Do your own Fluids and Filters on a BX

[3v0]

I do not know... But I expect the size of the shop vac does not much matter because the main diff between them is how much air they move rather then the vacuum that they will pull.

 

[ericher69]

No need to use shop vac if your dumping fluid on purpose.

Gotta disagree!

If your pan is not large enough to hold all the oil a shop vac comes in handy!

Why don't you start a new thread titled to entice the shop vac users to post?

 

[howie70]

Did my 50hr service a little while back on my BX2370. When I pulled the strainer I had #5 stopper ready to put in. Big problem...the #5 stopper was way too small. Put the strainer back in and tried the shop vac. It sucked....in a bad way. Sure there was no fluid leaking out, but the vac was sucking the fluid out. Took my stopper and wrapped it with rubber tape and was able to make it work. All in all I lost about a gallon of fluid. I need to find another stopper that is bigger for the next time.

 

[kw22614]

Did my 50hr service a little while back on my BX2370. When I pulled the strainer I had #5 stopper ready to put in. Big problem...the #5 stopper was way too small. Put the strainer back in and tried the shop vac. It sucked....in a bad way. Sure there was no fluid leaking out, but the vac was sucking the fluid out. Took my stopper and wrapped it with rubber tape and was able to make it work. All in all I lost about a gallon of fluid. I need to find another stopper that is bigger for the next time.

I could be wrong but I think all BX HSTs are the same size. I think you may have gotten a smaller size rubber plug from the bin or it was mislabed. When I bought my #5 rubber stopper from Ace Hardware's bulk bin there were several different size plugs in the #5 cubby. I looked at the smaller #4 and larger #6 and deduced the right #5 size. If the tape works around the one you have - great. It's not a tool that get's much use anyway.
I haven't tried the shop vac method but next time don't put the hose end so far down the fill hole, or your vac is just too powerful.

 

[howie70]

I went back to the hardware store and looked to see if i had mistakenly picked up a smaller one. 5 was the largest they had and according to their labeling #5 is what I had. The tape worked ok, but still allowed some to seep out. As far as the shop vac, the hose wasn't down in the fill tube at all, just right at the top.

 

[kw22614]

That's enough info for me - I'm not even gonna try the vac method now. Maybe just put another turn or 2 of tape on it and hope for the best.
Be careful when removing - sure don't want the tape getting stuck making you spill more.

 

[RaydaKub]

I do not know... But I expect the size of the shop vac does not much matter because the main diff between them is how much air they move rather then the vacuum that they will pull.

I can't say I ever tried this, but you are right about the vacuum. A vacuum doesn't really pull anything, no matter the size. It is the air pressure rushing in to replace the void that makes things happen. The atmospheric pressure is all you have to work with and that averages about 14.7 lbs/sq inch if I recall. A bigger vacuum on the inlet hole won't affect it at all.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Where are you experienced vacuum users?

 

[bp fick]

Cannot help you with the vacuum method, but I just dumped the HST fluid on my new BX2360. I had prepared cardboard for "the mess", but I gotta tell ya. Must be because I've done a few of these Kubotas over the years now? I don't know, but it was flat out the neatest job I've done. Piece of cake.

I just drained from the bottom plug. When my 2 gallon catch pan was getting full, I simply stuck the drain plug back into the stream and finger tightened it back up. Sure, my hand had a bit of fluid, but nothing bad at all. Rubber gloves or gas station cheapo plastic gloves would be just fine.

Brought my second drain pan into play and let the rest flow. Once done on the bottom, I moved back to do the screen, clean and re-install. Replaced the filter, took the bottom drain plug out one more time, just to catch the last of the dregs. Started refilling with the new SUDT-2. Ran the engine, then sloooooowly crept out to the drive to do some forward-reverse moves and worked the hydraulics and FEL. Gently crept back into the shop and topped off with maybe a pint. Done.

 

[Deano]

Where are you experienced vacuum users?

I am a vacuum guy!! Learned it about 20 years ago when I worked part time for a quick lube . If a car came in with a leaking drain plug, got out the vacuum and held it over the filler hole. NO MESS!!!
used the method on my bota also!

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Never used that method and do not need to. When I ever pull the strainer, bottom plug or filter I am changing fluid also so ,I just drain it. I use super UDT from NAPA and with my fleet discount it is half the price or less than the K brand so I am not worried about price. Changing fluid is like changing engine oil, good insurance and gets rid of any moisture contamination which we have plenty of up here. 1000 hrs now and no problems.

