Change your front axle oil, it's easy, cheap and fun

thedevilyoulove

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Equipment
L3901 HST with LA525 FEL, Land Pride RCF2572, pallet forks, 3 pt carry all
Jan 27, 2016
143
7
18
Woodbine, Maryland
I changed my front axle gear oil last weekend in my L3901. Had 210 hours at time of change. Manual says to change at 400 hours, but it only takes 5 quarts and oil is pretty cheap so I changed it early. It was pretty dirty in my humble opinion, so I am glad I changed it. Also, the factory fill up was a quart low. So check and change your gear oil! I used 80W-90 since it was available at WalMart but Super UDT-2 works also. My manual says either is fine.
 

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85Hokie

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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
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Bedford - VA
I changed my front axle gear oil last weekend in my L3901. Had 210 hours at time of change. Manual says to change at 400 hours, but it only takes 5 quarts and oil is pretty cheap so I changed it early. It was pretty dirty in my humble opinion, so I am glad I changed it. Also, the factory fill up was a quart low. So check and change your gear oil! I used 80W-90 since it was available at WalMart but Super UDT-2 works also. My manual says either is fine.
Make sure you ride around a few hours and check it again.....funny how that oil will work itself in those voids and become low again!:D:)
 

skeets

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BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,572
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Cheap, easy and fun,,, I use to know a couple girls like that :D Just kidding I lived right at the foot of the cross,,, but they kept moving it on me
 

mickeyd

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2014 L3200 DT w/LA524 FEL, 2019 Kubota Z121S w/ 48" Pro Dec, TG1860G w/RCK54TG
Mar 21, 2014
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Cheap, easy and fun,,, I use to know a couple girls like that :D Just kidding I lived right at the foot of the cross,,, but they kept moving it on me
I also knew of a couple girls like that. :D Strange thing though, they both married preacher's. :confused:
 

rjcorazza

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L4060 HSTC Loader, ZD326, ZD1211
Mar 9, 2016
778
24
18
Hyattstown, MD
I’ve been wanting to change mine out also. My machine only has 250 or so hours, so by the book it’s not due. It’s been a struggle to not change out the axle and hst fluid, which was called for at 50h on my previous Kubota (L3410).



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rkidd

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B2650, FEL With QA 60"mmm, 3pt FDR1672,homemade ballast box, BB 1572 box scraper
Dec 7, 2015
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Jefferson Ohio
Questioning how front axle fluid became "dirty". Never changed it on my little ford, 1900 hours, still crystal clear.

Bearing and gear wear will do it. There is a reason Kubota engineers spec a fluid change hour limit.
 

twomany

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B7200
Jul 10, 2017
793
138
43
Vermont
Recreational oil changes are frowned on by the environmentalists, the EPA, and your municipal waste disposal agency.

What does your opinion of "dirty" really mean? How does it matter?

You say it's only five quarts, But what did it take to produce.
Why are the manufacturers suggested change intervals even offered?

With that, the front axle on the Hurlimann leaks a bit. I probably top off a quart a year.
Most of the drippage goes to "rust Proofing" the diamond plate it sits on in the shed.
Seal replacement is a good sized job, and takes special tools.

I'm lazy, you are extravagant. The sun shines on the good and wicked alike.
 

dalola

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BX2380 w/FEL & Woods RM48 RFM, Yazoo/Kees Max2 ZTR
Jun 30, 2017
316
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18
Ohio
I used 80W-90 since it was available at WalMart but Super UDT-2 works also. My manual says either is fine.
While indeed true, I find this very odd....two completely different type lubricants, yet both are OK? Having trouble wrapping my head around this....

When time, I'll put SUDT2 back in my BX, since that's what it came with.
 

85Hokie

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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,752
2,559
113
Bedford - VA
While indeed true, I find this very odd....two completely different type lubricants, yet both are OK? Having trouble wrapping my head around this....

When time, I'll put SUDT2 back in my BX, since that's what it came with.
I agree with what you are saying......

80w90 or 85w90 has been the standard forever......
Where as the S-UDT is about 10 weight oil ....

I would think in the northern cold as blue blazes ...I would want S-UDT2...and if not in a cold climate - go with the less viscous 85w-90.

As long as both can handle the shear and stress of that gear to gear contact, I am sure either is fine.

Read #17 for a good understanding

http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23125&page=2
 

skeets

Well-known member

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BX 2360 /B2601
Oct 2, 2009
14,572
3,342
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SW Pa
I save all the stuff I drain run it through a paint filter the run it for bar oil in the husky,,
 

rjcorazza

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L4060 HSTC Loader, ZD326, ZD1211
Mar 9, 2016
778
24
18
Hyattstown, MD
I save all the stuff I drain run it through a paint filter the run it for bar oil in the husky,,

Not a bad idea. My neighbor recently bought me a gallon of bar oil, which will last a long time for my use. I doubt it’s necessary to filter recycled oil, but I admit to having no knowledge on how saws deliver the oil to the bar.
Drifting off topic... I love my 20” carbide tipped Stihl saw!


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thedevilyoulove

Member

Equipment
L3901 HST with LA525 FEL, Land Pride RCF2572, pallet forks, 3 pt carry all
Jan 27, 2016
143
7
18
Woodbine, Maryland
While indeed true, I find this very odd....two completely different type lubricants, yet both are OK? Having trouble wrapping my head around this....

When time, I'll put SUDT2 back in my BX, since that's what it came with.
I agree that this is very weird. I prefer to use gear oil option since gear oil has been successfully used for decades in diffs, and there's nothing magical about a kubota differential.