m7040 50Hr service - questions

jclaudii · Jul 17, 2012

First off I have looked and some of the information may be 'dated' here. I also have the kubota guy at my local dealership looking up the service interval and part numbers based on the serial # of my tractor.

This tractor has done some decent work and it's time to do the 50Hr service. No external hydraulics have been attached yet to the tractor and I would say the front end loader has only been used for some hay and some light leveling. I am contemplating doing it ourselves as we have done maintenance on other farm equipment and might as well jump in and save a few hundred on labor. The most recent info from kubota says that I do not have to replace hydraulic fluid like it says in my manual at 50HRs, just do the filters. They assured me that the magnets and new filters would catch any contaminates and most all of the 50Hr services the dealer has done they said the oil coming out looks like the oil going in. They recommend a 300hr Hyd. oil change now to supposedly keep cost of ownership inline with other makes. But they did have several years of the 50hr service interval to monitor the oils coming out and to make this decision.

First off, is there an easy instruction on how to replace the hyd fluid filters and roughly how much hdy fluid will I need? I'm thinking minimum a couple of gallons.

I see that there are several post on here for engine oil and filter so I think I'm good there! I plan to just go with some Rotella T5 15w40 (about 3 gallons) same we use in the 2500 Cummins truck.

Any step by step instruction for the fuel filters? Should I replace both the element and the cartridge or just the cartridge?

I plan on inspecting the air filter and only ordering one if I need to..

And the front end, do I just get some 80w90 at any store and replace. How much oil do I need and is there a step by step for this as well?

Lastly, we have a good size dent in the hood...make that a huge dent from a log rolling out of the bucket and hitting the hood. Luckily that is all that happened as it could have been much worse! It is a crease dent so I plan on taking the hood off and just beating it back out. Is the spray paint in can from kubota any good for touching the cracked paint up or would I be better off getting a pint or so and just prepping and spraying the whole hood like with automotive paint? Does kubota use a clear coat?

This is my first post here in the kubota forum as I only get to play on this tractor every now and then at the family farm. But I am the more capable hands on 'mechanic' the family has and I love hearing the options and opinions you guys provide to others. In the end I may just take it in for the service as sometimes they run some nice specials.

Thanks!

TripleR · Jul 17, 2012

We have an M8540 and were told the same thing about fluid. My son did the 50 hour service on ours and lost quite a bit of fluid, but he really wasn't prepared for the volume coming out as he was use to our GL5030.

We have used Rotella in the past, but got a different brand from my wife's cousin, he uses it in all his big trucks and tractors.

We use gear oil in our front differentials and the amount will be in the book.

We replace the outer and inner air filters once a year on our tractors, though we probably don't need to as the 8540 isn't used as much as the others.

Can't be of help on the painting, our 86 Massey still has a dent in the hood.

mdelmarcelle · Jul 17, 2012

I have an M7040SUD. Not sure if you have the same model. On mine, you don't have to change the fuel filters at 50 hours. You're manual may suggest something different. In my manual, it also doesn't require a front axle oil change at 50 hours.

In my manual, it indicated to change the fluid with the hydraulic filters. So, I don't know how to easily change the filters without losing fluid. I notice that the filters are a bit high up the gearcase, so you may not lose much.

gwdixon · Jul 17, 2012

Might as well change the hydraulic fluid since you will lose a few gallons. The trans has not changed, just the required interval. I did it all and sleep well at night. Use quality fluid - Kubota, New Holland, Case, or something synthetic if you have that prejudice.

The front axle fluid will need to be checked once a week after changing. It takes a while to get in all of the nooks and crannies. The fluid capacity is goofy in the manual, listing the differential and gear case as separate when they are actually one reservoir. I used 80W-90 or something like that. It was from Tractor Supply if I remember correctly.

The air filter probably just needs to be blown out. They can be washed a certain number of times - see the manual. The inner filter seems to never get dirty.

The fuel filter is good for quite a while. You may clean out the glass jar but the filter is not likely to be an issue for 400 hours.

The engine oil I use is similar to yours, Shell Rotella T or Chevron Delo.

jcummins · Jul 17, 2012

Be awhile, since I sold my M7040 couple years back, but I handled this way. Before I did the maintenance, I talked with the dealer and knew fluid would really come out. I super cleaned a 5 gal bucket and was prepared. Working as efficient as I could I had the 5 gal bucket 4/5 full. I then pour it back into the tractor using a cheese cloth screen. Result I didn't lose that much fluid.

If I did it again, I'd do the same way.

foreman Etexas · Jul 17, 2012

I use Kubota products,just so nothing can be said about using something that I shouldnt have,its alittle higher but being under warrenty,only something with Kubota on it goes back in it. Gallon and half on oil(at 50hrs then every 100 after),10gallons on hyd.(at 50hrs,then again at 300),blow filter out unless just really bad(only blow out few times,then new),fuel filters when do oil. Also grease all fitting weekly. Thats what I do anyways...

jclaudii · Jul 18, 2012

Thanks for the info, is it better to order online the filters from like Messicks or other tractor parts house or directly through your local kubota? Is it a good idea to check on other filters in different brands like Donaldson, baldwin, fleet, luberfiner, etc or just stick with Kubota? I found a few threads where a few different filters were used, but I have not went that indepth. I know the Cummins guys all have different opinions on filters and oil.

Does anyone have a procedure to do the hyd filter change? Is it in the owners manual or do I need a FSM? I still don't know why they don't offer the owners manual in .pdf format! Also, I've noticed their website is very lacking in information. Seems like they want us to go through a dealer for everything! I should be able to find a owners manual, specific maintenance interval info, recall info, register my tractor's serial # in case of recall I can get e-mailed and perhaps even e-mailed about maintenance reminders all on the website. I'll stop ranting about their website now ;(

Thanks for the info guys/gals!

TripleR · Jul 18, 2012

I believe Kubota is in the process of making a lot more stuff available online, but I don't remember the roll out date.

Our dealer offers a 15% price reduction on filters, parts etc., but not lubricants every spring, so we buy all of our stuff then; don't know anything about substitutions or online ordering first hand, but Messick's is a supporter here and has a lot of useful info on his site.

jcummins · Jul 18, 2012

jclaudii said:
Thanks for the info, is it better to order online the filters from like Messicks or other tractor parts house or directly through your local kubota? Is it a good idea to check on other filters in different brands like Donaldson, baldwin, fleet, luberfiner, etc or just stick with Kubota? I found a few threads where a few different filters were used, but I have not went that indepth. I know the Cummins guys all have different opinions on filters and oil.

Does anyone have a procedure to do the hyd filter change? Is it in the owners manual or do I need a FSM? I still don't know why they don't offer the owners manual in .pdf format! Also, I've noticed their website is very lacking in information. Seems like they want us to go through a dealer for everything! I should be able to find a owners manual, specific maintenance interval info, recall info, register my tractor's serial # in case of recall I can get e-mailed and perhaps even e-mailed about maintenance reminders all on the website. I'll stop ranting about their website now ;(

Thanks for the info guys/gals!

What I posted was how I changed the hyd filters. I used Kubota filters.

gwdixon · Jul 18, 2012

If you want filters in a hurry then get them locally.

If you go online, like Messick's, then order several of each kind for future changes. It saves on shipping costs.

Several filters are not cross referenced with non-Kubota brands. The hydraulic filters are an example since they have a round magnet in them (if I remember correctly). You can check the Wix/Napa website and enter the filter number to see if they are made by them. WIX filters, WIX oil filters, WIX air filters, WIX fuel filters, WIX Heavy Duty Oil Filters : Filter Look-Up