Newbie Tractor Maintenance

[Harv]

So, after 30 hours in the seat I finally decided to figure out how to check fluid levels 'n' such. I was assured at the time of purchase that all the warranty maintenance had been done on schedule (it had 187 hours on it when I bought it), and they even went ahead and did the 200-hour stuff, yet when I checked the hydraulic fluid window, there was nothing showing. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

Trouble with those danged peephole windows and dipsticks is that you can't tell the difference between "a little low" and "nearly empty". I thought about topping it off, but I couldn't be sure exactly which type of fluid was in there, so I opted to just drain it and fill it up myself so I would know exactly what and how much was in there.

First thing I did was to attend a private session of the online RobertN School of Oil Changin'. Robert actually took it upon himself to email me a thorougly detailed description of the procedure. Thanks, Robert! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

No problems, really -- just some minor confusion with the owner's manual and pictures, and a couple of differences between Robert's B8200 and my L2500.

RobertN followed through by actually calling me that evening up at the property. We had a tractor gabfest for the better part of an hour. I gotta say -- this board attracts some mighty fine folks.

Tips for other newbies -- the manual's text refers to "the" drain plug, yet the picture shows four. The picture is correct, so get 'em all. I popped 'em one at a time and was glad I had picked up an industrial-sized drain pan from NAPA, 'cuz 7-1/2 gallons is a lot of fluid.

Also, the sketch of the strainer bears little resemblance to the real thing, at least externally. Had to identify it by its location rather than its appearance.

Also realized that I was already behind in the greasing schedule, so I had my first go 'round with my new grease gun. It was just a matter of finding all the zerks and watching out for some that were thoroughly coated with factory paint. Had to clean them puppies up a little before I could get any grease in them.

As boring as this probably is to all the experienced folk out there, I'm posting this for the other newbies out there. Likewise, I took pictures (naturally) all along the way and stuck them up in a new "Maintenance" section of my web page. Pretty mundane picts, but they will help me next time around 'cuz I'm old and forget quickly. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Question -- how does doing it yourself affect the warranty? I intend to do as much as I can myself, rather than having my tractor hauled 100 miles to the nearest dealer each time. I am also keeping my own log on what I do and when, but am I going to lose resale value by not having "official" records?

 

[Thomas]

Harv,
I really think you don't have to worry about the resale value of your Kubota,for your the type who will take great care and person shall see that.

Just keep filling out your log on the service that you do.

Your up early out there or haven't you gone to bed yet.

Have a pleasant day and a safe New Years.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[PaulInMi]

Harv,

Thanks for the pics along w/descriptions. I should be able to follow along exactly w/my L3000.

<font color=orange>Happy</font color=orange> <font color=red>New</font color=red> <font color=green>Year</font color=green>

 

[gordon]

Harv cool webpage: To help with any warranty save the top of your filter boxes and put them in your tractor log. On the back of the filter box top write the hours when changed as well as in your log. This gives the added insurance of double information should a warranty issue arrise. As long as the box tops have the part number on them if not cut out the front of the box with the number on it and write the hours on the back of that. I think you get the idea.

They might dispute a log but they can't dispute a bunch of box tops!!!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon

 

[Harv]

Gordon -

I was already saving box tops for my own records. I've always done that with my other vehicles, mostly 'cuz it simplifies things when I walk into the parts store to buy replacements. I just slap the box tops on the counter and say, "I need these".

Gets me in and out in less than 5 minutes. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[gordon]

Never mind then your a step ahead of me!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Gordon

 

[Harv]

Gordon -

<font color=blue>Never mind then your a step ahead of me!</font color=blue>

Not at all -- I never used to write the mileage or hours on the box tops. Now I will. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Harv,

GREAT SITE! I want to thank you for taking the time and effort to put together that excellent "show & tell". I just went through ALL your pix/captions, and I don't think there was a single one that didn't provide food for thought.

I came away once again amazed at this Tractorbynet list (and the internet in general). What if all members contributed a similar website of their ideas/experiences... Mark, RogerM, jimB, etc., etc. (I realize some may have already, that I am unaware of)?

The educational potential is awesome.... Tractor U. Bynet!

(I see you have a Howse box...size/ model? Opinion? Considering one myself.)

I've got the camera and the computer, and the property... will soon have the tractor. Then when I also get the website-skills, I'll try to offer something myself

Thanks again,
Larry

 

[Harv]

Larry -

Thanks for the kind words. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I know many of my posts, and even my web site, are pretty basics-oriented, but I try to convey the type of information I wish was available when I was looking for it. The fact that you and PaulInMi seem to have found at least some value in my ramblings and picts is enough encouragement for me to continue with them in the future.

I agree -- the value of TractorByNet is beyond measure, thanks to the high caliber of people it has attracted.

As for the Howse box, it's over a hundred miles from me right now, but I just happen to have a picture that contains the info you asked for (see attachment). We should start a new thread titled, "Ridiculous Uses Of Your Digital Camera", eh? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

I believe the designation "BB60" means "Box Blade, 60 inches", 'cuz that's what it is. It has 5 rippers and a second hinged blade in back.

