BX Inner Air Filter

[Ramos]

BX1870-1. So, it has always bugged me that our BX did not have a Safety (inner) Element. Every tractor we have owned has an inner AND an outer air filter. Our RTV1100 runs two elements, as well. I was visiting with our Kubota parts expert at our local dealer and brought this up. He had never had anyone ask but, started digging around the parts lookup. He found a different unit that used the same filter in combination with an inner element. I took one home and, it sealed right up in my air cleaner housing. I simply cannot think of any reason NOT to use it. Can anyone here think of a reason not to? The only possibility I can think of would be air restriction but, that is more a matter of maintaining the outer filter. Love to hear your thoughts. It's not an inexpensive filter(>$40.00) but, neither are engines!

On Edit: This inner element is used on the RTV900 diesel.

 

[85Hokie]

The air restriction would be my first thought.

The outer filter shoooould trap about 99% of dust and what not......all that gets by will hopefully get trapped in the inner.

Flow rate is huge on a diesel or any internal combustion engine - the more filtering, the more restriction that can occur. One reason K&N filters are so "popular" is that the air flows through easier, and "faster" - however, the filtering rate has to be less. Bernoulli's principle will explain that.

If you are diligent with cleaning the filters - I see no problems with inner and outer!

 

[windzer]

I run an inner filter in my bx 2370 and run just as good as it did without it but i like the extra insurance heres the link to the filter its a wix/napa it works for the bx 2370 and 2670 tractors i know for sure https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/FIL2845

 

[lugbolt]

The air restriction would be my first thought.

Agreed. Gotta remember that the air going into a diesel engine also cools the engine's internal components. Restriction is harder on the engine taxing an already odd cooling system setup (engine in backwards).

 

[tcrote5516]

My BX 1860 came with an inner and an outer filter. They are both available from the dealer as I've replaced the outer one 3 times and the inner one over the last 300 hours or so.

 

[Ramos]

My BX 1860 came with an inner and an outer filter. They are both available from the dealer as I've replaced the outer one 3 times and the inner one over the last 300 hours or so.

http://kpadweb.kubota.co.jp/kpad2/PartsInfo.do?bookCd=100K1505&funcCd=&figNo=&himban=&dispType=0

I find that very interesting as the Kubota Parts Lookup (see link) shows the same, single element as it shows for my BX1870.

 

[skeets]

Hmmm yes that is interesting. my BX has only one filter and just for shyts and giggles I stopped at the stealrs on the way back from Lowes. The old guy behind the counter who has been there since Mosses was a pup. Told me the same thing , that small diesels dont use a double filter due to air restriction.. Go figure

 

[Ramos]

I guess what I am struggling to wrap my mind around is this: Why are the RTV900 and RTV1100's able to run dual elements without issue when they are essentially powered by the same engines as the BX's? For reference, the 900 is a 2008 and the 1100 is a 2009. Hours, respectively, are about 1,800 and 1,200.

Summer months are quite dusty for us. After running for a day, our filters need to be cleaned. No matter how much care is exercised, there is always the chance of compromising the filter and not knowing it. The safety element has always been our insurance policy on equipment. At the first sign of contamination on an inner filter, both (inner & outer) are replaced.

 

[lugbolt]

Why are the RTV900 and RTV1100's able to run dual elements without issue

Because the RTV's are designed to run in an off-road situation, like most ATV's are. Also, the RTV doesn't pull "clean" air (well the RTVX's do but we're not talking about those). The BX pulls cleaner air in from behind the radiator. Don't overthink it. You're FAR more likely to overheat the BX engine than suck dirt through the well-designed air filter and it's intake setup.

 

[Dieselbob]

At work, our small refrigeration units (Kubota powered Carriers) use the same single element air filter as the BX does. (Baldwin #RS3715). Those Carriers run a LOT more hours in dirty conditions than my tractor ever will. The good news is that since I stock the filter, I can get them for $6.80. I put a new one in every year, regardless of hours.

 

[JackJ]

Reviving this thread from a year ago since I'm about to do my annual maintenance, and since member tcrote5516 recently posted a great video on filter and fluid changes where he uses an inner air filter.

Seems to me it boils down to two arguments:

1. While one (outer) air filter, appropriately serviced, should provide all the engine protection that's needed, a second, inner filter is insurance should that outer filter be compromised.

