M59 Discussion Thread

[rScotty]

Thanks for the info on the fuse. Hope you didn't get too much of headache learning it. But knowing is bound to help the rest of us. And I bet you were sure relieved to find that's what it was.

On the front axle oil I've been thinking the same thing: that is, I'm wondering about changing over to a gear oil for the front axles come oil change time. In their operator's manual, Kubota seemingly cannot make up their mind of whether to recommend a very low viscosity, low pour point hydraulic oil like UDT or SUDT....or a much more viscous and higher pour point gear oil such as the SAE 80-90. They are very different, but Kubota actually ends up saying you can use either one!! Either it the system is so robust it doesn't matter, or else they couldn't get a concensus amoung the engineers. Hopefully #1....how likely is it to be #2?

Greatly simplifying, the hydraulic oil is designed to be moved around via positive displacement pumps and for reducing sliding friction on smooth surfaces at high velocity. The gear oil way different, it is not designed to go through an oil pump, and protects against impact and heavily loaded shear of rougher surfaces at lower velocity. After looking at the components in the parts book and doing some thinking about oils and motion, I come up with the conclusion that a gear oil is more suitable as long as the weather is warm enough to keep it from troughing. So I'll take a look when I'm in town next and see what oils are available and what ratings they have with an eye to adding more shear and load protection to the front axle lube while keeping low temperature performance and seal compatibility. Right now mine still has less than 400 hours so it has whatever came in it from the factory. Probably UDT?

Shucks, I'm no better at making up my mind than Kubota! .... rScotty

 

[ManAtArms]

The dealer told me that 90 weight would be better....and that kubota put UDT in there at the factory (it smells like it to me.) . I'm using it almost exclusively in 4WD, so I suspect I will be better off with 90 to combat wear. I've only got 225 hours on it now...but I'm gonna change it anyway.

mark

Thanks for the info on the fuse. Hope you didn't get too much of headache learning it. But knowing is bound to help the rest of us. And I bet you were sure relieved to find that's what it was.

On the front axle oil I've been thinking the same thing: that is, I'm wondering about changing over to a gear oil for the front axles come oil change time. In their operator's manual, Kubota seemingly cannot make up their mind of whether to recommend a very low viscosity, low pour point hydraulic oil like UDT or SUDT....or a much more viscous and higher pour point gear oil such as the SAE 80-90. They are very different, but Kubota actually ends up saying you can use either one!! Either it the system is so robust it doesn't matter, or else they couldn't get a concensus amoung the engineers. Hopefully #1....how likely is it to be #2?

Greatly simplifying, the hydraulic oil is designed to be moved around via positive displacement pumps and for reducing sliding friction on smooth surfaces at high velocity. The gear oil way different, it is not designed to go through an oil pump, and protects against impact and heavily loaded shear of rougher surfaces at lower velocity. After looking at the components in the parts book and doing some thinking about oils and motion, I come up with the conclusion that a gear oil is more suitable as long as the weather is warm enough to keep it from troughing. So I'll take a look when I'm in town next and see what oils are available and what ratings they have with an eye to adding more shear and load protection to the front axle lube while keeping low temperature performance and seal compatibility. Right now mine still has less than 400 hours so it has whatever came in it from the factory. Probably UDT?

Shucks, I'm no better at making up my mind than Kubota! .... rScotty

 

[BandDcabinet]

I had the same thing happen (fuse failure)... I'm reasonibly certain I bumped the pto lever when I turned the seat from the rear at the same time I stepped on the forward HST pedal. Not certain what the connection is but the same failure symptoms you described and solution.

The dealer assisted on a late Saturday afternoon with resolving the problem

Another failure today. I reached for the FEL joystick and the top of it snapped off in my hand. Part replaced without question but I am surprised by the ease of the failure. I have the fornt aux hyd.

Despite the issues it is an extraordinary machine. highly regarded by many that visit the farm

B&D

 

[Chuck K.]

Scotty keep us posted what route you take and results. I am approaching 200hrs and am considering stepping up to diff. fluid, may even go synthetic. I am also bumfuzzled on Kubotas advice on what fluid to use in the front diff.


Sorry bout not getting back to you after observing my B/H thumb jerkiness been working 7/12's.. At this point my thumb still retacts smoothly when being pushed in by the bucket.
Chuck.

 

[rScotty]

Scotty keep us posted what route you take and results. I am approaching 200hrs and am considering stepping up to diff. fluid, may even go synthetic. I am also bumfuzzled on Kubotas advice on what fluid to use in the front diff.


Sorry bout not getting back to you after observing my B/H thumb jerkiness been working 7/12's.. At this point my thumb still retacts smoothly when being pushed in by the bucket.
Chuck.

Hmm....OK, on the fluids.... Transmission first....I'm now pushing 300 hours and I tend to run a tractor conservatively. I'll work it hard, but usually not at high RPM. Not much roading or 3 pt work, but a lot of BH and pushing the bucket through dirt or snow.
Have now used UDT - if that's what came in it.... for 50 hours, then New Holland Multi G 134 for 200 hours, and then SUDT for another 50 hours. Each time was a complete oil and filter change. If I were to choose one for shifting it would be the SUDT, for smooth operating BH it would be the New Holland. My choice overall would be the New Holland Multi G 134.

For the front axle right now I'll stay with what came in there - it's probably UDT because it looks like and smells like that. At least until I finish some testing to see if there is a gear oil I like that will mix ok with what is already in there. If so, I may mix some heavier oil in there.
rScotty.

