50 Hour Service

[paulwestski]

Since Kubota recommends only changing the hydraulic filters and not the fluid. Can a wet dry vac attached to the hydraulic fill opening and turned on keep from loosing any hydraulic fluid while removing the filters?

The tractor is a L3400HST

 

[TripleR]

When we do the 200 hour service on our L5030, my son only loses a quart when he changes the filters and doesn't use anything.

 

[CurtisG]

Since Kubota recommends only changing the hydraulic filters and not the fluid. Can a wet dry vac attached to the hydraulic fill opening and turned on keep from loosing any hydraulic fluid while removing the filter

My operators manual on my L2800HST XTRA Power shows replacing the hyd. fluid as well as the filters at the 50 hr service and thereafter at 400 hr intervals. I purchased the tractor August 2010, but the manual was not with it so the dealer ordered me one, I'm now wondering if he gave me an older manual instead of the one for my tractor. Has anything changed in the last few years concerning the fluid change? Also mine came with Super UDT but my dealer says he only sells UDT because our temps do not get low enough to warrant using Super UDT. Any thoughts on this? I have read where you can use the vacuum to eliminate losing any fluid while replacing the filters.

Thanks,
Curt

 

[638]

Yes you can, but do it as fast as you can because the air flow through the vacuum is what cools the motor.

 

[Jts771]

My operators manual on my L2800HST XTRA Power shows replacing the hyd. fluid as well as the filters at the 50 hr service and thereafter at 400 hr intervals. I purchased the tractor August 2010, but the manual was not with it so the dealer ordered me one, I'm now wondering if he gave me an older manual instead of the one for my tractor. Has anything changed in the last few years concerning the fluid change? Also mine came with Super UDT but my dealer says he only sells UDT because our temps do not get low enough to warrant using Super UDT. Any thoughts on this? I have read where you can use the vacuum to eliminate losing any fluid while replacing the filters.

Thanks,
Curt

My dealer replaced hyd. fluid as well as filters at 50 hr service. Then again at 400 hr. Just had 50 hr service done a few weeks ago.

 

[gwdixon]

Since Kubota recommends only changing the hydraulic filters and not the fluid. Can a wet dry vac attached to the hydraulic fill opening and turned on keep from loosing any hydraulic fluid while removing the filters?

The tractor is a L3400HST

Just change out the oil and sleep well at night.

The Kubota recommendation is to keep routine maintenance costs down and to placate the environmentalists rather than for logic.

 

[TripleR]

The newer models recommend only filter changes at 50 hours for HST models. There are countless threads on fluid changes and you will never get unanimity of opinion on anything related to lubricants/schedules.

 

[FastPauly]

Hmm....applying vacuum just to save a little hydraulic fluid could be counter productive (notice I say could). As the filter is opened to atmosphere....is there a chance that some of the crud that the filter has captured be sucked back into the oil reservoir? Just a thought........

 

[Texas Fella]

Just a thought on 50 hour service from a service persons view:

1. Companys are now recommending (in some cases) not to change the fluid at 50 hours. This is done so that they can say that the maintance cost are lower.

2. Having seen the material that comes out of an HST at 50 hours (after initial break in) I would change it in my tractor every time after the first 50 hours, regardless of the cost (filter too, of course).

3. I would also like to note that I am overprotective of my customers and their equipment. In theory, if you follow suggestions by the manufacturer, there should not be an issue with the product. Dispite what some people might think, the manufacturer does not want a bunch of machine failures out there, in or out of warranty. It is just bad business.


So to sum up, if it were me, I would change the hydro oil at 50 hours because I would sleep better at night knowing I did, but if some one follows the recommendations in the book, they should be just fine. Just my 2 cents on 50 hour service.

 

[richamor]

Cost of tractor...$18,000
Cost of service (done yourself) with all fluids......~$150.00
Peace of mind.......priceless

In fact, I plan on changing the oil&filter and the hydro filter at 25 hours. Also plan to add a large cartridge fuel filter at that time and do away with the two inline filters.

 

[638]

I suspect there is a reason for the two fuel filters. First filter to prevent crud from entering the fuel pump. Second filter to prevent a fuel pump failure from entering the injector pump. A larger filter before the electric fuel pump may not be a bad idea, but I certainly would not remove the second filter.

 

[richamor]

I suspect there is a reason for the two fuel filters. First filter to prevent crud from entering the fuel pump. Second filter to prevent a fuel pump failure from entering the injector pump. A larger filter before the electric fuel pump may not be a bad idea, but I certainly would not remove the second filter.

Admittedly, I have not looked at it that closely. If the filters are placed #one between the tank and pump and #two between the pump and injectors, I may replace the #2 and leave the #1 in place.

Sorry for the hijack. Now back to the original discussion.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I used to change my fluid at 50 on HST when the owners manual said to and it always looked like new fluid to me. I've done a few over the past few years. I now change only the engine oil and filters, not fuel, at 50 just like the factory owners manual says to. I could do it all at 20, 10 or 5 hours just to be safe but, no, I'm not going to. I'm going with factory recommendations.
I did contact the company about the confusion several months ago and this is their response. Take it or leave it. Seems to offend some people that I post this response from Kubota but I still post it and believe it more than some one that has always done it their way or their Dads way or their Granddads way. Oh, I forgot, some believe this is from someone at Kubota that doesn't know what they are talking about. The idea that Kubota service is cheaper than others by changing fluids less often is interesting since I have never seen that advertised or no one has ever said it to me while buying 13 Kubotas in the past 7 or 8 years.
...
...
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..

 

[Chilly807]

Since Kubota recommends only changing the hydraulic filters and not the fluid. Can a wet dry vac attached to the hydraulic fill opening and turned on keep from loosing any hydraulic fluid while removing the filters?

The tractor is a L3400HST

To answer your original question, the answer is yes. It works quite well, I used a 1.25" Shop-Vac hose stuck in the fill opening behind the seat. You may get a little bit of fluid in the end of the vacuum hose, but not much. You will lose a cup or two of fluid, so have some extra on hand.

It gives you time to properly clean the filter mounting pad and screw the new filter in place.

The decision to change or not to change all the fluid at 50 hours is yours. I changed mine at 100 hours, more from concern with age and condensation than from actual operating time.

Expect the old filter to be hellishly tight, mine surely was.

Sean

 

[Deano]

Works great!!:thumbsup:

 

[Agrantina]

I changed my filter only (3240) at 50hrs. placed the tractor on a slope - side on the curb to the road and lost about a quart.. The hyd oil looked brand new!! never thought of the vacum..

Andy

 

[bigbull338]

i talked to my dealer an decided to skip the 50hr oil change,an wait till 100hrs to change everything.doing so because ill do the service on the tractor every 100hrs.