50 hour service

SCB · Apr 6, 2004

Okay guys, I need an opinion. I've had my bx for about a week and a half and have about 33 hours on it. I puchased the necessary supplies for the 50 hour service when I got the tractor.

My question is this: I understand that the 50 hour hydraulic change is to get fresh oil in after the break in period. I took my backhoe off after using it for about an hour. I had other needs and the boxblade went on. Should I put the backhoe on again for a period of time for it to break in before my 50 hour service? How long do you think would be sufficient to run it?
Thanks in advance for the replies!
SCBrittain

Bird · Apr 6, 2004

( Should I put the backhoe on again for a period of time for it to break in before my 50 hour service? )

In my opinion, it won't make a bit of difference. I don't think there's anything to worry about as far as "break in" for the backhoe; just the engine, transmission, hydraulic pump, etc.; i.e., the tractor itself.

SCB · Apr 6, 2004

Thanks Bird,
If I understand you correctly, the Hydraulic cylinders of the backhoe aren't contaminating the oil. It is the gears and such of the tranny and pump that cause the need for oil change?
SCBrittain

Bird · Apr 6, 2004

Yep, you understand what I meant. Of course, that's my opinion, so if someone disagrees, feel free to do so.

Deerlope · Apr 6, 2004

SCB
Bird is right. But after you get all the oil's and filters changed take a hack saw or some other device and open the hyd filter and see if there are any metal shavings in it. There should not be and if the is contact your dealer.

cckjone · Apr 6, 2004

My Kubota dealer offers 50 hour service provided for the cost of materials only. There is no charge for service technicians time or travel. The approximate cost of the fluids and filters for the 50 hour service is $95.00. (BX2200) Isn't this standard practice for most Kubota dealers?

Phrede · Apr 6, 2004

Difference of opinion here.

If it moves it wears and everything is tight when it's new. Granted the cylinders on th BH or FEL will not contribute a lot to the total break in gunk in the fluid that the HST will.

Another reason, IMHO, for doing the first oil and filter change is to remove any contaminants left behind by the manufacturing process.

I would run the FEL and BH at least a couple of hours.

Again, just my opinion and I have always been pretty **** about machine maintenance and break in.

_RaT_ · Apr 6, 2004

I suspect that if you really wanted to get into it and took an identical tractor and on one you did a full filter/fluid change at 50 hours and the other just had a filter change, serviced them identically for the next 2000 hours you would not be able to tell any discernable difference in wear between the two. I think of the 50 hour fluid change as either a insurance peace of mind or a quick way for the delaer to make a few extra bucks either on oil or the oil and labor. Either way, I'm eager to do it after the sacrifice and investment I have at stake. If anything at best, you are eliminating the build and manufacturing contaminents as well as small amount of wear and at least, buying a little peace of mind that everything on your near new tractor is fresh again. I agree with Bird about the hoe, forget about reattaching it to work out more metal. You have a filter that takes care of all of that. To think VW's bugs ran well using nothing short of a porch screen for a filter, that of course was providing you adjusted the valves to .006" every so often. Rat...

Bird · Apr 6, 2004

( take a hack saw or some other device and open the hyd filter and see if there are any metal shavings in it )

I didn't go to the trouble of opening the filter, so I'm not sure whether there would have been any metal shavings or not, but I'm also not sure whether it matters on the first service. Both my Kubotas had a "strainer" in addition to the filter and the strainer was supposed to be cleaned and was expected to have some metal shavings in it the first time; maybe half a teaspoonful.

Junkman · Apr 6, 2004

Mine turned 50 in the middle of the winter and there was no way that I was going to service the hydro at 0 degrees. I changed the engine oil and filter, however, I have been sitting on the fence deciding if it is actually necessary to change the hydro oil at 50 or should I just wait till I get to 100. I have about 60 on it now. If the filters and screens are doing what they are supposed to be doing, then all contaminants are caught anyway before they can do any harm. What are the opinions out there and the reasoning behind the opinions.

SCB · Apr 6, 2004

Bird, It seems to me that I read a post or two awhile back that stated that the posters were finding small amounts of of filings on the first change. What about all you others out there. Anyone find such things?
SCBrittain

ronjhall · Apr 7, 2004

Anyone find such things? 

Steve

I found a small amount of chips in the strainer at the 50 hour change. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

After the 50 hour change I don't think another one is called for until 200 hours. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

ronjhall · Apr 7, 2004

or should I just wait till I get to 100 

Junkman

I think you should start a thread on waiting until 100 hr's to change your hydro oil. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

It should get about as many responses as Henro's drilling the ROP's thread. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

You might want to add the Super UDT, UDT debate to the thread. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Henro · Apr 7, 2004

Junkman said: I have been sitting on the fence deciding if it is actually necessary to change the hydro oil at 50 or should I just wait till I get to 100. 

Junkman, I can help with this decision...

I have noticed that the hours on my bx accumulate at about double the rate that they do on my B2910. This is because of the electric hour meter on the bx and the tach-driven hour meter on the B2910.

So in terms of real hours, the 50-hour service I performed on my B2910, was really a 100-hour service if measured in BX-hours.

Since the 100-bx-hour service exactly met Kubota recommendations for my B2910...I see no reason not to wait until the BX hour meter reads 100 to do your 50 hour service.

It is a simple fact that there are linerar-time hours and Kubota tach-driven-time hours. If your manual does not specify which hours to use, you should be free to use KUBOTA tach-driven hours, since the Kubota name is part of that time base.

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bird · Apr 7, 2004

Yes, SCB, I did find some shavings on the strainers; nowhere close to enough to stop the fluid flow, but maybe a quarter of teaspoonful on the B7100 and a half teaspoonful on the B2710.

Bird · Apr 7, 2004

( What are the opinions out there and the reasoning behind the opinions. )

I did all the 50 hour service on my tractors between 45 and 50 hours. Now my personal opinion tends to agree with you. The filters and strainers should catch any contaminants and it shouldn't really hurt anything to wait until 100 hours. However . . . , in the unlikely event that you have a warranty problem while the tractor has between 50 and 100 hours, I think there could be (not too likely) a possibility that the manufacturer could deny liability since the 50 hour service wasn't done. So I'd get out there and do it (and of course if I lived where it's as cold as where you live, I might change my mind.) /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif.

uhmgawa · Apr 7, 2004

( SCB
Bird is right. But after you get all the oil's and filters changed take a hack saw or some other device and open the hyd filter and see if there are any metal shavings in it. There should not be and if the is contact your dealer.
)

There is a tool which is equivalent to a can opener for oil filters.
This dispenses with the hacksaw approach which generates metal
filings of its own and can complicate the inspection. Parker and
others are reported to make such a tool though I've never seen one
myself.

KubotaSteve · Apr 7, 2004

My wife went to pick up the supplies for the 50 hr service since I don't get home from work until after the place closes. I told her to go in there and tell them she wanted everything for the 50 hour service. I told her it would be some filters, engine oil and hydro oil. They only gave her the filters and engine oil. They said the hydro oil didn't need to be changed. I am probably going to do the service this weekend and I guess I will only be changing the filters for now as the dealer is about an hour away.