"Don't change Hydro oil at 50 hrs" says Dealer

GlueGuy · Aug 16, 2001

Re: \"Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs\" says Dealer

I don't know if it was so much saving money, although the mechanic that did the service on my B7500 estimated the cost to be ~~ $300 just for the fluid (sounds real high to me). I don't know if that's correct, but if it was close to true, we're not talking peanuts.

He merely stated that the hydro system is closed, it's rarely contaminated, and the dealer had decided that it was a waste to change it at 50 hours. I didn't complain, and the dealer signed off on the service, so I am pretty sure my warranty is valid. I'll change it next time around, but I think I'm OK.

The fluid was very, very clear.

The GlueGuy

JohnMiller3 · Aug 16, 2001

Re: \"Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs\" says Dealer

Bill,

Look at all that extra money you'll have in the bank to buy some more implements... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

"You are what you eat, drink, think, say and do..."

Wheeldog · Aug 16, 2001

Re: "Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs" says Dealer

although the mechanic that did the service on my estimated the cost to be ~~ $300 just for the fluid

What the !!!?. The B7500 has a hydraulic fluid capacity of 3.3 gallons. A 5-gallon pail of conventional hydraulic fluid costs about $30, I think.

Not trying to stir things up (I've already voiced my opinion on the "50 hour service and engine oil grade" thread), but I don't understand that statement at all.

JohnMiller3 · Aug 16, 2001

Re: \"Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs\" says Dealer

Rob... I tried to tell ya... that Kubota 5 gallon pail is expensive... /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

"You are what you eat, drink, think, say and do..."

GlueGuy · Aug 16, 2001

Re: \"Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs\" says Dealer

I think the guy was math challenged, but I didn't attempt to figure it out at the time either (and that's my fault). I think part of it was that he was used to working on the "big iron", and couldn't scale it to B7500 size.

The GlueGuy

Wheeldog · Aug 16, 2001

Re: "Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs" says Dealer

Rob... I tried to tell ya... that Kubota 5 gallon pail is expensive

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Yeah, but maybe it includes free refills for life!

Actually, my dealer (like some others have mentioned) doesn't sell the Kubota hydraulic fluid. I was directed to the 5-gallon pail of Amalie, which was referred to as "the good stuff" in comparison to the NAPA brand, and it cost me about $30. I guess UDT and Super UDT are more expensive, but $91 per gallon??? As Glueguy said, his mechanic was probably thinking of the larger machines and maybe exaggerating a bit to make a point.

Rob

kubmech · Aug 16, 2001

Re: \"Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs\" says Dealer

Thanx Rogue. My opinion is yes the fluid is clean, yes it only has 50 hours on it, but the manual states, all fluids changed at 50 hours (I think they've changed the requirement on the front axle oil on newer machines). Period. A great point that was brought up was. how are you going to clean the suction screen or screens if you don't drain the fluid? Answer, you're not. So there's another thing that we'll blow off on your 50 hour service to save you money. How many guys have checked/cleaned the screens on there tractors and have seen the "alarming"/w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif amount of crap in 'em after 50 hours. Some, admittedly acceptable metal shavings from normal break in and usually a whole lot of RTV left over from assy. For the most part the next time you pull the screen it wont be near as bad, Hmmm, maybe there is a good reason for that initial 50 hour change after all. Last I saw super udt was about 15 bucks a gallon. Most L's are around 10 gallons (if you drain the rear axles like you're supposed to). Most B's are 3-5 gallons (not inc. B21). I just don't see the point. Other than to make themselves look smarter than the guys who designed the stuff (ahww geeze, you don't need to fix that leaky mower gearbox seal, just pump it full of grease, 20-50, 15-40, 10-30, shoot it's all oil, aint it, diet, caffein free, regular, cola's cola, right?). Seems like a load of crap to me....

kerr · Aug 16, 2001

Re: \"Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs\" says Dealer

I changed all oils and filters,checked screen at 50 hrs.I try to take great care of my 4200,the little grandson wants the second 10,000 hrs.Think about it.

glennmac · Aug 16, 2001

Re: \"Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs\" says Dealer

The warranty comes from Kubota - not the dealer.

That's absolutely right, Alan.

So what does the warranty say? My Kubota warranty says that it does not cover "damages or malfunctions resulting from . . . improper servicing." It also excludes coverage to the engine and driveline "when items of wear . . . are deemed worn due to . . . lack of maintenance".

What does the Kubota maintenance schedule say? It says that four jobs "must be done after the first 50 hours of operation." These four jobs are: change engine oil; replace engine oil filter; replace transmission oil filter; change transmission fluid.

It seems obvious to me that those four jobs were selected for engineering reasons, not simply to sell oil and filters. It seems equally obvious that Kubota could refuse warranty service if the problem relates to the failure to perform any of these four jobs.

I wasnt paying much attention to this thread because I knew I had paid some ridiculous amount of money for a 50 hour service from my dealer, with whom I am becoming ever more disenchanted. I just looked at the bill (probably for the first time). No change of transmission oil or transmission filter listed. Says that 7 quarts of engine oil were put in, but my manual says the 2910 only takes 4.3 quarts. The bill says they replaced the oil filter, but I know they didnt because the different dealer I took the tractor to for a 120 hr service showed me the original factory oil filter he took off the tractor.

I'm ticked off. Increasingly, I don't trust dealers or their very transient employees. They don't know that much about tractors or tractoring, and they're very casual with your buck after the sale. Not all of them, of course; just most of them I've met.

Anonymous Poster · Aug 17, 2001

Re: "Don\'t change Hydro oil at 50 hrs" says Dealer

I'm having some trouble with this definition of "closed" system. Is it accepted that the seals on the loader and backhoe, which on many machines can be in the mud and water seal 100%, 100% of the time? I think not. I've never understood why the hydraulic system which has such finite tolerances is mixed with the gearbox, which probably sheds metal (fine particles) throughout it's life. At least the gear tractors.

And for those of you reading this mixed opinion thread, search the archives for some of the UDT vs SUPER UDT threads. I posted on a few over the fact that many dealers say don't bother with SUPER in ANY KUBOTA unless you are in really cold climates, that it is money down the drain. Kubota Corp. sticks with their recommendations. I went with the UDT on my Glideshift Kubota. At 50-60 degrees, it takes at least half an hour for the loader to operate anywhere near as fast as it did with the Super. Actually I think it NEVER does. Shifting is tolerable and since I'm not using some measuring device I can't be sure but it seems to take longer to engage going from gear to gear, even after warming up. The difference in the loader was very noticeable, to the point that I thought I was imagining it. I went to a dealer, drove another L35, mine's definitely slower. When I have a free day it's going back to Super with my Ford getting that low mileage UDT when it needs it.

Maybe in some cases the Super isn't necessary, but if you really want the benefits of the fast hydraulics and great operating hydro trans I think you'll be disappointed with the UDT. I wonder if it due to it's lighter? weight or the semi-synthetic? qualities the Super is supposed to have. I just wish wasn't so danged expensive.

As to cost benefits, have your dealer price out some of your engine, trans components, you will have a new outlook, I've heard it takes $60,000 in parts to make a
$25,000 car, I'll bet it takes $100,000 in parts to make a $30,000 tractor! Then there's the labor.

Of course we could promise each other to totally document our experiences one way or the other and put them back on this board in 2011 for the tractorbynet folks at that time!

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