Do your own Fluids and Filters on a BX

[dalola]

Just did my first 50 hr service last weekend on my 2380. I was pleased how accessible all the maintenance areas are. Very easy tractor to work on, as far as maintenance issues.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Just did my first 50 hr service last weekend on my 2380. I was pleased how accessible all the maintenance areas are. Very easy tractor to work on, as far as maintenance issues.

That's why I posted this thread. To show that most everyone can do their own scheduled maintenance while saving time, trouble and money by doing it at home instead of the two trailering trips to a dealer.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My brother that lives next door has finally stepped a foot into the Kubota world and bought a BX1500 (Bought from my SIL). My brother Joe called and said he was going to take it to Barlows for complete service which we know is changing all filters and fluids sort of like part of this thread and I scoffed at him and told him to look at this thread and then if he felt he needed help I'd bring my stool and come help him all the way next door. I told my wife the hardest part of doing the service is getting my fat butt back up off the floor. Anyway, bringing this thread forward for him to peruse and enjoy and see how easy peasy it is to save $100. He needs to look at his machine to help him understand it anyway as do all Kubota owners..

 

[sixdogs]

My brother that lives next door has finally stepped a foot into the Kubota world and bought a BX1500 (Bought from my SIL). My brother Joe called and said he was going to take it to Barlows for complete service which we know is changing all filters and fluids sort of like part of this thread and I scoffed at him and told him to look at this thread and then if he felt he needed help I'd bring my stool and come help him all the way next door. I told my wife the hardest part of doing the service is getting my fat butt back up off the floor. Anyway, bringing this thread forward for him to peruse and enjoy and see how easy peasy it is to save $100. He needs to look at his machine to help him understand it anyway as do all Kubota owners..

That's what started me years ago. In effect, the savings paid me to learn how to do my own work.

 

[dodge man]

So is the BX he bought one you used to own? I figure in your area any used Kubota has about a 50% chance that you owned it at one time! I hope he enjoys the tractor. How long before you talk him into another one?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

So is the BX he bought one you used to own? I figure in your area any used Kubota has about a 50% chance that you owned it at one time! I hope he enjoys the tractor. How long before you talk him into another one?

:laughing::laughing: Well, sort of. I did buy it used about 3 years ago from Barlows to give it to my SIL for mowing some rental property using my F2680 and ZD326. My SIL has since moved to a different location with a smaller level yard, I also sold the rental property a couple years ago and thus the trade of the BX1500 to money and a gas Husquavarna riding mower worked out for everyone. My brother has a hillside lot and needed something with 4wd.

 

[coryfavre]

I changed my Oil and filters on my BX2660 a ckmouple of days ago and took pictures. It's really a simple easy job. A little dirty but not bad. Soap or GO JO will clean the dirt off.
I know there will be some that say pay your local dealer your money to do this so they can stay in business and help the local economy but this is for those that don't want to do that and want to save their money to spend as they please with out saving their local dealer.
For safety, one should put blocks or something under their front tires but I didn't. If you have the brush guard, you have to remove the 4 bolts holding it on which is very obvious and easy to do so I won't cover that.
I removed the mowing deck which is a bit of tugging and grunting but also not rocket science. I should have turned the wheels on the deck to make it roll out easier but I didn't, I will when I reinstall it and ever do it again. The job can probably be done without removing the mowing deck but it is a very easy job with deck removed. Also with deck removed it's a very good time to grease all the fittings on the deck, check deck fluids and sharpen deck blades. I also discovered my deck was bent on one edge when new blades hit it. I got my giant water pump pliers and bent edge of deck back into proper shape. Don't know when or how I bent the deck. I have pictures of removing deck if anyone wants those posted.
First, have your fluids and filters handy. One transmission filter and one oil filter plus quarts of oil. If you have FEL, lift front off ground with FEL. If not then jack it up or do it over a ditch that you can crawl in to get under tractor.
Raise hood and remove engine shroud and loosen oil filler cap. Two reasons to get under it. One to remove bolt on bottom of oil pan (Have a catch pan for oil to drain into) and while your there turn around and remove transmission filter which will cause about a half a cup of fluid to run out. Have new filter beside you with seal on filter lubricated with fluid, oil or dielectric grease. Install new transmission filter. Place bolt back into bottom of oil pan and tighten.
Your now done under the tractor. Install drain catch pan under filter side and then remove filter off side of motor. Install new filter with lubricated ring seal. I hand tighten filters then turn them 1/4 to 1/2 turn with a filter wrench. My filter wrench is a cheapo that I've had for years and works on about any filter. Pull the spring ring, slip over end of filter and turn. Fill with oil, run a few minutes and then check and top off oil.
The transmission screen removal can be explained if anyone wants to hear/read about it.
I hate getting started on jobs like this and usually put it off as long as I can but when I get into it I sort of enjoy it and the satisfaction of a job completed and well done is very fulfilling and saves a few bucks to buy another tool or toy.
I also recommend everyone do this to familiarize them selves with their tractor and to see how easy it really is.