 

[rScotty]

Way back in November of 2008, Charles (Charlesaf3) wrote:

""Hey, I haven't had time to post here lately, but I wanted to explain the easy way to reverse the thumb pedal. On the boom, where it says Kubota, above the K on the right side (or A on the left as its reversed) There is a union with all the thumb hoses - right above the "A" in Kubota....By just unscrewing the tractor side ends of the hoses and switching them the pedal is reversed. Convenient, and no issues with slack in the hoses."
quote: Charlesaf3"

Well, Charles....it's embarrassing that I'm just now getting around to doing that, but thanks! That sure is one clever and easy mod. After the changeover now when I push the pedal forward the thumb closes and rocking it back opens the thumb - which means the pedal now has an intuitively correct movement for me. Much, much, better. It took all of 10 minutes and spilt less than half a cup of fluid - if that much. BTW, before cracking the hose joint it only makes sense to rest the bucket on the ground with the thumb supported by the bucket and all pressure off the system. And don't be surprised as I was when those hydraulic joints turn out to be imperial rather than metric. Sizes 7/8 and 1+1/16 if I remember right.

A while back I promised myself I'd write an update on the SUDT after I'd put some hours on it.

So after running changing to SUDT along with new filters and running it for a few months I can now say definitely that the SUDT has eased the range shifting. Noticibly less force on the hand lever is required to go between L,M,H. That was what I hoping for, but that's not all.

I've had some odd hydraulic system issues crop up starting about two weeks after changing to SUDT and in fairness they ought to get some mention too. Nothing real serious, and nothing I can definitely point to and say that it is caused - or even related - specifically to the SUDT. But nothing else was changed, the problems are real, and the timing of the onset is enough to make me at least a little suspicious about the SUDT having some part in it all. Plus I just went down to buy a spare container of SUDT and found that it isn't being sold anymore because - or so the grapevine says - that Kubota is now in the process of changing the SUDT oil formulation. Wonder why?

My recommendation would be to stick with what is known to work for now. One known good oil for us for years has been the New Holland GL134. Our M59 didn't have any problem while using that oil and it's also what the local Kubota dealer uses.

no snow in the Colorado front range yet@!
season's best to you all,
rScotty

 

[ecoscaper]

I'd love an M59 but the no cab option kills the deal, an aftermarket cab is out of the budget. Anyone miss the cab? How's the exhaust smell?

 

[ManAtArms]

rScotty,

What kind of problems have cropped up? I'm not certain, but I was told the that Kubota put Super UDT in the M59 at the factory....so it probably came loaded that way....at least that's what I was told. Did you switch it out during your first change and then go back?

-Mark

Way back in November of 2008, Charles (Charlesaf3) wrote:

""Hey, I haven't had time to post here lately, but I wanted to explain the easy way to reverse the thumb pedal. On the boom, where it says Kubota, above the K on the right side (or A on the left as its reversed) There is a union with all the thumb hoses - right above the "A" in Kubota....By just unscrewing the tractor side ends of the hoses and switching them the pedal is reversed. Convenient, and no issues with slack in the hoses."
quote: Charlesaf3"

Well, Charles....it's embarrassing that I'm just now getting around to doing that, but thanks! That sure is one clever and easy mod. After the changeover now when I push the pedal forward the thumb closes and rocking it back opens the thumb - which means the pedal now has an intuitively correct movement for me. Much, much, better. It took all of 10 minutes and spilt less than half a cup of fluid - if that much. BTW, before cracking the hose joint it only makes sense to rest the bucket on the ground with the thumb supported by the bucket and all pressure off the system. And don't be surprised as I was when those hydraulic joints turn out to be imperial rather than metric. Sizes 7/8 and 1+1/16 if I remember right.

A while back I promised myself I'd write an update on the SUDT after I'd put some hours on it.

So after running changing to SUDT along with new filters and running it for a few months I can now say definitely that the SUDT has eased the range shifting. Noticibly less force on the hand lever is required to go between L,M,H. That was what I hoping for, but that's not all.

I've had some odd hydraulic system issues crop up starting about two weeks after changing to SUDT and in fairness they ought to get some mention too. Nothing real serious, and nothing I can definitely point to and say that it is caused - or even related - specifically to the SUDT. But nothing else was changed, the problems are real, and the timing of the onset is enough to make me at least a little suspicious about the SUDT having some part in it all. Plus I just went down to buy a spare container of SUDT and found that it isn't being sold anymore because - or so the grapevine says - that Kubota is now in the process of changing the SUDT oil formulation. Wonder why?

My recommendation would be to stick with what is known to work for now. One known good oil for us for years has been the New Holland GL134. Our M59 didn't have any problem while using that oil and it's also what the local Kubota dealer uses.

no snow in the Colorado front range yet@!
season's best to you all,
rScotty

 

[ManAtArms]

Sometimes I wish I had a cab, buy the Laurin cab is 10k and the Curtis cab is something like 6 or 7k...so no cab for me now. Plus I'm always jumping in and out of the machine so a cab might get in the way. The exhaust smell only hits me sometimes...95% of the time I don't have any issues with it.

I'd love an M59 but the no cab option kills the deal, an aftermarket cab is out of the budget. Anyone miss the cab? How's the exhaust smell?

 

[Chuck K.]

FEL bushings gone at 200hrs??
I dont claim to be as dilligent as I should and grease every ten hours but I do hit the zerks regularly.. Going to dealer next friday and order both FEL curl boom bushings the one on the left side is completely gone figured I replace the both of them while I at it..