Maintenance every 50 hours?

[tsafa]

My dealer said that my Kabota L3800 with FEL needs to go in for maintenance every 50 hours.

He said the first one will cost $300 and subsequent ones will cost $150.

Does all this sound about right to you guys? I just want to make sure he is not taking me for a long ride for what is a short trip.

Thanks

 

[SteveF]

Check your manual. The 50 hr sounds about right given what I have seen others post. But, the every 50 hour service and cost seems a bit too frequent and expensive. If you are at all handy you can take care of the interval stuff and have the dealer do 200 hrs and 400 hrs, etc.

 

[Bluegill]

Maintenance schedule is in your manual, look it over real good.

 

[SteveF]

I forgot to mention that you should lube the FEL at 10 hrs of use. I got an air operated grease gun - it's fun putting the grease to the FEL and BH.

 

[tsafa]

I forgot to mention that you should lube the FEL at 10 hrs of use. I got an air operated grease gun - it's fun putting the grease to the FEL and BH.

Can you give me some more info on the grease gun. Any particular type of grease? Is this something I can get at Tractor Supply?

I found this one:
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...ci_sku=40372&gclid=CPjD_by94LoCFbN9OgodE2kAfA

I am already up to 25 hrs without greasing it. So I better start greasing.

 

[SteveF]

You don't need an air operated grease gun but it does make the task easier and more efficient. The unit I bought was a Lincoln model 1162 for about $75. There are less expensive models but you may want to consider a continuous pressure type. You can also use a manual gun but if you have a tight joint it may not be adequately greased. Just my opinion.

 

[tsafa]

You don't need an air operated grease gun but it does make the task easier and more efficient. The unit I bought was a Lincoln model 1162 for about $75. There are less expensive models but you may want to consider a continuous pressure type. You can also use a manual gun but if you have a tight joint it may not be adequately greased. Just my opinion.

I was envisioning that I would have to skirt it just once or twice. How much grease does it take?

 

[Gso125]

I have greased it twice now the first time I used my air powered gun and it worked great. It's a cheap air one from a auto parts store. The second time I went to grease and the grease would not go into the zert fittings it was coming out the end of the grease gun fitting getting all over the place but not in. I used my old hand pump gun and got some in but it was tuff no way like the first greasing. I think its the grease but bought a case of it from tractor supply

http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/sto...lithium-complex-nlgi-2-grease-14-oz-cartridge

 

[tsafa]

There are only 2 squirt points on the LA524, right? How many squirts with the handgun? Do I have to worry about putting too much in there?

Does anybody have a grease brand to recommend or a thickness?

Thanks for you feedback GSO.

 

[Bulldog]

I was envisioning that I would have to skirt it just once or twice. How much grease does it take?

The higher quality grease you use the less of it you will need. If you buy the cheapest grease that can be found plan the grease about every time you use the tractor. And look at it like this, if you hear a pin squeek from lack of grease the damage is already been done. If it squeeks it's wearing.
Spending a few extra dollars on quality grease now will save you thousands down the road.

 

[tsafa]

Ok... you sold me on expensive grease. Is there a particular one that you recommend?

 

[SteveF]

I use Kubota grease, yeah I know it is more expensive than an OEM equivalent but it's worth it to me to. I probably use about one third tube to do both FEL and backhoe so you would probably use less than a quarter tube per greasing. No, you can't overfill but you sure can push a bunch of waste out of the joint. Rule of thumb is to apply grease until you see it coming out of the joint at some location. You may have to work a given joint sideways if it seems to not be coming out both sides of a joint after a greasing or two.

 

[Benhameen]

I believe the manual says to change both transmission filters and to change the engine oil and filter at 50hrs. It's been debated whether or not to change the trans fluid too at 50hrs, I just did the filters and feel fine about it. I would have to refer to my manual for the next service, I want to say its either at 200 or 300 hrs.

I grease my FEL around every 10 hrs or when I think they need it. Your FEL has 12 grease points, 6 on each side. I also crawl under my tractor and grease any other grease fittings I find, check your manual. Also, I use hand pump grease gun and fill it until i see grease come out, it's a hell a four arm workout.

It's all in your manual...

 

[TripleR]

Really no reason to have your dealer do the service on these machines. We do all ours on our BX's, 5740 and M8540. A few tools and a simple grease gun will be sufficient. I don't like the weight of an electric grease gun or fooling with a hose on an air gun, so we use manual ones. We may eventually go to them, but haven't yet.

 

[Bluegill]

There are only 2 squirt points on the LA524, right? How many squirts with the handgun? Do I have to worry about putting too much in there?

Does anybody have a grease brand to recommend or a thickness?

Thanks for you feedback GSO.

Like said, there are more than two grease points.

You do have a manual for the tractor and the FEL, right?

 

[Bulldog]

Ok... you sold me on expensive grease. Is there a particular one that you recommend?

I'm not trying to start a brand war but since you asked a specific question I'm happy to give you a specific brand. http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...meric-off-road-grease-nlgi-2/?code=GPOR2CR-EA
This is what I use and it works extremely well. I use my L3000 about every day for something. It may run 1 hr a day, it may run 16 hrs a day and I don't grease it but maybe 4 or 5 times a year. This grease stays where you put it and does it's job well.

It has everything you need in a quality grease:

It's synthetic, not clay base
It has 5% moly which exceeds even Cat requirements
It resists water wash out very well
It has a wide temp working range, -10F - 130F

I could go on and on but I won't. Read about it for yourself and compair it to other brands on the market. I have used Amsoil grease for years and it has never let me down a single time.

 

[gpreuss]

I'm not trying to start a brand war but since you asked a specific question I'm happy to give you a specific brand. http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...meric-off-road-grease-nlgi-2/?code=GPOR2CR-EA
This is what I use and it works extremely well. I use my L3000 about every day for something. It may run 1 hr a day, it may run 16 hrs a day and I don't grease it but maybe 4 or 5 times a year. This grease stays where you put it and does it's job well.

It has everything you need in a quality grease:

It's synthetic, not clay base
It has 5% moly which exceeds even Cat requirements
It resists water wash out very well
It has a wide temp working range, -10F - 130F

I could go on and on but I won't. Read about it for yourself and compair it to other brands on the market. I have used Amsoil grease for years and it has never let me down a single time.

And if you squirt it in your eye your vision improves by 37%...

 

[zman8537]

+1 i agree, amsoil is good stuff!

 

[Bulldog]

And if you squirt it in your eye your vision improves by 37%...

I'll take your word for it.

 

[Bluegill]

Front axle pivot point is VERY important!

Grease fittings front and back of the front axle.