Well it doesn't take long to rack up the first 50 hours on a new tractor. Bought my B2620 last fall and needed to do the first 50 hour service this weekend. I called the dealer to ask how much they wanted to do the job and it was an unbelievable $350. Sounded pretty steep to me considering all that has to be done is change 3 filters, the engine oil and top up the hydro fluid so I decide to do it myself.
First the engine oil. Seemed simple enough ... pull the plug in the oil pan and let it flow out. Well let me tell you with a loader installed the plug is hidden up under the loader support arm and required some serious acrobatics to jiggle it loose. Hey Kubota! Why not put a hole through the loader support arm to allow a socket easy access to the drain plug. The way it is the oil has to drain down on the support arm and dribbled this way and that to finally drip into the catch pan if you're lucky.
Changing the filter was a whole lot easier however the front grill and left side engine cover needed to be removed to get to it. At first I was intimidated by the prospect of this task however the good thing for this maintenance and other engine work is these part come off in seconds. Off comes the old filter and on screws the new one. Reinstall the engine covers. Fiddle some more to put the drain plug back in and fill it up with oil. Next...
Changing the hydraulic and hydrostatic filters. Both are generally easy to get to from under the tractor. Simply unscrew the old ones and quickly screw in the new one. Make sure you put the right filter on the correct side. You will have a little hydraulic fluid loss but only about a quart which is easily topped up. In all it took me 2 hours. I wasn't in a hurry as I was sipping a cool one and enjoying exploring the new tractor. The final cost for oil, filters and hydraulic fluid was under $100. Looks like I earned $250 for 2 hours work. Not bad!
First the engine oil. Seemed simple enough ... pull the plug in the oil pan and let it flow out. Well let me tell you with a loader installed the plug is hidden up under the loader support arm and required some serious acrobatics to jiggle it loose. Hey Kubota! Why not put a hole through the loader support arm to allow a socket easy access to the drain plug. The way it is the oil has to drain down on the support arm and dribbled this way and that to finally drip into the catch pan if you're lucky.
Changing the filter was a whole lot easier however the front grill and left side engine cover needed to be removed to get to it. At first I was intimidated by the prospect of this task however the good thing for this maintenance and other engine work is these part come off in seconds. Off comes the old filter and on screws the new one. Reinstall the engine covers. Fiddle some more to put the drain plug back in and fill it up with oil. Next...
Changing the hydraulic and hydrostatic filters. Both are generally easy to get to from under the tractor. Simply unscrew the old ones and quickly screw in the new one. Make sure you put the right filter on the correct side. You will have a little hydraulic fluid loss but only about a quart which is easily topped up. In all it took me 2 hours. I wasn't in a hurry as I was sipping a cool one and enjoying exploring the new tractor. The final cost for oil, filters and hydraulic fluid was under $100. Looks like I earned $250 for 2 hours work. Not bad!
