50 hour service

[Chugbug]

Ok I know its been discussed but I looked and can't find the thread. I'm coming up to my 50 hour service for my BX25. Would it be better to take it to a dealer so that they can go over (for warranty) every thing. I'm not that mechaniclly inclined but can do oil changes and such. Looking at the manual doesn't look to difficult. I noticed the manual says the hydro fluid does not need changed until 400 hours, would it be benifical to change it now anyway?? It says to clean the trans. strainer, will the hydro fluid drain out??
Any advise / suggestions or tips would be appreciated. Again sorry I know its been discussed alot but I can't find those threads. Maybe a maintenance section could be added to the Topics.

 

[timswi]

Well, in my opinion, just do it yourself. It's not that difficult. Follow the manual and take your time.

As far as 400 hrs on the hydro...that's what the manual says, but I'd change it anyway. Filters and all. Do clean the strainer, it does get some junk in it.

I did mine at 50 and 100. At 50, it needed changed, at 100 it didn't (hydro fluid and filters that is).

If you really aren't comfortable doing it, let the dealer do it. To learn this you have to start somewhere though...

My guess is that if you don't have any specific complaints, the dealer won't be looking for any either as far as warranty stuff goes.

 

[BeezFun]

If you do it yourself, buy the parts from the dealer and save the receipts, just in case.

 

[EastTexFrank]

My philosophy has always been to let the dealer do the first 50 hour service and take care of any warranty issues that have surfaced. After that I do the services myself but get the filters and fluids from the dealer and save the receipts ... just in case. My dealer has a record of my purchases on his computer system but you know how that goes ... crash, bang, all gone.

 

[rScotty]

I do my own service on everything. I used to really enjoy it, but now it's probably more accurate to say that I don't mind doing it, iand at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that its been done right. I'm not a fanatic on adjusting things. If the machine is basically doing well I might check to make sure critical adjustments are still running within tolerances....but I won't change the way something is set up just to get it "closer to perfect. Nowadays, most things are pretty well assembled just as they come from the manufacturer. It didn't used to be that way.

All that said, I disagree with the modern philosphy in your manual. Put me down as one old mechanic who would definitely change the hydro fluid, filters, and clean the strainer at 50 hours. If you don't want to do it, then get a trusted mechanic or the dealer to do it for you.
There is always some wear on a brand new hydro or on any complex system for that matter. In my opinion the complete change is somewhat overdue at 50 hours. After that, I've no problem with waiting another 400 hours to do the next service.
rScotty

 

[TripleR]

Read this: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/167108-do-your-own-fluids-filters.html

 

[Deano]

I do my own service on everything. I used to really enjoy it, but now it's probably more accurate to say that I don't mind doing it, iand at least I have the satisfaction of knowing that its been done right.

So right!!!!:thumbsup:

 

[RTII]

I did my own 50 hr service a couple of weeks ago. Spent more time gathering the oil and filters than actually performing the service. On the BX2660 it's all simple. The hardest part was getting the HST strainer retaining plate screw started back in. A little tight quarters for my hands. I did change the HST fluid although it wasn't required.

Saving the money, at least $200, is great. Getting to know the machine a little better is great. Not having to transport your tractor to the dealer and back and be without while he does it is icing on the cake.

 

[bp fick]

If you have genuine warranty items to be repaired, that is one thing.
But simply changing oil and filters, cleaning the hydro screen and air filter is so easy I cannot see paying $300-$400 plus in shop time and materials for such simple tasks. If you have the money to blow, that's fine.

Each to his own. Doing the 50 hours service is so simple and satisfying to do. I highly recommend it. Plus, a dealer could have your tractor for a week or two, just getting around to it. You are going to have to learn how to do this stuff at some point, so why not now?

Here is a step by step, photo explanation guide.

Kubota BX Service

Yes, buy the materials at a dealer and save the receipts in your records. Simple.

 

[Baby Grand]

I'd say do it yourself for several reasons:

Lack of experience is not a real problem. You will determine whether or not you enjoy wrench turning. If you can't stand it, then paying the dealer to do it will be less painful. My first car cost less than it cost to insure for a year. There was no money in my pocket, so all maintenance was up to me - and I knew nothing. So I found some manuals and read a lot before I tried anything. I discovered that it's fun! Plus my life long lust for tools was born.

