Kubota 50 hour service change

[Mike Costello]

I was at my local Kubota dealer recently(the one who sold me my tractor) and in talking with the service manager about the 50 hour service, he stated Kubota's new service recommendations call for NOT changing the SUDT fluid completely out, but rather just the filter only. Can anyone varify this information?
I have the service manuals for my L4400HST and it calls for filter and fluid change which I was planning on doing myself. He said the changes made by Kubota were fairly recent and not reflected in my service manual which I purchased in early 2009. Obviously, this could make a big difference in cost, but is this good information? Mike.

 

[k0ua]

My 2010 L3400 calls for full hydro change -out at 400 hours. I just did the 50 hour. Oil, Oil filter, hydraulic filter, and Hydro-stat filter. You lose just a little SUDT, so replaced that, probably less than a quart. I used the vacuum cleaner method to keep from losing much fluid.
James K0UA

 

[Mike Costello]

My 2010 L3400 calls for full hydro change -out at 400 hours. I just did the 50 hour. Oil, Oil filter, hydraulic filter, and Hydro-stat filter. You lose just a little SUDT, so replaced that, probably less than a quart. I used the vacuum cleaner method to keep from losing much fluid.
James K0UA

The service manager said to not change the fluid out completely until 400 hours. Until then, do the filters. I guess SUDT must have longevity to it.

 

[BTDT2]

I'm not sure I would trust someone who works on Kubota's day in and day out?:thumbsup:

 

[Mike Costello]

I'm not sure I would trust someone who works on Kubota's day in and day out?:thumbsup:

This 400 hour wait time runs counter to all I've learned in over 25 years in the automotive service business. But, then again tractors aren't cars are they--but alot more fun.

 

[bp fick]

Mike, yea, this has been discussed over and over here, during the past year.

Some say it's nod toward being more eco friendly, others say it is mere marketing of "lower cost of ownership", others say it evidence that sudt simply shouldn't be dumped as it is that good, others say baloney and contend that by golly, they're sticking to a 50 fluid dump and the cost and Kubota's recommendation be hanged.

My personal take is that 50 hours is too short just to dump all that expensive fluid, but for many TBN hobbyists, 400 hours might take five or six years and THAT would be too long, considering condensation.

 

[Johnbro]

Maybe this has already been mentioned, but I believe the rationale at 50 hours isn't that the fluid has deteriorated but rather that it's contaminated by metal bits and pieces from moving parts mating and breaking in. Perhaps their current filtration system is adequate to remove all those, thus no longer making fluid replacement necessary?

 

[Thomas]

That's what my dealer told me also Mike,but for my piece of mine I drain all fluids.

 

[eepete]

If you good folks will let a Deere owner comment in Kubota land, my new JD 4520 (60HP diesel) manual says that the 1st hydro oil change is at 400 hours. This is also the 1st time the filters get changed. I talked with my dealer (who goes to the Deere mothership for schools every year) and he said that they track warranty claims and field rep visits. When they change this sort of thing, it reflects what they are seeing in the real world. The manual for this series used to a change the hydro fluid/filters at 50 hours.

My 1997 B21 was a "Change hydro fluid/filters at 50 hours". So be it for competitive reasons, better manufacturing quality, or whatever it seems to be the trend.

FWIW, my plan is to change the oil at about 2.5 years (the 4520 comes with a 3 year warranty). If anything is bad, I get to catch it while things are still covered. After that, change every 400 hours or 5 years.

Pete

 

[firefighter jim]

Maybe this has already been mentioned, but I believe the rationale at 50 hours isn't that the fluid has deteriorated but rather that it's contaminated by metal bits and pieces from moving parts mating and breaking in. Perhaps their current filtration system is adequate to remove all those, thus no longer making fluid replacement necessary?

My take on it also...............I still changed my fluid out at 50 hours for exactly the reason you stated.................

 

[bp fick]

I'll go against the grain here, I guess, and say with my new B2320 I will NOT be draining all the expensive SUDT out 50 hours. These are expensive and precious resources. If Kubota says it doesn't need it at 50 hours, that fine with me. Filters only it will be.