OR

2. On tractors where only one filter is spec'd, the air intake will be relatively restricted if two filters are used. This could lead to overheating, which is more likely to be detrimental to an engine than whatever particles might get past one quality filter.

Is that the gist of it? I don't mind spending the extra money if a second filter does, in fact, baby my baby, and the above video does show some dust that made it past the outer filter and was stopped by the inner. I'm also hopeful I can catch an overheating issue via the temp gauge before any damage is done. Then again, I might not. But when it's dry here, it does get quite dusty.

Any further insights appreciated, as I'm hoping to service everything this coming weekend.

 

[Ramos]

Yep, I think your' assessment is on the money.

For me, running a safety element was a no-brainer. The only risk being a loss of power and/or over heating. I can tell you, after one complete Summer, I had ZERO loss of power and my temp gauge ALWAYS ran with two bars showing on the LCD display. Three bars would be the middle of the temperature range on my BX1870-1. Granted, the gauge may not be the most accurate but, I am running in the lower range. I may not have mowed when it was 100*F. However, it was in the 90's plenty of times.

For me, it came down to this: I can watch the temperature, although it ended up being a non-issue. I cannot, however, see abrasives 'dusting' my expensive engine.

 

[AKguy09]

My BX 1860 came with an inner and an outer filter. They are both available from the dealer as I've replaced the outer one 3 times and the inner one over the last 300 hours or so.

I have a BX 1860 and its only got one filter and its only ever had one filter

 

[Ramos]

Food for thought...

Most SCUT's don't come with fluid filled rear tires, wheel spacers, block heaters, battery tenders, under armor or tooth bars. Why add any of these things when they did not come as standard equipment? Maybe because they are a good idea.

If I never left the nice green lawn, I might feel different. Kubota considers the BX to be a small, but real, tractor. It might just as well have air filtration redundancy, just like the rest of the 'real' tractors.

 

[mattwithcats]

I think we have an ***8220;olive in the salad***8221; situation...

An airline once figured out that if they eliminated the three olives in the in flight meal, they could save $40,000 in a year...

Eliminate a filter, you save $5.00. Multiply by 10,000 tractors, $50,000...

 

[mattwithcats]

I see that gear oil is put into the front axel instead of Super UDT...

Has anyone considered using Mobil 1 Delvac 50 instead?

A little thicker than 75W-90, but Mobil says it replaces GL-4 gear oil...

Mobil Delvac Syn Transmission 50, 1 gal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XD2WVC7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_pU8ZAb55KFRZ3

Another choice may be Delvac 75W-90...
Mobil Delvac Syn Gear 75W90, Gear Oil, 1g 112811 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007WVI5G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_RV8ZAbDNVHET4
This is a GL-5

Difference between GL-4 and GL-5 is that 4 is yellow metal safe...

 

[BadAndy]

Hey all, I found it very hard finding the part number... Here is a link to Messicks video with explanation and links:

Part Number: K7561-82360

 

[whitetiger]

According to Kubota, there is no issue with adding an inner air filter to a BX series tractor. It likes the RH step and grab handle on the L01 series are optional and cost reduction measures.
Even the zero-turn mowers with a Donaldson air filter have an inner filter.
A good percentage of our BX series customers have been running the inner filter for years.

 

[Henro]

According to Kubota, there is no issue with adding an inner air filter to a BX series tractor. It likes the RH step and grab handle on the L01 series are optional and cost reduction measures.
Even the zero-turn mowers with a Donaldson air filter have an inner filter.
A good percentage of our BX series customers have been running the inner filter for years.

I for no reason always thought the inner filter, which is fine mesh on my B2910, was there to catch pieces of the main filter if the main filter started to fall apart. It certainly would not catch dust or fine particles.

So i figured with the BX as long as I keep the filter changed relatively often I should be fine. Not expecting the filter to fall apart...at least not quickly...

 

[imnukensc]

I just started this spring using an inner filter. It gets hot, dry, and dusty here. I never get through one mowing session without having to stop and clean the radiator, screens, and air filter. First mow of the season here I had to stop 4 times!
Bought my filters on ebay. https://www.ebay.com/itm/282408428766