First 50 hr service

[jgator]

I am about to do my first 50 hr service, I have decided to do it myself to save about $400.00 Acording to the owners manual it is not necessary to change the hydraulic fluid, only the filters. My dealer said they needed to change the hydraulic fluid on the first 50 hrs. Anyone here doing it yourself? Any suggestions for a newbe.

 

[Breeze]

There's nothing to it! All the information you need is in the operator's manual.

You didn't say which model tractor you have but on some the oil pan is split and have two drain plugs.

Kubota used to specify hydraulic fluid change at 50 hours, now it's 400. Some do and some don't at 50 hours, I did.

If you do only filters, a tip I read is to put the suction hose of a shop vac in the fill port before removing filters and you will lose very little fluid. Expect to find shavings on the magnetic ring on one of the filters.

Don't neglect to grease, check the clutch pedal travel and check torque on the wheel bolts. I'd also check torque on the loader frame to make sure the attachment bolts are properly tightened.

If you have 4WD, check the fluid level in the front axle housing as sometimes the dealer prep leaves this low. Don't forget the fore and aft grease fittings on the axle housing mount either.

Enjoy!

 

[jgator]

Thanks for the help Breeze, I have the 2012 Kubota L3800 HST 4WD with FEL,
I think I decided after reading several post to go ahead and change the hydraulic oil also and go back with the SUDT2 that it came with. I saw a youtube video on the subject and it showed how to change the engine oil, hydraulic oil and front axle oil, this was a very informative video.

 

[Paulemar]

I've got my first 50 hour coming up on my BX25. I already have everything I'm going to need, but still worry about losing HST fluid when I change the filter and clean the screen. I'll probably use a rubber plug for the screen filter opening while I clean the screen and maybe just catch the fluid from removing the filter in a new aluminum turkey pan or something. I have one of those old fine mesh coffee filters that I'll use to remove anything in the fluid. If I don't lose to much, I'll replace with new, but I only bought a gallon of the SUDT2. We'll see what happens when the time comes.

 

[Stubbyie]

Using a shop vac fitted to the hyd fluid fill port is a new one to me. Caution if you catch a slug of liquid you'll have a dead vac and perhaps a fire; if not a fire then a huge cloud of oily mist hanging in the air. I'd be more inclined to use an air compressor blow-gun with suction pickup and still be watchful for producing a highly flammable oily mist cloud. I think any vac source picking up liquid from the fill port is low probability but with my luck...

On both my Oranges they forgot to put a check on the hyd filter fitting. When filter is removed dumps the entire system. Just be aware. Especially true on hydrostats. I wash everything around the filter on the machine very well beforehand and create a funnel-tube using aluminum foil into a clean 5-gal bucket. Have everything ready and move fast. The fluid caught in the bucket can be reused if filtered very carefully. Plan on losing at least a quart in all and have spare fluid on hand. Helpful spouse or attentive teenager is useful as you're likely to run out of hands during all the juggling.

Both ours are couple years old and call for first change at 50-hrs. Based on the amount of metal shavings found at our first change doing so sure seems like a good idea and cheap insurance.

/s/Stubb

 

[Breeze]

I think any vac source picking up liquid from the fill port is low probability but with my luck...

I hear you!

I never tried it, just read that it worked. With a wet vac it would simply collect in the drum and the flash point on hydraulic fluid is pretty high. I think if you placed the hose at, not in the fill port it would only create negative pressure above the fluid and slow down the gusher at the other end.

My fluid was replaced at 50 hours and the 400 hour change gets both filters and fluid so someone else will have to try the vac method, if you dare!

 

[Bulldog]

My opinion, the 50hr service is the most important one of the tractors life. All the fluid and filters should be changed. Look at it like this, everything is brand new and all the gears are meshing together. The fluid you drain at the 50 will be the nastiest looking stuff that you will ever drain. The only way it will be any worse is if it doesn't get serviced at all.

Everybody looks at things their own way but to me it's cheaper to service a machine than it is to repair or replace it.

 

[Breeze]

BullDog: thumbs up

 

[Bluegill]

I did the 50 hr on my L3800 recently and only lost around 1.5 qt of trans oil. It was crystal clear, clean and a very little fine metal on the magnetic ring.

Like said; Grease everything, especially the front axle supports, front and back...

 

[Kubota_Man]

I've said this on another thread.....When I bought mine I was told to have a dealer do the 50 hr service. This protects you because it is required and having it done at a dealer there is a paper trail that it has been done. With there being a paper trail there is proof that it was done in case something breaks before the warranty period is up. I had a few hydro issues pop up that was covered with a smile because I had all of my ducks in a row.

