" Confused " Replacing Hydraulic Oil Filter on 2601

LD1 · Jul 6, 2017

As with any mechanical repair on a tractor, car, or truck.....there is a "by the book" way to do things. Its a procedure drawn up by engineers sitting in an office. And they figure "book time" as to how long it should take the average mechanic to do the repair.

The actual mechanics in the field often find quicker and easier ways to do things.

AS you said, your manual wants you to drain the oil into a clean container, change filters, then refill with that clean oil. They are telling you to drain it so you dont make a mess and loose all of your oil just to change a filter.

But draining the oil is a hassle. So those of us in the field figured out how to do it without draining the oil, and without loosing all the oil either.

Your manual is NOT confusing, they arent trying to send you back to the dealer. They are describing step by step just how to do the job. We are just telling you that there IS an easier way that dont involve draining the oil out.

So your call. Drain the oil and do it by the book. Or take our advise and save yourself alot of time and hassle. Or take it to the dealer.

RjCorazza · Jul 6, 2017

To further muddy the waters.... I don't know the maintenance schedule for a B2601, but my L4060 specifies the transmission filter only at 50h, not fluid. The trans filter can be replaced with minimal fluid loss (unlike the the hydraulic filter, which will drain the sump if you're not fast or use the shop vac trick).
I am usually a fan of replacing fluids after break in, but with 11 gallons of oil I decided to leave it in until the 400h interval.
To be clear.... I am not familiar with the B2601 Maint schedule!

s219 · Jul 6, 2017

I've had other equipment that called for filter changes on separate intervals from fluid, so it didn't seem out of the ordinary to me to do filters at 50 hours but not fluid. The real confusion came when researching this on the internet to see if anyone had tricks how to do it on the Kubota, where I found a lot of misleading information. So I think the OP is right to question what he's seeing in the manual, and hopefully we can set things straight. Either the manual is written wrong, or they are not being very smart about how to change filters without dumping/losing fluid.

herringchoker · Jul 6, 2017

There was a time that the Kubota service intervals for the B series called for BOTH transmission fluid and the filter be changed at 50 hours. My B7800 manual from 2003 indeed calls for this. I recall some discussion on TBN a few years back about Kubota revising this to require filter change only. The B-series has had a lot of different models with identical or similar components and systems. I suspect that the "cut and paste" method is used in developing manuals for newer models, so that sometimes things get missed, which could lead to the conflicting instructions in your manual. I would do as others have recommended and change the filter only.

LarJea · Jul 6, 2017

The B2601 requires both filters to be changed at 50 hours. With dipstick tube plugged oil loss will be minimal, at least it was for me.

Indian MC · Jul 7, 2017

JOHNTHOMAS said:
Remove ONLY the filters and NOT those drain plugs UNTIL you get ready to change the fluid which will be at 200 or 400 hours per YOUR owners manual. The proof dept must have let a mistake go to printing. Do as the above owners have told you and keep all sources of checking/adding fluid closed and be prepared to remove those filters quickly and install the new ones quickly with some Kubota SUDT2 fluid on hand to refill at that hole in the back above the 3ph after checking level with the stick down by your foot.

Thanks, I'm Pretty sure I know what is going on.
The service interval is telling me to change out the Hydraulic Oil Filter ""ONLY"" at 50 hours and refers me to a specific page in the manual on how to do it.
The Procedure includes pulling the drain plugs even though it headlines and shows in Bold Print... "CHANGING HYDRAULIC OIL FILTER"
Kubota didn't break it up. " in other words " Change Filter only " Change Filter & Fluid ".
Why someone needs instructions on which way to turn and remove a filter is beyond me...
I would have Captioned the page,,, Hydraulic Filter "And " Fluid change. Do what you need to do.
The page heading shows... "" CHANGE HYDRAULIC FILTER """ with a procedure for changing both the Filter and Fluid.
I'll give my two cents here...
Instead of writing your user manual for the folks that don't know the difference between a Phillips and Flat blade screw driver, why not try and help out us folks that read too much into things.

bilrus61 · Jul 7, 2017

hmmmmmmmm.........it won't hurt to change the fluid also. On a small tractor like that. Its because Kubota wanted to be more "green" and not cause so much waste they changed it. When I changed out my hydro fluid at on my old L4200 at 50 hours on my tractor my dad laughed but when he looked at it he said it needed changing too. Another issue is that so many times the dealer won't use Super UDT2. They will use a cheaper fluid. I tried a cheaper fluid one time and could really tell the difference in the shifting on my Glide Shift Transmission. Hydro whine is LOUD with lesser fluids also. Your safe either way. In my very humble opinion your "safer" changing the fluid also at 50 hours when you can eyeball that Super UDT2 into your new orange baby.

s219 · Jul 7, 2017

It's a complete waste to do it unless the fluid got contaminated for some reason. We've seen some tractors on here where it looks like the machine shop swept up all their metal shavings and dumped them in the transmission case, and if the filter didn't do it's job then a fluid change is a very good idea. But the three Kubotas I've done a 50 hour service on all had pristine looking fluid. At 50 hours it's still practically brand new, absent other factors like contamination. No way I'd change it.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 8, 2017

s219 said:
It's a complete waste to do it unless the fluid got contaminated for some reason. We've seen some tractors on here where it looks like the machine shop swept up all their metal shavings and dumped them in the transmission case, and if the filter didn't do it's job then a fluid change is a very good idea. But the three Kubotas I've done a 50 hour service on all had pristine looking fluid. At 50 hours it's still practically brand new, absent other factors like contamination. No way I'd change it.

I agree after 14 years Kubota ownership of over 20 of them. No, I have rarely ever changed the HST fluid (trade before the hours are reached) and the visions some people have as to why the change period has been extended is pretty funny. Engine, transmissions, machines, etc tolerances/machining and improvements of fluids is the reason things have changed in a never ending cycle since cars/trucks/planes/tractors have been built. It's a waste to do things today like we did in the 50s and 60s.

Indian MC · Jul 9, 2017

The manual is a bit confusing and in IMHO written stupidly.
Maintenance schedule clearly states " Hydraulic Oil Filter - REPLACE " Please Refer to page 65.
(1) The first step is to remove two drain plugs at the bottom of the trans.
Remove oil " completely ".
No steps or mention of removing a filter, nothing is said at all about a filter

You are now instructed to put a film of oil on your new filter, tighten by hand plus 1/2 turn. Refill fluid to the upper level on the dipstick.
Hey,,, How can I install a new filter when I was told to remove only two drain plugs? This,, while your bold heading in the manual states " Replacing Hydraulic Oil Filter "
Can you folks see how my head was and is doing a 360?