Ron

 

[dragoneggs]

Yeah thinking of changing mine 'early'. At about 115hr now on the BX and religiously did already the 50hr service and cleaned the filter. But why wait for the full change at 200hr. Thinking the first fluid changes are very important. Now about that discount! I'm paying full boat at the K dealer.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Ongoing discussion of how often to change HSD/HST fluid led me to contact Kubota and this is their response. Also the idea of switching to a non Kubota "branded" fluid to save money and then do it more often than recommended by the factory puzzles me. Over the years on this forum some have changed from the Kubota "branded" fluid and then shortly changed back. Their experience with their tractors. I personally won't change more often than recommended by the manuf and I will/do use Kubota "branded" fluid and filters from a Kubota dealer. I don't use a tractor 1000 hours a year and I doubt many of us do but there are some that do. I guess a bit of common sense and check fluids/dipsticks visually and finger feeling often is my practice. Also grease on a regular basis and that's based on the number of hours per use and not every time I use it because I don't use it for 10 to 50 hours per use. Maybe some do, I don't.
The time that the vacuum is used is at the 50 hour service for checking the screen and most people do not change the fluid then. The hyd filter change which is done more often by most than fluid change usually doesn't lose much fluid but the vac can be used then.


John, the person or persons from TBN do not know what they are talking
about. There has not been a Service Bulletin or even a notice sent to the
dealers that this is a mistake in the Operators manual. Kubota Tractor
recommends for you to follow your Operators manuals for servicing of each
unit you have. The BX2660 and the BX25 do not have to have the transmission
fluid change until it reaches the 400 hour mark. For the F2680, it is the
200 hour mark. The transmission oil filters need to be replaced and the
suction strainers cleaned at or before the 50 hour mark for all three
units. Your selling dealer can also assist you if you have any questions in
regard to servicing your tractors. Thank you for purchasing and contacting
Kubota Tractor Corp..

 

[dragoneggs]

Thanks John... yes to date I have stuck to the Kubota service schedule and Kubota branded parts. My thought with the HST replacement earlier than schedule was due to discovering some (not a lot) of metal on the strainer during the 50hr. I am figuring it couldn't hurt and possibly help with getting a cleaner fluid in there. However by the time I get around and do it, I will probably be on schedule. :laughing:

 

[bp fick]

I'm one of those folks who don't enjoy the debates over Kubota parts vis-a-vis just going with Napa or whatever of quality. Hey, it's your tractor and your life, use what you want. 99.9% of the time, the tractor simply isn't going to care and neither are you.

But, occasionally it is good to price a NAPA/Wix filter, for the HST, for example, over against the Kubota filter. $12 either way. Shrug. Nothing to get excited about, so a Kubota went on mine this weekend.

The SUDT-2, however, is simply a higher quality, synthetic performance, lower viscosity fluid than I can buy anywhere else around here. All the generic UTF stuff around here is more akin to plain UDT, which is simply far too thick for a BX in our cold weather. The whine would drive me nuts.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

The SUDT-2, however, is simply a higher quality, synthetic performance, lower viscosity fluid than I can buy anywhere else around here. All the generic UTF stuff around here is more akin to plain UDT, which is simply far too thick for a BX in our cold weather. The whine would drive me nuts.

Several people have said that the whine increased with other than Kubota branded HST fluid.

 

[RFB]

I have hostorically done my own oil and filter changes on both L's and a B. Because my dealer is 50 miles away and did not stock K brand fluids, I started and have continued with Chevron AW Synthetic THF. (I am definetly not saving any money with the Chevron; a 5 gallon pail is $135.)

With every change out from factory installed OEM fluid to Chevron I have had a distinct and noticable decrease in HST noise.

On the L5030 the first HST fluid change was at the 50 hour mark, but for the 5740, K says just the filters at 50.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

When I first started buying Kubotas the Owners Manual said/indicated to do Hyd fluid changes earlier but for the past 5 to 6 years the Owners Manuals on all of the ones I've bought have had the extended hours and that's the reason I contacted Kubota to clarify the issue thus the reason Kubota sent me the correspondence concerning the frequency of changes. Some forum posters were saying it was a misprint in the manual. If your machines are new or older or different ages then that could be the reason for the different hours. Maybe.

 

[dragoneggs]

When I first started buying Kubotas the Owners Manual said/indicated to do Hyd fluid changes earlier but for the past 5 to 6 years the Owners Manuals on all of the ones I've bought have had the extended hours and that's the reason I contacted Kubota to clarify the issue thus the reason Kubota sent me the correspondence concerning the frequency of changes. Some forum posters were saying it was a misprint in the manual. If your machines are new or older or different ages then that could be the reason for the different hours. Maybe.

Interesting... my thought is that you can never change a fluid out too frequently.... other than to just waste good money and tax the environment. The reality for me is that I am pretty happy when I am able to keep up with the manufacturer's schedule on all my motorized things. My BX is getting the love so not hard to do. But other machines of mine have been known to suffer from inattention and unfairly so... but what can I say... sorry?

 

[TripleR]

I've used several different brands of good quality hydraulic fluid in several of my Kubotas after speaking with the mechanics and never noticed any difference in performance. Our dealers only stock UDT, SUDT2 must be special ordered.

My 5740 may have SUDT2 in it, so that is probably what I will use in it.

I go by the manual on all my vehicles; got a new car with oil changes every 10k, that's going to be hard.