You have spent quite a bit of your hard earned money on your tractor, $400 for peace of mind is in my book worth it.

 

[TripleR]

I have discussed the 50 hour service with my dealer and they said there was no problem with me doing it as far as warranty. I keep receipts for all supplies as do they, so we do our own. Our dealer has been in business for over fifty years, so I believe it is safe to trust them. I would discuss with your dealer.

I won't comment on fluid change at 50 hours.

 

[Bluegill]

I have discussed the 50 hour service with my dealer and they said there was no problem with me doing it as far as warranty. I keep receipts for all supplies as do they, so we do our own. Our dealer has been in business for over fifty years, so I believe it is safe to trust them. I would discuss with your dealer.

I won't comment on fluid change at 50 hours.

I agree and around here most folks do their own service.

I'll comment on the fluid change at 50 hours. I don't think it's necessary!

 

[eserv]

I agree and around here most folks do their own service.

I'll comment on the fluid change at 50 hours. I don't think it's necessary!

You won't go wrong by doing what Kubota recommends. your dealer may like changing oil, obvious profit in it for them! Lookks like a moneygrab to me though!
Ed

 

[Bluegill]

You won't go wrong by doing what Kubota recommends. your dealer may like changing oil, obvious profit in it for them! Lookks like a moneygrab to me though!
Ed

That's right. My manual say filter at 50 hrs and fluid/filter at 400. Mine is gear drive though and I have no idea what is recommended for HST?

 

[gpreuss]

I've read through this thread, and let it sway me a bit on the service. I'm having the dealer do the service - I want to toss him some business every now and then - I'd be in a bind if he went under and I needed a part or something. I also want the paper trail the first time around. And I'll get to learn if there are any hard to find or easy to miss items.
I'm also going to change all the fluids. I've put some old hydraulic attachments on it, and don't want to run the risk of circulating dirty oil for too long. I've also ground a lot of transmission. The old 185 could drive like a stick shift car - clutch in, jam a gear on the fly, clutch out and go. This 3200 seems to really want the full stop to shift...
Anyway, I think it is worth the $$ to have the dealer look it over, and get the first service right. I can get the rest down the road.

 

[Bulldog]

If you want it to act like it does right now (especially during cold weather) make the dealer install SUDT fluid. That is what all new Kubotas come factory filled with.

 

[Saxman]

My opinion, the 50hr service is the most important one of the tractors life. All the fluid and filters should be changed. Look at it like this, everything is brand new and all the gears are meshing together. The fluid you drain at the 50 will be the nastiest looking stuff that you will ever drain. The only way it will be any worse is if it doesn't get serviced at all.

Everybody looks at things their own way but to me it's cheaper to service a machine than it is to repair or replace it.

I agree, I changed all fluids and filters on both my L3830 and ZD21 when their 50 hour service came up. As far as warranty concerns go, I create a service log and document all service or repair work on my equipment for the life of it along with receipts for all parts and fluids. I recently traded my 9 year old ZD21 for a new ZD326, when I gave the dealer my service log when we were negotiating and I mentioned he should give this to whoever purchased my old mower, it made the process go better for me and I think I got a better deal because of the documentation.

Steve

 

[mpmitch1]

I just called three kubota stores inquiring about the cost of the 50hr service for my 3240. Two of the stores are owned by the same dealership, one quoted "about $600-700!!"! for the service, the other store (same dealer different location) said "about $400". The third store 2hrs north quoted "about $250". slightly disturbing to say the least

 

[TripleR]

I just called three kubota stores inquiring about the cost of the 50hr service for my 3240. Two of the stores are owned by the same dealership, one quoted "about $600-700!!"! for the service, the other store (same dealer different location) said "about $400". The third store 2hrs north quoted "about $250". slightly disturbing to say the least

But did they all include a full fluid dump at 50; may account for quite a bit of the difference.

For those inclined, here is a good link:http://www.messicks.com/blog/post/Kubota-L-40-Series-Service.aspx

 

[Bluegill]

I just called three kubota stores inquiring about the cost of the 50hr service for my 3240. Two of the stores are owned by the same dealership, one quoted "about $600-700!!"! for the service, the other store (same dealer different location) said "about $400". The third store 2hrs north quoted "about $250". slightly disturbing to say the least

I did mine for $160 and got an extra 2 gallons of SUDT.

The high $600-700 is way out of line. The $400 is about average with fluid change. The $250 is about right with no trans fluid change.