With TBN, you have an unbelievable knowledgebase at your fingertips. Just ask - these guys all want to help you do it right. I wish I had this resource when I started turning wrenches - I'd probably still have my first car.

If you discover that you enjoy doing the work, you may save yourself a fair amount of money.

When I work on my machine I try to take my time and do a thorough job - and some preventive maintenance: Are there any loose bolts? - wheel lug nuts and suspension parts should be checked periodically. Are any wires loose or chafing? Is there any corosion starting? Wet areas near flanges or seals? Any strange smells? After a few times doing this you will get a mental picture of your machines "status" and will quickly notice if anything starts to change - recognition of change can help you diagnose a problem before it gets pricey. A good mechanic keeps an eye out for all of these things.

Doing your own mainternance is good karma.

Try it and see if you like it.

-Jim

 

[bp fick]

If JohnThomas can do it, anyone can!!:thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

If JohnThomas can do it, anyone can!!:thumbsup:

True, true, true. I even took pictures to prove it. Bumped thread for changers or fence straddlers to see plus will link it here.
I don't do my cars but I do my tractors. Started out afraid to, then after trying it 6 years and 11 Kubotas ago I moved to want to and I to am now at the it's OK to do. Set aside the time, first time a couple of hours because it's the first time. After the first time it probably takes 30 minutes if you have all your fluids and filters handy.
If your the type that believes if anyone else does it then they must know more than me so I'll do it to...then change the SUDT fluid. If your the type that believes people that design and manufacture the product with thousands of hours of education and experience know better then don't change the SUDT just to sort of be sure. The manual and an email to me from Kubota says it's not needed at the 50 hours.
I've cleaned the strainer at 50 and on some found some slight metal particles and on most did not find any.
When the manual said change SUDT at 50, I changed it at 50. Now that they (Kubota and their engineers) changed that a couple of years ago, I don't change it at 50. I'd feel silly believing I know more or better than them and that even other old farts like me know better than them or even young farts as far as that goes. This I've always done it that way or my granddaddy always said to do it doesn't carry much weight with me especially when it adds anothe $100 or so. OK even if not $100 I wouldn't do it for $50.
If you take it to a dealer they will do the same thing you will do. Don't think there is any going over the tractor to find any issue that you haven't told them about. That's like going to the Dr and asking what's wrong with me Doc? And having no symptoms. They will drain the fluids, change the filters and add fluids back in between their other work. I feel better doing it myself than letting them do it and it has helped me learn my machine better than riding it a thousand hours.
DO IT YOURSELF!! When on the ground, look at everything under the tractor while fluids are draining. It's an amazing world under there to see the stuff and figure out what it is and what it does. It also brings the knowledge that it's just a machine that performs several functions. It is a mass of metal, wiring, tubes and hoses transporting fluids and HP to a usable point.
Do your own Fluids and Filters on a BX - Page 5 - TractorByNet.com

 

[bp fick]

Absolutely agree with the entire gang here.

The notion that "the dealer will go over it" is somewhat naive. Go over what? He will do just what JT said. He'll do exactly what is required to do the service, just like you will. He isn't going to search for every loose bolt, or put the tractor on a dyno, or check all the electrical systems. No way. He doesn't have time for that, it isn't required (unless you have a specific complaint about something) and you'd never want to pay brain surgeon wages for his shop time to do it.
I am not thinking his top notch mechanic is going to pull that job ticket either!!
I don't know where this "I'll let the dealer do the first service so everything is OK" came from. It's been a long lived urban legend, me thinks.

Will the dealer do a good job? I'd like to think so.
Will he charge you handsomely? I know so.
Can I do an even better job? Yes, I can. It's my machine and I just care more and will work carefully and with a sense of pride of ownership.

 

[Chugbug]

Thanks everyone! Looks like I'll be doing the change myself. Guess I'll drain the hydro as well just to make sure everything is good. Thanks JT for posting the step by step, that will help those of us who are wrench challenged!