This is my first and only box blade, and I'm still learning how to use it. I'm convinced that a box blade is an indispensable tool, and it's always on the back of my tractor unless I'm mowing (which hasn't happened yet). It's about 600 pounds of rear ballast in addition to my filled tires, so I've been pretty stable when doing loader work.

Like I said, it's my first and only, but so far I hate the ripper adjustment setup. You have to remove a half-inch diameter L-shaped pin from behind each one, adjust the ripper to whatever height you want and then replace the pin. It might just be 'cuz it's new, but the pins and even a couple of the rippers themselves are a ***** to get in and out.

If you're going to get one, go for a tip 'n' tilt setup right off the bat. I wish I had done that at purchase time 'cuz the pain of the expense would have been lost in the overall purchase. As it is now, I'm saving my pennies and keeping a close eye on Bird's progress. When I become independently wealthy (I still dream), I'm going for a box with hydraulic rippers.

Good luck on your tractor-to-be, and by the way, get your buns registered so's you're part of the family. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Harv, so you're watching Bird's progress, huh? Well, it got slowed just a bit, unfortunately. The dealer expected to get all the components in last week, and thought the outlet kit from Kubota would come in first. You know how those things go. I stopped by there yesterday morning and the outlet kit from Kubota has not arrived (he said nothing came from Kubota last week - maybe the warehouse crew took a holiday?). And Tisco's Dallas warehouse didn't have what we wanted so it had to come from Nashville. They sent the two spool valve, both cylinders, both handles, but only one knob for one handle and one linkage kit to put the handles on the valve. So, now we're still waiting on Kubota, and Tuesday he's got to re-order another linkage kit and knob from Tisco./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif The good news is that the cylinders and valve look even better than I expected./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bird

 

[Harv]

Bird -

Well, I'm still watching your progress, but maybe I should sit back and make myself comfortable, huh? /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[redhawk]

Harv,

thanks, i've got 28 hours on my little 7500, and i want to
do the 50 hour maint on it myself. your adventures and the descriptions of them has given me some courage. thanks. now if i could find a manual that actually gave me a step by step go at it maybe i could actually accomplish it.

kevin

 

[Bird]

Harv, that's quite a web page you have. What I wonder is how do you find time to use a tractor, maintain a tractor, and still make all those pictures and get them on the web site?/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif And I wonder what the picture of the strainer in the manual looks like, since you say it's different. Your strainer is definitely much different than mine. Don't you have two strainers; one on each side like I do?

Bird

 

[LarryT]

Harv, I couldn't agree with your sentiments on the box blade more. I have a Gearmore box but it has the same ripper setup. I have the T&T hydraulics which helps a lot but just today, I was getting so aggrivated getting on and off the tractor to adjust the rippers when I could do the rest of my adjustments from the seat. I also agree that the box blade is indispensible but I long for the day that I can get one with hydraulic ripper (scarficer?) adjustment. My how we get spoiled!

Larry...

 

[LarryT]

I just did the 50 hr on my B2910 and it was a snap. All you need for instructions are in the operators manual and mine was quite clear. The only tricky part was that the instructions were under the 300 hour maintenance instructions. The whole job cost a little less than $100 for parts/fluid and took less than an hour (not counting the laundry time for the fluid soaked clothing). The pictures in the operators manual are very clear for locating the drain plugs, fill holes, and the hydraulic screen. Not much more complicated than changing oil in your car.

Larry...

 

[Harv]

Bird -

Just the one strainer -- about 8 inches long.

Ya know, when I said it didn't resemble the drawing in the manual, I was referring to the cover plate, not the strainer itself. But now that I've seen the real thing, I realize that my eyeballs were just interpreting the line drawing incorrectly. It's drawn in kind of a 3-D perspective and it's sort of like that classic line drawing of a staircase that seems to flip one way and then the other as your brain tries to convert 2-D to 3-D.

I'm just trying to make excuses here. See the attachment and see what you think. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[Thomas]

Larry,
Thats another good thing about Kubota..they try and keep it basic for the owner. Now if the can come up w/ a manual in which one can clean the greasy finger prints off. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif



Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[TomG]

Keeping a maintenance log and the receipts for materials purchased was good enough for the warranty on the rebuilt engine in my 1/2 ton.

 

[Bird]

Yep, Harv, I can see why that drawing would throw you off. And I don't know whether it's because it's an "L" model or because it's a geared transmission, but your strainer is entirely different from the B2710, and my manual mentioning the "strainer" (singular) can throw you off, too, although the picture shows both of them.

Bird

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Oh Harv,

How could you have missed such an obvious thing?....NOT!
It's perfectly clear to ME. But then, I already knew the answer, thanks to you.

This reminds me of the "Colombus" story. He's back from his trip-of-discovery, seated at a table with a bunch of wanna-be admirals and other bigwigs, and the queen.

The wanna-bes are saying "No big deal...anybody could have done it!"

Columbus passes around an egg, challenging anyone to stand it on end. When all fail, Columbus smacks the egg on one end, crushing the shell enough to make a stable base and there it "stands".

"Anything is "easy", if someone else shows you how!" says he.

(I don't think I would have put those pieces together in-my-mind and got the finished product to look like the real thing either

Happy New Year,

Larry