50 hour service

Sully2 · Jan 11, 2006

( I just had the 50 hour service done on my BX23. The dealer (Pullins) in Culpeper VA did it for $166.

 That's a good price. I did my 50-hour service on my BX and just fluids and filters ran me $116. 
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I've neve paid over 75 dollars for fluids and filters.

Paying a dealer $50 to $100 to do the same thing on my tractor that Wall Mart does for 5 bucks on my car don't sound like such a hot deal to me.
BTW It don't cost me $40 to $60 to get the car to Wall Mart and back either.

)

That all depends on the tractor! The CHEAPEST I can find SUDT to do mine is $117.30 PLUS shipping!

It never cost me that much to service my lawn mower either /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

radair · Jan 12, 2006

QUOTE: LBrown59 - Paying a dealer $50 to $100 to do the same thing on my tractor that Wall Mart does for 5 bucks on my car don't sound like such a hot deal to me. BTW It don't cost me $40 to $60 to get the car to Wall Mart and back either.

Having Walmart change the oil on your car is NOT the equivalent of doing a 50-hr service on your BX. And most people may be able to drive their car to Walmart, but I suspect few would be able to drive their tractor to the dealer. Why be comparing apples to oranges?

It depends on how much you value your time and how confident/handy one might be. I prefer to do my own, but someone else might be reluctant to tackle it. I bill my time out at $100/hr. - if it takes me more than an hour to do the service (and it did) I'd be saving money to have a dealer do it for $50 or $100. But I'd rather work on the tractor anyway.

strokerduster · Jan 12, 2006

not taking in consideration at the walmart where i live, you would get it back with the drainplug stripped, and the wrong oil filter crossthreaded on it. i like my tractor too much to trust it to a walmart oil changer who took his training at mcdonalds. just my opinion, sorry. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

silverking · Jan 12, 2006

Just so's ya know my reasons for considering the dealer to do this is because of warrenty, ever had a warrenty issue on a new piece of equipment thas was denied because of something stupid? Well i think in this day and age you know what i am getting at. 29k-$300dealer responsibility=good chance of "you did this so the warrenty is void".

I still may do it myself tho /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Sully2 · Jan 12, 2006

( QUOTE: LBrown59 - Paying a dealer $50 to $100 to do the same thing on my tractor that Wall Mart does for 5 bucks on my car don't sound like such a hot deal to me. BTW It don't cost me $40 to $60 to get the car to Wall Mart and back either.

Having Walmart change the oil on your car is NOT the equivalent of doing a 50-hr service on your BX. And most people may be able to drive their car to Walmart, but I suspect few would be able to drive their tractor to the dealer. Why be comparing apples to oranges?

It depends on how much you value your time and how confident/handy one might be. I prefer to do my own, but someone else might be reluctant to tackle it. I bill my time out at $100/hr. - if it takes me more than an hour to do the service (and it did) I'd be saving money to have a dealer do it for $50 or $100. But I'd rather work on the tractor anyway.
)

Well..MY TIME is worth about a buck ninty an hour... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif...but I still prefer to tinker around on my own stuff...I mean after all..it aint brain surgery!

KubotaSteve · Jan 12, 2006

Stroker,
Not trying to start any problems, but bashing someone who works at McDonald's or Wal-Mart isn't the most polite thing to do especially if you have never worked there. Just as a little info. into your assumptions.
I worked at McDonald's for almost 10 years (high school, college) I was a Manager for a few years but the frantic pace was too much for the pay. While every store is not the same due to the franchise owners, I will say that McDonald's has by far the best training program out of any place I have ever worked. They have complete detailed videos, checklists, etc. for each stage of employment (entry level to senior management). As a matter of fact they have their own college. The training is there, but with the low wages, turnover is what kills them.
Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.

strokerduster · Jan 12, 2006

steve, not intended to knock or offend anyone. i have a friend who owns 5. the point you bring up about turnover is exactly what i had in mind. the average oil changer at walmart is working for low wages and probably just until he finds something better also. i do my own service on all my equipment but i would much rather pay extra and have an experienced tech service the things i worked long and hard to buy rather than save a few bucks. the walmart oilchange facility i was refering to has bought more than one engine for these type mistakes. i pulled out of their parking lot at xmas and followed an oil trail two blocks down the road. i just had lunch at mcdonalds to try to atone for my slanderous remarks. my example may not have been the best choice put i feel the point was valid regardless. i'll work on my offensiveness. sorry............ /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

KubotaSteve · Jan 12, 2006

It's cool. Even though I have gotten a considerably more economically favorable job, I never forget what put me through school. Sorry I took your example the wrong way.
As far as the professionals, even though it doesn't apply to tractors, those quick lube places concern me. They are even in the dealerships now and they aren't real choosy when hiring either. A friend of mine was the manager of the quick lube at a Chevy dealership and had the task of explaining to an irate customer how easy it was to forget to put the oil plug back in his brand new Corvette and that is what caused his motor to seize up. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif It's time for me to go have a cheeseburger now!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Bob53 · Jan 12, 2006

I guess everyone has there reasons, but i see all these posts on services cost , transportation costs? Really surprised at people take their equipment in for 50hr check. It is so easy and quick to do. Myself I'd rather be under the tractor or car taking the filter off rather than sitting in waiting area for my car or taking time to load tractor onto trailer. Its fun to some of us I guess in working on the tractor, plus I know my tractor better when done. I know if that type work turns you off, take it to dealer, but if it does not its is really a simple job, plus the time and money you save.

bigjohnkub · Jan 12, 2006

as a service manager, i hear lots of this complaint. 50 hr service is very important and a trained tech. will notice defects much better that the average operator. Transportation cost is expensive. My haul truck cost $18000. my trailer $9000. 1 tire will cost more than the haul charges usually, plus insurance, and the fact that I am responsible for any damages while hauling. I charge$60.00 an hr from the time we leave untill we get back. SUDT oil is 9.69 a gal in bulk.

