B2601 HSD annual maintenance

zargnut

New member

Equipment
B2601
Mar 19, 2018
16
2
3
Baltimore, MD
Hi,
I have a 2017 B2601. Use it for property maintenance and light forklift work for shop. Total hours only 250.
I have been changing engine oil annually regardless of engine hours. But have been delaying hydraulic oil and transmission oil/filter to every few years.
Is there any guideline for frequency of oil and filter changes for low use/hours tractors? I want to protect tractor, but don’t want to waste my time or money changing oil that has 10 hrs use on it.
Any advice on what is a must for annual and other frequencies for stuff?
 

JimmyJazz

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601
Aug 8, 2020
1,268
804
113
Pittsburgh, Pa
Hi,
I have a 2017 B2601. Use it for property maintenance and light forklift work for shop. Total hours only 250.
I have been changing engine oil annually regardless of engine hours. But have been delaying hydraulic oil and transmission oil/filter to every few years.
Is there any guideline for frequency of oil and filter changes for low use/hours tractors? I want to protect tractor, but don’t want to waste my time or money changing oil that has 10 hrs use on it.
Any advice on what is a must for annual and other frequencies for stuff?
Service intervals are addressed in the manual that came with the tractor. You can probably download it for free somewhere. Many on this site seem obsessed with maintenance. I have 190 hours on my B2601 and have change the engine oil once and the hydro oil once. I am due to change both at 200 hours.
 
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RCW

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
10,171
7,053
113
Chenango County, NY
Try www.kubotabooks.com for an Operator’s Manual and also a Workshop Manual (WSM).

I think service interval for hydraulic fluid is 400 hours ( maybe after a change at 200?).
 
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McMXi

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
***Current*** M6060HDC, MX6000HSTC & GL7000 ***Sold*** MX6000HST & BX25DLB
Feb 9, 2021
6,882
9,373
113
Montana
Hi,
I have a 2017 B2601. Use it for property maintenance and light forklift work for shop. Total hours only 250.
I have been changing engine oil annually regardless of engine hours. But have been delaying hydraulic oil and transmission oil/filter to every few years.
Is there any guideline for frequency of oil and filter changes for low use/hours tractors? I want to protect tractor, but don’t want to waste my time or money changing oil that has 10 hrs use on it.
Any advice on what is a must for annual and other frequencies for stuff?
I think the single most important thing to change on a schedule regardless of hours actually used is the engine coolant and I suspect that the cooling system is the single most overlooked maintenance item in most vehicles. The reason is that coolant stagnation is the leading cause of corrosion, leaks and other failures in a cooling system. The local pH of coolant can change drastically when it just sits for extended periods. Aluminum is amphoteric i.e. it corrodes in both acidic and alkaline environments.

As for engine oil, hydraulic oil and their respective filters, I would say that it depends on how the tractor is used while it's running. Hours can be low due to frequent use for short durations, or they could be low due to intermittent use for longer durations or anywhere in between. The latter is the better situation, and the former would possibly benefit from more frequent oil changes.

Ultimately it comes down to time, cost and motivation. If you enjoy maintaining your tractor, and you can afford the oil/filters, and you have the time, then perform service more often. Much of what we do is about peace of mind rather than actual data to support our beliefs. I use 100% synthetic oil in all five diesel engines and my Jeep with a gas engine, and I've done this for many decades. Is it worth the difference in cost? It is to me, and that's all that matters.
 
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zargnut

New member

Equipment
B2601
Mar 19, 2018
16
2
3
Baltimore, MD
I think the single most important thing to change on a schedule regardless of hours actually used is the engine coolant and I suspect that the cooling system is the single most overlooked maintenance item in most vehicles. The reason is that coolant stagnation is the leading cause of corrosion, leaks and other failures in a cooling system. The local pH of coolant can change drastically when it just sits for extended periods. Aluminum is amphoteric i.e. it corrodes in both acidic and alkaline environments.

As for engine oil, hydraulic oil and their respective filters, I would say that it depends on how the tractor is used while it's running. Hours can be low due to frequent use for short durations, or they could be low due to intermittent use for longer durations or anywhere in between. The latter is the better situation, and the former would possibly benefit from more frequent oil changes.

Ultimately it comes down to time, cost and motivation. If you enjoy maintaining your tractor, and you can afford the oil/filters, and you have the time, then perform service more often. Much of what we do is about peace of mind rather than actual data to support our beliefs. I use 100% synthetic oil in all five diesel engines and my Jeep with a gas engine, and I've done this for many decades. Is it worth the difference in cost? It is to me, and that's all that matters.
Thank you.. This is good to know.. I have only changed my coolant once since purchasing the machine in 2017. Will add that to the rotation. Will probably continue to change oil yearly, and seems like I end up doing the hydraulic fluid every 3-4 years - all under required hours.

thanks for help
 
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