids at the 50 hr interval.

 

[Fug1000]

Follow the recommendations in your OWNERS MANUAL........... front axle fluid change is listed @ 300 hours. Anything less than that is overkill in my opinion.

My book says ALL fluids and so does my dealer and so do many many people on these forums.

Hey..you can do as you like but I ain't gonna be able to afford another $20,000 tractor any time soon so I'm taking good care of this one!

 

[Texas Dodge]

Got everything changed out this afternoon. Piece of cake. Didn't run into any problems and the tractor is ready for tomorrow or several hours of mowing.

 

[gerard]

I have the L2500 gear, which also said change all fluids at 50. Not sure why you wouldn't when it's so cheap and easy. I just use an oil pan with a 5 gal capacity, then dump the old stuff back into the container the new stuff came in. (I try and buy the new stuff in at least gal containers).

 

[Ranger Rick]

Happyman
I have a L3940 also and went ahead and changed the hydro oil at 50 hours and was surprised at the metal shavings that were attached to magnet in the filter. I figure it is money well spent.
Your neighbor to the north at Zion Crossroads area.
Rick

 

[botayota]

I own a L3240HST, only have 10 hours on the engine, but getting some supplies ready for the 50 hour service. My dealer told me to stick with UDT, versus SUDT for the hydraulics/transmission, but from what I'm reading SUDT is better especially in cold conditions (I'm in NewHampsha)

I guess it's not good to switch between UDT/SUDT something to do with the
seals?

Anyone have further information on this?

Thanks,
Clint

 

[Texas Dodge]

I own a L3240HST, only have 10 hours on the engine, but getting some supplies ready for the 50 hour service. My dealer told me to stick with UDT, versus SUDT for the hydraulics/transmission, but from what I'm reading SUDT is better especially in cold conditions (I'm in NewHampsha)

I guess it's not good to switch between UDT/SUDT something to do with the
seals?

Anyone have further information on this?

Thanks,
Clint

I replaced mine with UDT, but then of course it doesn't get that cold here.

 

[davitk]

Do you really need to drain the gear and hydro oil?
My Grand L3940 50 hour service said to just change the engine oil and filter, and then the 2 hydro filters (HST). I do not have to change the hydro/hydraulic fluid until about 250 hours.
Could be just different service schedules for different model tractors.

I have the L3240HST, the Operator's Manual says change the engine oil and filter at 50 hours, and the other two filters (not the fluids) at 50 hours. I am sure it is not a typo and when I bought a tractor I didn't just buy a tractor, I bought a Kubota, the company behind the tractor.

If the factory manual on your machine says change all the fluids, then that's the right thing to do.

 

[Happyman]

Happyman
I have a L3940 also and went ahead and changed the hydro oil at 50 hours and was surprised at the metal shavings that were attached to magnet in the filter. I figure it is money well spent.
Your neighbor to the north at Zion Crossroads area.
Rick

Hey Ranger Rick...I just did what the manual said for 50 hour service. I did not see any shavings on the magnet in my HST filter. It certainly doesn't hurt to change ALL the fluids at 50 hrs...except for the wallet
Since you have the same Kubota and only live about 9 miles from me in Kents Store, maybe we should have a tractor pull to see who's is better .
Glad to hear of someone close by with the same machine. Get in touch some time if you need help or have a question. I'll do the same.
Cheers

 

[la200o]

Well, here's another take on the 50 hour question. I have a new L2800 with about 35 hours on it (all mowing). Called the dealer to find out how much the 50 hour service would cost if I did it, vs. if he did it. His advice was, let him do it (to the tune of 750 bucks, with pickup and delivery!), but do it at about 75-80 hours and combine it with the 100 hour maintenance.

Any thoughts about this?

Bill

 

[Happyman]

I would do the 50 hour service yourself as well as the other scheduled service. It's not difficult and as long as you keep your receipts and use Kubota products there will not be a warranty issue.

 

[johnk]

When I did my 50 hour change last year I replaced all the fluids in my 3130. I was quite suprised at the shavings on the filter for the hydraulics. It sure gave me a piece of mind to do what was called for when I saw the filter. I also think the 50 hr change is the MOST important of all. As for using udt vs sudt I stuck with the SUDT because i am in a cold climate. In the winter you'd be waiting 20 minutes for the UDT to thin out.........Just my 2 cents.. Thats all i have left after my 50 HR change.. But piece of mind is PRICELESS...