Farmall47 · Jan 12, 2006

Since the 50 hour service is, arguably, the MOST important inspection/service for these machines, I had my dealer do the first service on both my L35 and my 3400. However, I didn't pay for it. When the deals were about to be finalized, I looked at the bottom line and asked, "This includes the 50 hour service, right?". In both cases, the answer was an immediate "Of course!". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

That's the way my dealer does business and is one reason I keep going back.

I perform the subsequent services myself because I can wrench a bit and, as someone once said.."it ain't rocket science". /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

F47

Volfandt · Jan 12, 2006

I do my own scheduled maintenance. For the 50 hr I dismounted everything, removed the engine cowling, removed the batterybox/air intake screen and gave the BX23 a good going over. Pretty much mirroring what the manual called for. I didn't find anything loose and was able to locate most of the assembly's I expect I'll be having to R&R one of these days. I also cleaned everything up whilst I had it down to parade rest. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Material cost was,
1 Gal Kubota 10w30.......$10.89
2.5 Gal Kubota SUDT......$38.99
1 ea oil filter.................$5.19
1 ea hydro filter............$5.11
With tax total was $63.43
Took about 2 hrs.

Material for the 100hr was $28.32 which was an engine oil & filter change and a new air filter cartridge.
I didn't remove the cowling for this one but plan on doing a more thorough inspection on the 200 hr.

Volfandt

5030 · Jan 12, 2006

Ron:

Have to throw my 2 cents in here: /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As far as the filters go, either you have to be quick or the dust in the driveway is diminished. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

You guys with the "little" tractors....my 50 hour service entails twin hydraulic filters, FWA gearcase fluid change, oil change (8) quarts, complete grease, the M9 has a pile of zerks, 2 fuel filters and water seperator filter change, clean the outer air filter, cab filter and I almost missed it........60 quarts of SUDT, that's 15 gallons at $27.00 per gallon. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I'll take donations now. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ronjhall · Jan 13, 2006

As far as the filters go, either you have to be quick or the dust in the driveway is diminished /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I have not seen a post from Don since he made the filter comment. Hope he is not cleaning up the mess. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

LBrown59 · Jan 13, 2006

( QUOTE: LBrown59 -* Paying a dealer $50 to $100 to do the same thing on my tractor that Wall Mart does for 5 bucks on my car don't sound like such a hot deal to me. BTW It don't cost me $40 to $60 to get the car to Wall Mart and back either.

**Having Walmart change the oil on your car is NOT the equivalent of doing a 50-hr service on your BX. And most people may be able to drive their car to Walmart, but I suspect few would be able to drive their tractor to the dealer. Why be comparing apples to oranges?

It depends on how much you value your time and how confident/handy one might be. I prefer to do my own, but someone else might be reluctant to tackle it. I bill my time out at $100/hr. - if it takes me more than an hour to do the service (and it did) I'd be saving money to have a dealer do it for $50 or $100. But I'd rather work on the tractor anyway.
)
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*I changed the S-udt in my BX 23 last night 12 quarts S-udt & filter 66 dollars and change.
Had I taken it to the dealer I would have had to add at least 50 to the 66 bucks. Then there would still be the matter of transporting the tractor back and forth to the dealer. Probably another $50 there.

**The time it took wasn't an issue as I would probably have just been setting around the house twiddling my thumbs doing nothing otherwise.

LBrown59 · Jan 13, 2006

1* at the Walmart where I live, you would get it back with the drain plug stripped, and the wrong oil filter cross threaded on it.
2*i like my tractor too much to trust it to a Walmart oil changer who took his training at mcdonalds. just my opinion,
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1* I've never had this happen on any of my trucks I've taken to my local WallMart.
I have furnished my own oil and filter and just got Walmarts price for changing them. This way I know I'm getting the right oil and correct filter.
2* I wouldn't take my BX23 to Walmart for fluid and filter changes either; however I wasn't inferring that taking it to Walmart was just as good as taking it to the Kkubota Dealer for this.
My emphases was on the 95 dollar price spread between Walmarts 5 on a car and a tractor dealers 100 for a tractor. I Question the 95 dollars as perhaps a bit excessive by comparison.
In my minds eye the dollar ratio is questionable - not who should be doing the job. Of course if you're doing the jobs yourself it all becomes irrelevant.

LBrown59 · Jan 13, 2006

ever had a warrenty issue on a new piece of equipment thas was denied because of something stupid? Well i think in this day and age you know what i am getting at. 29k-$300dealer responsibility=good chance of "you did this so the warrenty is void". 

Yep been discussed many many times all all over this board.
Seems the general conclusion is that doing the 50 hour service ones self is not grounds
for denial of warranty work.

LBrown59 · Jan 14, 2006

Myself I'd rather be under the car taking the filter off rather than sitting in the waiting area waiting for my car 
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I usually change the oil and filter in my trucks too, but outside on a cold 30 degree or less winter day is not the time to do it so I take it some where and have it done but I still furnish the oil and filter in most cases.

I buy oil and filters only when they are on sale and keep enough on hand so that I don't run out between sales.