UDT - Time to change the liquid gold...

[lloydd]

Hello,

I have a 1985 B8200DT gear tractor with 900 hours on it. It is 4WD and has power steering and sits on turf tires. I have the service and owner's manuals and have read most of both by now.

I'm working my way through changing out all the fluids in this, since I can't be sure when they were last done.

Now it's time for the tranmission. I know not to use just anything in this gear tractor (not HST). So I stopped by one of our local Kubota dealerships and asked for a 5 gallon pail of UDT.

I should have been suspicious when the parts guy asked if I wanted to pay in full or set up easy monthly payments. WOW...$122 out the door/out of my wallet.

Anyway, I decided doing this maintenance was more important than my kids eating this month, so went ahead and bought it. Probably won't do this again in my lifetime though.

So since this is likely to be a rare occasion, what other things should I do while I have the system opened up and drained? I know about cleaning the strainer - are the O-rings anything special if I have to replace these? Do I need to fiddle with the power steering?

Thanks,
Hungry Doug

 

[SidecarFlip]

That isn't liquid gold. I use Chevron THC synthetic and it's about 10 bucks more a pail and I use 15 gallons a change x 2 tractors.

Yours is a cheap date.

 

[GeoHorn]

If you paid $122 for a 5-gal pail... they are overcharging. My dealer sold me THREE....5-gal pails of UDT @ $70/each.

I returned them for TWO 5-gal pails of SUDT2 and got $20 credit/returned to me. This is a genuine Kubota dealership (Ewald in Marble Falls, TX).

Are you actually speaking of UDT and not SUPER UDT(2)? $122 for a pail of SUPER would make more sense.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Interestingly, Kubota dealers can charge what they want to on lubricants and paint. Case in point, I needed a spray can of ROPS grey and my dealer was out (on order) so I went to another dealer south of me that I don't do tractor business with. My dealer was $9 bucks for the paint, the other dealer was 12 bucks, same thing.

 

[DeepWoods]

I just paid $112.38 tax included, for a five gallon pail of SUDT2 from my dealer in Duluth MN. I decided to change the fluid at 200 hours instead of the 400 as indicated in the owners manual. I have only a couple hours to go before hitting 200, and wanted it on hand when the time came.

 

[Henro]

Since the OP's $122 included sales tax, that would put the actual sale price at around the same as DeepWoods paid (But still more, I see his price also included sales tax), if it is actually SUDT and not UDT.

So which one was it, lloydd?

If it was indeed UDT, perhaps the sales guy made a mistake and charged you for the wrong product... Then time to get a refund.

I still have a 5 gallon pail of SUDT that I bought a couple years ago. Pretty sure at that time my price was closer to what GeoHorn paid.

 

[GeoHorn]

Interestingly, Kubota dealers can charge what they want to on lubricants and paint. Case in point, I needed a spray can of ROPS grey and my dealer was out (on order) so I went to another dealer south of me that I don't do tractor business with. My dealer was $9 bucks for the paint, the other dealer was 12 bucks, same thing.

Of COURSE.... or perhaps more accurately....they CAN ATTEMPT TO CHARGE whatever they want... The CUSTOMER determines if it will sell at that price.

Here’s Rustoleum’s version ($7) https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-2...nt+gray+grey+ROPS&qid=1591542138&sr=8-2-fkmr0

 

[SidecarFlip]

Glad you posted that George, I'll have to look and see if TSC has it next time I go. Just like buying a tractor new, there is (I'm sure) a suggested retail price on everything pertaining to Kubota tractors and parts but, the dealer sets the price depending on what the market will bear.

I do the same thing on my .com site., but it my case a couple items I offer are unique to Flipmeisters and I have a patent on 2 so no one else offers them. Not to say some Chinese outfit couldn't cut my water but, hasn't happened yet. Been 10 years so far.

 

[lloydd]

Hello again,
No, I got regular UDT - the right stuff all right. Price still seems pretty stiff for lubricant. Guess that's just the going rate at this dealership.

Back to the original question I posted....what else should I be doing while I have this gear transmission drained? Do I need to do anything special to the power steering setup to get it to drain? I already know about cleaning the filter screens.

thanks,
Doug

 

[Henro]

Got curious...

