Dealer quoted me ballpark $3K for complete top link, side link, 3 rear remotes (one float and two center return). That was the price quoted when I bought the tractor and again a year later when I asked about it again. That included cylinders, labor, take it in one day and pick up the next day ready to work. Completely turn key job. Most of it is parts. Kubota valves with controls in the factory slots.
In hindsight I would have had the remotes added when I bought it but I failed to recognize how much time I would spend getting off the tractor and adjusting the 3 point for boxblading and back blading and also failed to recognize how much of that I’d actually be doing routinely.
When I got serious they sourced the parts and it went up to $3100 due to shipping on the cylinders which aren’t Kubota. Leaving off the third remote would have knocked off about $500. You could probably save some $ going with A/M or using the loader valve with diverters or something creative (seems like many here have done some pretty creative stuff).
Dealer did warn me that due to the way the relief valves work, the cylinders will tend to move when the tractor is shut down so they have to be readjusted every time you start it up after a shut down of any significant duration. For the various A/M solutions, I don’t know if they hold when the engine isn’t running or not.
I’m aware your machine and mine aren’t identical. Also, I opted for three rear remotes even though I don’t have a specific use for the third because my tractor is set up to support three and the only added cost for the third is parts since they already have it apart to the degree necessary when they’re putting on two. Adding the third later myself wouldn’t be hard but it wouldn’t be nothing either.
Yes, I could save some by either going A/M or buying the parts and doing it myself but my expertise in hydraulics is limited and if they do it, I know it’s right, which is worth something to me. I’m also not retired so my time is worth more than it would be if I wasn’t working 50 to 60 hours on a normal week.
So, yeah $3K out the door for a turn key job at the dealer using Kubota parts where applicable including cylinders probably isn’t stupid.
On the other hand, my brother just added three remotes, top link and side link to a JD similar in size to mine. Dealer labor was $2K on top of $3K in parts so he bought a $350 tire handler cage to deal with the rear wheel (around 600lb same as mine) R/I and did it himself.
I may be stupid or lazy or both but I’m having the dealer do the turn key thing if the parts ever come in. Some stuff they had in stock but not all of it. Doing it myself would have required sourcing all the parts myself and conducting adequate research to get the right cylinders and hoses (time), 3 hour round trip to borrow the wheel handler and another 3 hours to return it (time), and probably half a day or better to install assuming I got all the right parts the first time (more time). If you have the time and something to handle the rear wheel R/I (if necessary on yours) maybe it’s worth doing yourself.
If you don’t mind choosing between using the loader v using the top/tilt maybe you save a lot by just using diverters off the loader valve and some long hoses. Already have a Farmall with A/M 3 point set up that way and it’s just not something I care to repeat on the Kubota for my chores.
You have some options but if dealer install is your choice the price isn’t anything special but also not crazy in my admittedly limited experience.
