New to me purchase l3540 maintenance

Grustang · Nov 23, 2016

Hello all, I'm just getting back into owning and operating a machine, haven't had one in a few years. I just this week picked up a used grand l3540 with 300 hours in very good shape and other than normal maintenance like an oil change etc is there anything else you'd recommend doing? I picked up all the filters I need for a full service but might wait till spring as it's getting cold here in ny. I'll be using the tractor for snow removal throughout the winter but only to plow my drive. Any feedback is appreciated, thanks

Fallon · Nov 23, 2016

Get an owners manual... I got a Work Shop Manual in addition to the owners manual for my old L3200 & have a digital copy comming for my new L4060. The WSM is so worth it if you do any work on your machine at all, it tells you how do do any conceviable repair on the machine. You need to greas all the zerks on the loader & some of the others every 10 hours. There are some hidden zerks & a few others around you need to grease every so often as well.

If the oil & hydraulic filters are still grey don't wait & chage the fluids & filters ASAP as they missed the 50 hour service. the 2nd service is at 300 hours I believe. If they aren't grey they got changed & things probably aren't that urgent.

TripleR · Nov 24, 2016

I have an L5740 and they are really easy to maintain, I think Paul Short even has a You Tube on it.

As mentioned a manual really helps and contains your scheduled maintenance. Good point on the filter colors. Your transmission/hydraulic will be at 400 hours, mine is due and I'll be using SUDT2. I don't clean my fuel filters, I just put new ones in as it's easier and doesn't cost much. I use a claw type filter wrench and nothing special beyond that.

I make sure to keep my radiator and screens clean with compressed air, if I'm not close to the shop I use a leaf blower to get me by.

dstig1 · Nov 24, 2016

I have a PDF of the manual that I downloaded from Kubotabooks.com Here is the direct link http://www.kubotabooks.com/AutoInde...&file=Kubota L3240 - 5740 Operator Manual.pdf The loader manual can be found at that link also, separately if you back up to the main page.

Typical maintenance is mostly greasing and blowing out filters and screens, plus the occasional fluid and filter changes. The loader needs frequent greasing, and a bit more so if you are using it for snow work, IMO to keep water/ice out of joints. The manuals recommend 10 hr intervals for the loader and 50 for the tractor. I'd be lying if I said i was that reliable, especially on keeping up with the loader schedule. With 190 hrs, I can guarantee you I have not greased it 19 times... If I have done it even 10 times, I'd be surprised, but it is in good shape and appears to be happy enough. Which reminds me, I should probably grease it...:duh:

RjCorazza · Nov 26, 2016

I always viewed the loader grease schedule as 10 hours of loader use, which for me is about 4x per year.

4shorts · Nov 26, 2016

Grustang said:
Any feedback is appreciated, thanks

Hopefully this will help you out.

dstig1 · Nov 26, 2016

RjCorazza said:
I always viewed the loader grease schedule as 10 hours of loader use, which for me is about 4x per year.

Yeah same here, sorta, but I pretty much always use the loader when I take the tractor out so far, so I consider that I probably should be greasing it every 10-20 hrs. That may change a bit as plowing snow is with the rear blade at this point, and I don't use the bucket a lot there.