Messick's lists a 5 gallon pail of SUPER UDT at $103.12

Kubota #70000-40205 5GAL SUPER UDT2

Kubota® Super UDT2 is a multi-purpose all-weather hydraulic fluid. This product is specifically recommended for use in the Kubota hydraulic, final drive, transmission, differential, and wet brake systems. Kubota® Super UDT2 provides the following benefits to Kubota equipment: Improved...

www.messicks.com

They list the 2.5 gallon size at $45.76, which would be $91.52 for five gallons. With sales tax that would be around $98. A 5 gallon bucket (not listed) would be a little cheaper.

Kubota #70000-20002 2.5gal Standard UDT

So your dealer charged you about $25 more for the UDT than Messick's charges. Not the end of the world, but it would not sit well with me, and I would go elsewhere for parts/supplies in the future, if possible, if it were me.

When you say you got the "Right stuff alright" do you mean your receipt shows they charged you for UDT and not SUDT. Messick's price plus sales tax for SUDT would be closer to what you paid, but still about $10 cheaper.

Edit: On my two tractors, aside from cleaning the screen and replacing the filters I do not recall needing to do anything else. Someone with knowledge of your specific model may add something.

 

[lloydd]

Oh, for the love of Pete...see attached...

 

[lloydd]

I need advice, not condolences. Most forums members usually serve up more suggestions than can be tried.

I attached the owner's manual pages, since the shop manual does not have much for maintenance. Pretty straightforward. I know about the screen cleaning. Anything *else* I should do or check out while I have this gear tractor transmission drained? Do I need to do anything special to drain the power steering system? Anything to look for in the old fluid, like chips or filings?
thanks,
Doug

 

[GeoHorn]

My advice is to call them and have them refund the extra-ordinarily-HIGH price they charge for UDT versus SUDT2. They owe you about $75.

 

[Hayroller]

Hello,

I have a 1985 B8200DT gear tractor with 900 hours on it. It is 4WD and has power steering and sits on turf tires. I have the service and owner's manuals and have read most of both by now.

I'm working my way through changing out all the fluids in this, since I can't be sure when they were last done.

Now it's time for the tranmission. I know not to use just anything in this gear tractor (not HST). So I stopped by one of our local Kubota dealerships and asked for a 5 gallon pail of UDT.

I should have been suspicious when the parts guy asked if I wanted to pay in full or set up easy monthly payments. WOW...$122 out the door/out of my wallet.

Anyway, I decided doing this maintenance was more important than my kids eating this month, so went ahead and bought it. Probably won't do this again in my lifetime though.

So since this is likely to be a rare occasion, what other things should I do while I have the system opened up and drained? I know about cleaning the strainer - are the O-rings anything special if I have to replace these? Do I need to fiddle with the power steering?

Thanks,
Hungry Doug

 

[Hayroller]

I just changed the fluid and filter on a M135GX...all i did was pull the plug..cleaned the magnets that are part of the plug and the filter has a magnet that comes with the new filter..i bought the 100.00 filter at Kubota but went with O'Reillys Premium Hyd Transmission Fluid since the tractor is out of warranty..i read that Kubota will analyze the fluid and deny warranty work if other fluid than theirs is used..just a hunch but I imagine its the same fluid in their respective buckets...Kubota must have a additive they check for..O'Reilly has Kubota listed as fine to use thier fluid where udt is specified

Hello,

I have a 1985 B8200DT gear tractor with 900 hours on it. It is 4WD and has power steering and sits on turf tires. I have the service and owner's manuals and have read most of both by now.

I'm working my way through changing out all the fluids in this, since I can't be sure when they were last done.

Now it's time for the tranmission. I know not to use just anything in this gear tractor (not HST). So I stopped by one of our local Kubota dealerships and asked for a 5 gallon pail of UDT.

I should have been suspicious when the parts guy asked if I wanted to pay in full or set up easy monthly payments. WOW...$122 out the door/out of my wallet.

Anyway, I decided doing this maintenance was more important than my kids eating this month, so went ahead and bought it. Probably won't do this again in my lifetime though.

So since this is likely to be a rare occasion, what other things should I do while I have the system opened up and drained? I know about cleaning the strainer - are the O-rings anything special if I have to replace these? Do I need to fiddle with the power steering?

