Transmission and Front Axle Fluid

[TractorTeen]

I am coming close to my 50 hour service and am trying to see what alternatives there are to Kubota products. Are there better fluids outside of Kubota fluids? I was wondering what alternatives people are using in the transmission and front axle besides Kubota UDT or SUPER UDT as listed in the owners manual? It also says that I SAE80 or SAE90 gear oil can be used. Would it matter if I used something other than Kubota products for the transmission and front axle fluid? What are you all using for the transmission and front axle? Any help?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[shady1701]

I've heard you can use universal tractor fluid or 80/90 I've heard suggestions for 85/140 and 75w-140 all of will work..

maybe 75/140 + 10w20 will be better in north in winter 80/90 is like 20-30weight oil and 85w-140 is like 25w and 50w motor oil equiv.

 

[_RaT_]

For the front axle, my Kubota dealer here simply uses UDT. Its a matter of simple lubrication and there is no extreme pressure to speak of. Using 90W gear oil is fine as well, as the manual mentions. I prefer to use the UDT to simplify and to have only one extra container of oil around to add oil to either the transmission or front axle. If it were really important to use one or the other, it would surely have been recommended. For a UDT hydraulic fluid for your transmission equivalent, just look at the various manufactuers and be sure its listed to be used in a Kubota. There are many. Some folks like Amsoil's hydraulic fluid for their transmissions/hydraulics for it's cold weather ability, that makes sense. It's less costly then Super UDT but also exhibits slightly less performance specifications. Remember, UDT or the equivalent for the transmission and front axle or 90W for the front axle, Rat...

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( SAE80 or SAE90 gear oil can be used )</font>

You can use those in the front axle, although I think your tractor came with UDT in it. But you must not use SAE80 or SAE90 in the transmission. There are, of course, a number of other hydraulic oils that can be used.

 

[fractal]

Not sure about the 2910 but the brake system on my 7200hst is hooked into the hydraulic system somehow and using something other than a universal tractor hydraulic fluid will ruin them quick (or so I have been told). The service manual lists the following products for use in the hydraulic system on the 7200hst:

Kubota UDT
Shell Donax-TD, DOnax-TM
Mobil fluid 350
Exxon Torque Fluid 56

Front axle fluid is specified as Gear oil, SAE80 or SAE90.

I bought a 5 gallon bucket of car quest universal tractor hydraulic fluid, certified to meet kubota specifications, when the local dealer had it on sale for 31 bucks for the 5 gallon bucket. It is not that I was being cheap as much as the nearest kubota dealer is an hour and a half drive from here and my old 7200hst leaks several places and I needed some sooner than later. That and I know that neither Carquest nor Kubota manufacture hydraulic fluid so figured carquest probably bought from one of the same people Kubota buy from.

 

[SageBrush]

Thats not cheap, the off beat UDT is $17 to $18 per 5 gallon here. Big timer.... $31 per.... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[shady1701]

sam's universal is around 17-18$ and TSC is 22-26$ and you can get regular UDT for like 31-35$ at tractorsmart.com i think up in johnsoncity i believe but not sure.

 

[TractorTeen]

I have decided that I am going to just use the Kubota fluid and cut the complications and warranty issues. What is the difference between UDT and SUPER UDT? Is SUPER UDT better for the transmission and front axle? Is SUPER UDT more expensive? Would anybody recommend using SUPER UDT over UDT?

Thanks,
Dave

 

[_RaT_]

Super "UDT is about $70 for a 5 gallon pail vs about $40 for UD. Here in California, dealers pretty much use UD since the superior cold weather characteristics of Super UDT are really not needed. For the front axle, UD is more then adequate. Remember, UD and Super UDT are roughly a 30W in viscosity. Unless its quite cold in Virginia in the winter, you will be fine with UD or an equivalent. Rat...

 

[soarkrebel]

I used UDT in the XMSN and for the frt end i used mystik jt-7.

 

[shady1701]

they must of went up udt is 39.95 + 70000-40105 Super UDT 5 gal $60.60 each.

 

[TractorTeen]

I come to the conclusion to just go buy 5 gallons of UDT and cut the confusion. Thanks everybody for your help.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Junkman]

My Kubota dealer said that the UDT was used as the first fill to help the bearings and races to seat as well as the gears to "run in". At the 50 hour service they install 80 - 90 gear oil where Kubota says that it is OK. When I lived in NH back in the early 1960's, my Corvair 4 speed wouldn't shift easily through the gears until the gear oils warmed up...... sometimes that took forever because it was -20 degrees... I found that the Army had the same problems during WW II and that Kendal came out with a 80 - 90 - 140 gear lube to resolve the problem. It worked well in the old Vair and I have used it ever since in the one that is now restored. Haven't looked for it in the stores for the past 10 years, but if it is still available, it might be a good lube still today. I know that a lot has changed in the R & D of lubrication, so this product might not still be available. It was called Kendal 80/90/140 Three Star Gear Oil. Some people also added an oz of molybdenum disulfide to the gear oil if they still had shifting problems, but mind didn't need it...

 

[gsxr1100]

RaT_ I have to disagree with you. I use the Amsoil in my BX22 since it passes ALL Kubota, UDT (even SUDT) specifications.

I like Kubot but their oil is a rip off in my area. I can get a 100% synthetic with better fluid properties (pumping point-not freezing, etc) for less money. Until Kubot proves there oil is better for the same money, so long Kubot Fluid.

Plus I do not ever buy the warrenty "so-called" problems. Having an engine or hyd system fail due to fluid incorrect fluids is far and few between this days. Given you put in hyd fluid and not gear fluid.

I still do not like hyd fluid in front axle. That would be like putting hyd fluid in a solid front end? Even though this is a tractor application I still do not think hyd fluid gives the same protection, lowers friction, heat etc as a gear fluid would. Plus I know this is not the same in shock and pressure but there will be some in these axles.

So out with the old hyd fluid and in with the best 75-90 I could find. PLus the gear fluid helps more in the Northeast while the hyd fluid is still like half frozen honey.

 

[shady1701]

My front axle has a simple straight gear and wouldn't require ep. I can think of several items that they don't use gear oil in like manual gear boxes, transfer cases and lawn mower transaxles. I think like i posted before 5w-30 is equiv. to 75w-90 10w30 is 80w-90, 140 is equiv. 50w and 250 is equiv. to 70w engine oils so 10w20 udt is equiv to 75w80 gear oil w/o extreme pressure additives?

I'd bet tractor fluid would have some type of shock cushioners you'd think since it goes in transmission and hydralics?

I still use 80w-90 in my axles though it leaks so i'll probaly got to 85w-140 since i can't find any synthetic gear oil in my neck of the woods besides pennzoil marine 75w-140 at wally world

 

[neilw]

TractorTeen

If you are considering the Super UDT check out Chevron's All Weather Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic Fluid THF. Last time I priced it it was $70.00/five gallon pail. Most Chevron distributes will order this for you in five gallon pails.