Edited in Paragraph form for Newbury. Is this better Newbury?

Commenting on this so I can find it easier later

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Was showing my brother my BX2370 yesterday and I mostly use the L3901 and wife and Grands mow with the F and BX. I hadn't noticed the hours on the BX and the hour meter showed 50.3 hours so I had to hunt for this thread to review for my upcoming engine oil and filter changes. Does the mowing deck HAVE to come off :confused3::laughing:?

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Hey John nice post and I am sure it is helpful to the new guys. I have a question on the BX1500 that you had that I now have did you service it yourself? Did you change out the HST Fluid and filters and if so did you use SUDT?

:laughing::laughing: 9 years and about 20 different Kubotas later and I brought this post up for refresher review before starting my fluid and filter change. Sometimes as we age some of that smarts leaks out and I have to get some reminders just to make sure..

 

[Oldoak]

:laughing::laughing: 9 years and about 20 different Kubotas later and I brought this post up for refresher review before starting my fluid and filter change. Sometimes as we age some of that smarts leaks out and I have to get some reminders just to make sure..

I just go to my Owners Manual for that information. Kubota does a good job outlining the procedure and what is needed. :confused3:

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Just did the 300yr on my '24. Easy peasy.

Raised the tail end just a bit and took the rear wheels off. I've got Bro Tek crunch plates and they can stay on w/ the wheels off - easy to reach the HST filter and easier to access the strainer. Didn't remove the engine shroud. Wasn't necessary to get at the oil filter.

No muss, no fuss.. the hardest part was writing the check for all that SUDT2...

Z.

[edit] 300hr, not 300 yr. These Kubotas are durable but that might be stretching it a bit...

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Just did the 300yr on my '24. Easy peasy.

Raised the tail end just a bit and took the rear wheels off. I've got Bro Tek crunch plates and they can stay on w/ the wheels off - easy to reach the HST filter and easier to access the strainer. Didn't remove the engine shroud. Wasn't necessary to get at the oil filter.

No muss, no fuss.. the hardest part was writing the check for all that SUDT2...

Z.

Thanks for input of how you actually done it. I also need to adjust brake pedal travel so I think I'm going to try your way. Much better contribution than look at owners manual.

 

[bunyip]

[edit] 300hr, not 300 yr. These Kubotas are durable but that might be stretching it a bit...

Bugger, think of the money I could save....

 

[columbian]

In 2004, having spent all 58 of my previous years in cities, I moved to 5 acres in SW Washington. After 2 years I figured out I needed a Tractor, and got a 2230. With no dealer closer than an hour away, and not having a trailer or a hitch, I learned how to maintain it on the fly. Doing spring maintenance with my daughter became a ritual. It was one of the best times, and I was always glad to think she was getting a great education in common sense. We did this until she went to college, and then a job in the big city, 1000 miles away.