Thanks,
Hungry Doug

 

[Hayroller]

I just changed the fluid and filter on a M135GX...all i did was pull the plug..cleaned the magnets that are part of the plug and the filter has a magnet that comes with the new filter..i bought the 100.00 filter at Kubota but went with O'Reillys Premium Hyd Transmission Fluid since the tractor is out of warranty..i read that Kubota will analyze the fluid and deny warranty work if other fluid than theirs is used..just a hunch but I imagine its the same fluid in their respective buckets...Kubota must have a additive they check for..O'Reilly has Kubota listed as fine to use thier fluid where udt is specified but doesn't list udt2...i saved about 150 .00 on the fluid..i have a part # for the filter and next change im going to try and cross it over to a WIX filter..im in my 45th yr of baling hay and I've always just drained the old fluid and replaced..never have tried to drain the power steering or other components the hyd fluid services and thats been on a 2840 ..4040..7410 Deere and now the Kubota M135GX.

 

[SidecarFlip]

I need advice, not condolences. Most forums members usually serve up more suggestions than can be tried.

I attached the owner's manual pages, since the shop manual does not have much for maintenance. Pretty straightforward. I know about the screen cleaning. Anything *else* I should do or check out while I have this gear tractor transmission drained? Do I need to do anything special to drain the power steering system? Anything to look for in the old fluid, like chips or filings?
thanks,
Doug
View attachment 44015 View attachment 44016

Sorry Lloyd, sometimes we get sidetracked, just how we roll here on OTT.

The 'power steering' is hydrostatic and operates from the same fluid in your transmission so following your OWNERS MANUAL and removing the drain plugs and renewing the filter (use a genuine Kubota filter) will drain all the systems.

On the front axle, you can use the Kubota fluid or 80-90 gear oil. I run gear oil in my FWA axle because I shock load mine and the 80-90 gear oil provides better shock load characteristics than the UDT (any flavor does).

 

[SidecarFlip]

One thing to keep in mine (concerning the debate over fluid cost is.....Messicks might be cheaper BUT, they will assess shipping, which will be considerable due to the weight. Your local dealer (and I urge you to support them) might be more but factoring in shipping cost, it will be a wash. Keep that in mind. Sometimes, what appears as a silk purse, is in reality, a sow's ear.

Far as tax goes, I don't pay any on equipment related expenses, I have an agricultural tax exemption....

 

[SidecarFlip]

Additionally, if the tractor is a hydrostat (HST), I would not substitute just any fluid over Kubota fluid because it's specifically formulated for that transmission. If it's a gear drive then any COMPATIBLE fluid will suffice. Having said that, I would not low ball the fluid anyway. Some of the 'bargain basement' fluids don't contain the proper additives for hydraulics (seals and 'o' rings).

Keep in mind that consumables (fluids, filters, tires and light bulbs) will be the cheapest things you ever replace on your tractor). My philosophy is buy the best and have less worry down the road. Even though my 2 units are getting ancient (2002 ans 2004), I still buy only Kubota Filters and premium fluids. In my case for the interests of standardization for multiple units, I use Shell Rotella 5-40 Synthetic engine oil and Chevron All Weather THC Synthetic in the transmissions. Chevron and Rotella Hydraulic fluids are compatible with and approved by Kubota for use in their tractors. Not sure about the 5-40 Rotella Synthetic motor oil but I go by the API certification on the motor oil and it (Rotella 5-40) meets and exceeds the API certification listed in the owners manuals for both my M's.

No, I ain't starting an oil war either......

 

[SidecarFlip]

I have a philosophy about filters and that is, I always use Kubota filters for 2 reasons. One is, the engineers at Kubota know better than I do what the filtration aspects should be for their tractors an d design their filters to meet or exceed that engineering specification and... Buying Kubota filters from your local Kubota dealer (as well as replacement parts if necessary) supports him and keeps him in business. Genuine Kubota filters might cost a few pennies more but the added benefit is your local dealer makes some income as well.

You can buy 'bargain basement filters' but are they really as good? You don't know and I use my tractors hard,, I run hay, I'm a commercial forage grower and have been for 25 years so I don't want any issues when it's time to run hay (like it is right now).

The old saying applies... 'It don't break sitting in the barn'.

I believe in supporting my local Kubota dealer and I do and you should as well.