HST Oil Filter Removal, Threaded Tube came out as well

[JustinB60]

I have a B2601 that I just picked up a few weeks ago. Per the advice I received on this forum I decided to go ahead and change engine oil+filter, outer air filter, and the hydraulic/HST filters and oil. Everything was going to plan, engine filter and oil went fine and my only surprise was that the previous owner left the original oil filter seal on the tractor so when I removed it there were two engine oil seals sitting on the filter that I unscrewed... odd. Changing the hydraulic fluid and filters was a bit more challenging. I pulled the only drain plug I could find, the manual I was referencing pointed to two plugs but the second plug was MIA in the spot the photo showed so I pulled the plug I could find and I got about 4 gallons of fluid (when filters were removed too).... so i guess that's the only one on a B2601? When switching hydraulic filter it went fine. When I went to remove the HST filter I noticed the thing was on there SUPER tight. When I unscrewed it everything went fine but when I was trying to thread on the new kubota brand filter (with same part number) it kept sticking as if it was cross threading but... it wasn't. There had to have been a burr in there because when I tried working it past the point of resistance it locked up more than I was comfortable with and when I removed it the whole hollow threaded rod (that connects filter to kubota) came out with it.

So heres the question... when I threaded it back in it seemed to have a "stop" built in. When I threaded it to the stop there was like an inch of threaded section left and it looked like the right amount to be sticking out, sound like I did the right thing? I was able to get the new HST filter on after playing around with it for a while, I think it was just a small booger on the threads that was causing the trouble.

Anyway fluids are changed, glad I did it because now I know they are good to go. Peace of mind goes a long ways.

Any other things you guys suggest I do besides grease the machine? I also plan to replace fuel filter closer to the 200 hour mark, its already sitting in the garage.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Did you try the filter threaded stem both ways?

 

[JustinB60]

Did you try the filter threaded stem both ways?

No I didn’t... I guess I just made the assumption that the person who changed HST filter last time didn’t have it come out in them so I put it back same way as it came out on me this time. I will say the end I threaded back into tractor was just a normal threaded stem but the end that I threaded the filter onto had two little notches on it, which to me seemed to be method for tightening stem into tractor to begin with. I just went hand tight putting stem into tractor. If anyone thinks I might have done something wrong let me know and I’ll call Kubota technical support (AKA local dealer?) Monday.

 

[JustinB60]

Kind of a follow-up additional question is that when I started it yesterday after the engine oil+filter change and HST/hydraulic filters+oil change I had let it sit before starting it. It probably sat for 2 hours since engine oil+filter swapped out and about half hour to an hour after HST/hydraulic fluid+filters changed. When I started it I only let it run for about a minute, at idle, to make sure filters didnt leak and then I shut it off. Today I went out to garage to start it again and let it run longer and when I did I rev'd it to about 1500 RPM and at that time a few small drops of oil sprayed out of exhaust onto floor in a small mist that just happened for a few seconds. Is this "normal" after oil change? Was I supposed to let it sit longer before starting that first time?

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Very unlikely that it's oil, it's probably condensation or diesel or a mix of both.

If it is oil, you have an issue far beyond an oil change.

 

[JustinB60]

Very unlikely that it's oil, it's probably condensation or diesel or a mix of both.

If it is oil, you have an issue far beyond an oil change.

Good point Wolfman... I think you are right on with that. I had oil on the brain because of the maintenance I did the day before but now that you mentioned oil or fuel being the culprit it makes sense. There is a lot of carbon/particulate that comes out of that exhaust so it was probably just some of that water/fuel soaked with carbon.

 

[JustinB60]

Just in case anyone comes back later to reference this thread.... dealer said it was correct to tighten the threaded piece back into the tractor with the portion with the slot on it facing outward where HST filter screwed on. He also said it’s correct to tighten threaded portion into tractor tight to where it will “bottom out” on some sort of backing on the internals of the tractor.