New L2501 low trans fluid at 10 hours

old and tired

Well-known member

Equipment
L2800 HST; 2005; R4
What's bad.... is this has been going on forever!!! I bought in 2005 and I was warned about low levels... mine was 1/2 full. I think kubota started just using UDT in the axle, if it was up to me, I would drain what's in there and put gear oil back in.
 

Nicfin36

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 HST, BH77 Backhoe, SSQA Loader ZD1011 Mower
Jun 19, 2019
1,016
466
83
Decatur, AL
Oh, and does yours have the plate behind the brush guard? You can only see one corner of mine in each picture. When the grill guard is installed, many dealers discard those rather than put them back on the tractor. Mine was missing too. I had to get them to order me one. It is important because it protects the tie rod ends. The dealer started to explain to me they are supposed to be removed, but I knew that was not true and I looked at the L2501s they had on the lot and they were on the tractors there. I must've gotten the village idiot to prep my tractor. True or not, the salesman said the person who prepped my tractor was fired. I was told that when I said I want to have words with him. Sorry, I forgot to tell you about the plate.
 

Nicfin36

Well-known member

Equipment
L2501 HST, BH77 Backhoe, SSQA Loader ZD1011 Mower
Jun 19, 2019
1,016
466
83
Decatur, AL
What's bad.... is this has been going on forever!!! I bought in 2005 and I was warned about low levels... mine was 1/2 full. I think kubota started just using UDT in the axle, if it was up to me, I would drain what's in there and put gear oil back in.
Just ridiculous.
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
Just ridiculous.

We can go back even farther. My way previous 5030 HDC was low on front axle lube and that was in 1997. So low in fact that I got a whole 1/2 pint out of it when I pulled the plug at 50 hours (outboards and center section). That 1/2 pint went straight to my dealer and too today it sits on a shelf in his office as a reminder to make sure the front axles are full.... it was UDT by the way and I always replace the Kubota fluid with 80-90 GL5 gear oil.

Never had an issue with it and traded it in 2002 for one of my M9000's. It was full btw..... (y)
 

SidecarFlip

Banned

Equipment
M9000HDCC3, M9000HD, Kubota GS850 Sidekick
Oct 28, 2018
7,197
555
83
USA
In my high shock and road application, gear oil provides a much better shock load capability than hydraulic fluid. The downside for gear oil is when it's really cold it don't flow very well and it gets really cold here so I have to take it easy when plowing snow until things get 'loosened' up.