We drive the tractor up onto 2" concrete pavers (stacked 2/wheel), put the emergency brake on and leave it in gear, and always pull the mower deck. We change the fluids and filters, according to the manual schedule. Except I still don't have a good way to change the fuel filters without getting gas all over me. We did it every year since, except the years when I've been sick after she left.

She's coming home later this month, for her first visit in a couple of years, and JT, I just sent her your picture from page 1 of this thread, of your mower deck up on its back edge, so she knows what's in her future.

Great thread, guys. Keep it up.

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Probably already mentioned several times in this thread... these can help with the fuel mess when changing filters. Work a little better than my small vice-grips.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YKHRUK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[columbian]

Sweet, Zolan. Thanks!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Just did the 300yr on my '24. Easy peasy.

Raised the tail end just a bit and took the rear wheels off. I've got Bro Tek crunch plates and they can stay on w/ the wheels off - easy to reach the HST filter and easier to access the strainer. Didn't remove the engine shroud. Wasn't necessary to get at the oil filter.

No muss, no fuss.. the hardest part was writing the check for all that SUDT2...

Z.

[edit] 300hr, not 300 yr. These Kubotas are durable but that might be stretching it a bit...

Have traded my 50 hour BX2370-1 to my brother for his BX1500 and cash which I'm trading to Barlows with some of the cash for a ZG724. I told my brother I'd do 50 hour service and tried the no removal of deck method and it worked. Jacked up rear tire of BX and removed hood shroud. Engine oil filter is smallest I've ever seen on any Kubota:confused2: do my filter removal tools were all to big so BIG pliers had to come out of toolbox and they worked OK. Oil pan fit under tractor fine for dropping fluids and refilled with Kubota 5/40 oil or 15/40? Removed right rear tire and could feel the hyd filter right behind a metal flat bar, removed it with filter removal strap tool and replaced it easy peasy. Greased deck fittings and removed other tire because I couldn't find the round filter screen behind the tire...on either side. There was a round sealed slot where a screen could have been installed but not there. I've cleaned a few of these over the years so yes i know what and where to look. I've actually never had one have enough filings to have made it worth removing before. The screen is/was first line filter and then the other remove and replace hyd filter is second line filter so I'm not to concerned about it's not being there.
It's a close decision whether to remove deck or not. If one wants to sharpen/check blades then for sure remove deck but if for some reason one isn't wanting to do that the tire and shroud removal method seems to work fine. I don't think I could have reached the engine oil filter without removing the shroud because I couldn't even find the filter till I did. Now that I know for sure where the tiny mini filter is hidden with multiple wires and other "stuff" up against it there is a possibility I could change it with loosening the two knobs and just pulling shroud off but I think I'll just pull the shroud and get to that tiny filter.
Wrote date and hours on both filter ends with magic marker as I always do when I change filters.
Did not change fuel filter(s) and rarely do unless they start reducing fuel flow which hasn't happened in hundreds of hours on my machines.
I have the clamp on grease tool and it wouldn't fit the fittings on the deck wheels due to the curve of fitting and straight length of my clamp it fiting so going to tell brother to grease his deck wheels with his grease gun.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

One of my best posts and viewed and appreciated by many. Still many BX owners out there doing their own fluid and filter service, very simple job for the slightly agile.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Probably already mentioned several times in this thread... these can help with the fuel mess when changing filters. Work a little better than my small vice-grips.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YKHRUK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

View attachment 603381

Simple solution on fuel filter change for stopping flow of fuel.. Install a valve ahead of first filter like I did. Secondary plus is use it if tractor is unattended to prevent theft.

Ron

 

[sixdogs]

One of my best posts and viewed and appreciated by many. Still many BX owners out there doing their own fluid and filter service, very simple job for the slightly agile.

I've passed along this thread to a couple guys and they now do their own service. They were actually going to pay big bucks for things they could do themselves.

This thread is now an impressive 50 pages and 500 posts long.