Do your own Fluids and Filters on a BX

[Kayakin2]

JSter804, I read the post many times and had rubber stoppers ready (#5 is best) and still lost a lot, but not all, the fluid. Do not feel bad!
Doing the 50 hour service ourselves is worth the effort given what you learn. With 65 hours now on my BX25 I am considering having the dealer do my 100 hour service. Now you can spend 50 more hours with only BH & FEL greasing to add to the daily checks.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

JSter804, I read the post many times and had rubber stoppers ready (#5 is best) and still lost a lot, but not all, the fluid. Do not feel bad!
Doing the 50 hour service ourselves is worth the effort given what you learn. With 65 hours now on my BX25 I am considering having the dealer do my 100 hour service. Now you can spend 50 more hours with only BH & FEL greasing to add to the daily checks.

Why would you have dealer do 100 hour service? Have you priced it with dealer?

 

[Kayakin2]

Good point JT! Will talk to dealer. What service point should I consider having the Dealer perform? Hope all is dry there! Stay safe!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Good point JT! Will talk to dealer. What service point should I consider having the Dealer perform? Hope all is dry there! Stay safe!

Don't see a need for dealer involvement other than when something tears up that you can't fix. Your owners manual just lists what's needed at what hours and if there is anything listed that you don't feel comfortable doing, then consider dealer intervention.

 

[Kayakin2]

JT, I reviewed the Service Table and you are correct! Kubota gives guidance on most service items and suggests going to dealer for a few. Most appear easy to do! Do you keep a log of all service? Date, meter hour, action?
Would you suggest I make a log? Anyone have a site where a log format is shown? Thanks JT!

 

[bp fick]

Well, keeping a log or journal is pretty easy and they sell little log books or journal books. Hardboard cover, lots of columns on the inside. The number of entries though are in the 1000's. You aren't likely to "log" in more than a half dozen entries of services done in 4-5 years. There is a difference between simple maintenance and a complicated repair.

I do keep the receipts for the products (oil, filters, sudt, etc) purchased for servicing. I just stick them in my big plastic folder with the manuals and sales documents.

The only way my tractor would go back to a dealer would be for a catastrophic failure of some kind, for warranty. Farmers, with lots of tractors, aren't shuttling them back and forth from the dealers and neither are the lawn guys or commercial construction guys with their fleets. They do their own maintenance. Dealer costs for back room service is very, very expensive.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

JT, I reviewed the Service Table and you are correct! Kubota gives guidance on most service items and suggests going to dealer for a few. Most appear easy to do! Do you keep a log of all service? Date, meter hour, action?
Would you suggest I make a log? Anyone have a site where a log format is shown? Thanks JT!

I write on the cover of the owners manual hours on tractor and what I did and date.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Bump for BX do it your self.

 

[wdchyd]

JT,

Thanx for bumping, makes for more great reading.....

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Bump.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Bump again for those doing or considering doing their own 50 hour service. It's to easy to do yourself to pay someone else to do it.

 

[Kayakin2]

Thanks to JT I am approaching my 150 hour BX25 maintenance and it still has not had to return to the dealer for servicing! :thumbsup:

 

[legbuh]

Thanks for the bumps, or I would never have seen this...

I do have a question on the screen though.. it seems when you take it out fluid comes out. Wouldn't it be a good idea to clean this after draining the hydro fluid and before adding the new in? I plan on replacing the fluid at my 50 hour interval. So I would imagine you drain hydro fluid, replace filter, clean screen, add new fluid. I could me missing something here.

Sorry if that was stated, but I read a couple where it seemed like the fluid coming out when cleaning the screen wasn't expected.

 

[bp fick]

Thanks for the bumps, or I would never have seen this...

I do have a question on the screen though.. it seems when you take it out fluid comes out. Wouldn't it be a good idea to clean this after draining the hydro fluid and before adding the new in? I plan on replacing the fluid at my 50 hour interval. So I would imagine you drain hydro fluid, replace filter, clean screen, add new fluid. I could me missing something here.

Sorry if that was stated, but I read a couple where it seemed like the fluid coming out when cleaning the screen wasn't expected.

You should have a 1" tapered rubber plug (hardware store) or a tapered 1" wine bottle cork handy. If you are quick, you will only lose an ounce. With the plug in there, you can slowly and carefully go about your business.

Replacing all that expensive SUDT is not necessary, as per current Kubota schedule. Want to do it at 150 hours/2 years? No one would probably blame you.

 

[bp fick]

Did a thread last year on this:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-hydrostatic-transmission-screen-anytime.html

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Do it whenever you want. Maybe even at 25 hours to be safe or do it when the Kubota Company recommends. Copy of their email to me concerning when to change it.

John, the person or persons from TBN do not know what they are talking
about. There has not been a Service Bulletin or even a notice sent to the
dealers that this is a mistake in the Operators manual. Kubota Tractor
recommends for you to follow your Operators manuals for servicing of each
unit you have. The BX2660 and the BX25 do not have to have the transmission
fluid change until it reaches the 400 hour mark. For the F2680, it is the
200 hour mark. The transmission oil filters need to be replaced and the
suction strainers cleaned at or before the 50 hour mark for all three
units. Your selling dealer can also assist you if you have any questions in
regard to servicing your tractors. Thank you for purchasing and contacting
Kubota Tractor Corp..

 

[legbuh]

Ah, that clears things up great! I'll put a "plug" on the shopping list.. Where the best place to get a 1" rubber plug? Any hardware store?

 

[Kayakin2]

Most hardware stores have rubber stoppers in drawers with dividers like nuts and bolts. I found a #5 worked best in my BX25. Good Luck! :thumbsup:

 

[Kayakin2]

150 hour service complete on my BX25! :thumbsup:
Safety checks, grease & tire nut checks and success was mine!

 

[Deano]

Ah, that clears things up great! I'll put a "plug" on the shopping list.. Where the best place to get a 1" rubber plug? Any hardware store?

Don't get the rubber plug. The EASIEST and CLEANEST way to do this is:

Have an assistant (****** clad female preferred) and have them hold a shop vac on the opening that the dipstick goes in. While the vacuum is on and over the hole, remove the screen. NO oil loss at all!! No fussing...no slipping with the cork. No hassle...:thumbsup:

Deano