But, again, I will say this. 400 hours is too long for many estate guys. At 80 hours a year average use, it would take 5+ years. My concern would be condensation issues. Although, there will be thousands of owners, around the world who will go 5 or 10 years, and will likely have no issues whatsoever.

BTW, I don't drain my automatic trans fluid in my new cars at 4000 miles either to "get rid of filings, etc". Nor do I change my oil in my car every 2000 miles as I used to do. Times change. This topic has been beat on pretty good, but in the end, guys are gonna do what they're gonna do.

 

[rjkobbeman]

Maybe this has already been mentioned, but I believe the rationale at 50 hours isn't that the fluid has deteriorated but rather that it's contaminated by metal bits and pieces from moving parts mating and breaking in. Perhaps their current filtration system is adequate to remove all those, thus no longer making fluid replacement necessary?

Absolutely correct!

Of course the SUDT is not worn out after 50 hours. It is all the crap that is floating around from the break-in process.

I changed mine at 50 hours and was amazed at all the stuff in there.

I also think transmission type has a lot to do with the first fluid change timeframe. I don't think there is a one-time fits all recommendation.

 

[LBrown59]

I was at my local Kubota dealer recently(the one who sold me my tractor) and in talking with the service manager about the 50 hour service, he stated Kubota's new service recommendations call for NOT changing the SUDT fluid completely out, but rather just the filter only. Can anyone varify this information?
I have the service manuals for my L4400HST and it calls for filter and fluid change which I was planning on doing myself. He said the changes made by Kubota were fairly recent and not reflected in my service manual which I purchased in early 2009. Obviously, this could make a big difference in cost, but is this good information? Mike.

Not really when you consider it's only one fluid change over the life time of the tractor .

 

[eepete]

Absolutely correct!
Of course the SUDT is not worn out after 50 hours. It is all the crap that is floating around from the break-in process.

I changed mine at 50 hours and was amazed at all the stuff in there.

Was the "Stuff" in the oil, the filters, the screen ? I'm curious to know what what and where you found it. tnx.

Pete

 

[rjkobbeman]

Was the "Stuff" in the oil, the filters, the screen ? I'm curious to know what what and where you found it. tnx.

Pete

The magnets on my filters were covered.

When I was moving fluid from my drain bucket back into the 5 gallon buckets, I noticed a lot of sparklies in the bottom.

I don't think it is anything to be concerned about -- pretty normal I bet. However, I am glad I changed it at the 50 hour mark.

My next change is supposed to be at 600 hours -- 550 hours after the first. I don't know if I will wait that long. I think my filters are supposed to be changed at 300 hours.

 

[Mike Costello]

[/U]
Not really when you consider it's only one fluid change over the life time of the tractor .

Your statement seems to imply that a Kubota tractor only has a 400 hour lifetime. You might want to explain a little further.

 

[dodge man]

My Bx called for a full fluid change at 50 hours and 300 hours. I also cleaned the screen at 300 hours. The screen had some pretty good sized chunks of metal on it. At 50 hours, the HST fluid looked brand new. At 300 hours it looked a little dirty. I don't think there is a problem not dumping all the fluid at 50 hours, but what do I know?

 

[rjkobbeman]

My fluid looked fine... which is what I expected at 50 hours. The problem was a lot of gunk settling on the bottom. I'm sure that would eventually get circulated around. I'm sure the 50 fluid change recommendation is to get that gunk out of the system... not because the fluid is dead.

I do see different recommendations out of the manuals. I don't know if it is a general change in policy at Kubota or if it has to do with different tranny types.

My tractor is a 2010 and its manual still said to change at 50 hours. Different machines probably have different change intervals.

 

[Mike Costello]

My service manual says change fluid and filters at 50 hrs. While Kubota has probably changed its criteria for 50hr service, I will pull the filters and inspect for debris. At that point in time I will decide if a full fluid change is in order based on what I see in the fluid and filters. Being cost effective and environmentally prudent are good things to practice, however, I do not intend to gamble with a machine that costs thousands. Mike.

 

[LBrown59]

. Being cost effective is a good things to practice . Mike.

I just don't see where 1 less fluid change is all that big of a deal toward being effective cost .
How is 1 more fluid change going to brake the bank for anybody?