I'm about to do the first 50 hour service...

[bp fick]

In fairness, it is hard to stay abreast of the changes. Until recently, Kubota recommended full dump of HSTs at 50 hours. In the past few years, Kubota has recommended the fluid stay, with changing filters and screens only on many models. That is part of the confusion.

It is a relatively recent maintenance schedule change and this change has been applied to model on model at a time, which causes even more confusion.

The facts are that Kubota has a responsibility to be conservative on oil and oil based products. It is just part of the green revolution for the corporate world.

Secondly, the fluids/additives are getting better all the time.

Of course, each owner will do what is right in his own mind, but the recommendations of the engineers of Kubota must be weighed as authoritative.

 

[DiezNutz]

In fairness, it is hard to stay abreast of the changes. Until recently, Kubota recommended full dump of HSTs at 50 hours. In the past few years, Kubota has recommended the fluid stay, with changing filters and screens only on many models. That is part of the confusion.

It is a relatively recent maintenance schedule change and this change has been applied to model on model at a time, which causes even more confusion.

The facts are that Kubota has a responsibility to be conservative on oil and oil based products. It is just part of the green revolution for the corporate world.

Secondly, the fluids/additives are getting better all the time.

Of course, each owner will do what is right in his own mind, but the recommendations of the engineers of Kubota must be weighed as authoritative.

BP, I could not have said it better, or even as well.

In this context, B3030 and B3200 are not materially different tractors, and yet B3030 maintenance specified changing hydro fluid and filters at 50 hrs. All things being equal, B3030 should have an even longer interval owing to its better filtration. Big difference, 50 vs. 400, you have to question why...

...waiting a bit to change out the fluid isn't going hurt. 43 hours vs 400 hours is a big difference. I did everything the manual called for at 50 hours and I'm satisfied with that at the moment. If I took it to the dealer, they wouldn't have done it either unless I assume I requested and of course would have been charged more for it.

I agree, it isn't going to hurt. If you're satisified, that's all that really matters.

This is another one of those "personal decisions", and you'll find both camps pretty well represented. In the end, if you think you're right, then you are.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Recently bought my 11th Kubota and changed the fluids and filters per the owners manual. Past tractors required everything be changed at 50 hours and for the past two years Kubota has not recommended the full fluids change. I recently changed the filters and oil on my BX25 at the 50 hour mark and I feel comfortable following the company recommendations which is what I followed when I was changing all at 50 hours. I was concerned with the people that felt everything should be changed at 50 hours so I emailed Kubota Company. Here is their reply. Follow their advise or the guy that just wants to be sure, course I don't understand why the guy that just wants to be sure doesn't do it at 25 hours and every 25hours thereafter.


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..

 

[General Lee]

This is another one of those "personal decisions", and you'll find both camps pretty well represented. In the end, if you think you're right, then you are.

Honestly, If I would have known that I would lose as much fluid as I did, I would have changed it all :laughing: I even said to my buddy before pulling the trans fluid that it will probably gush out. He said, "Na" only about what is in the filter. That was the first filter pulled. He was right on that one but not the Hydraulic filter. I'll do the fluid change waaaay before the 400 hour mark.

 

[DiezNutz]

JT, all due respect... the first time I read that email you posted, my impression was that it could have just as easily have been written by a customer service clerk vs. anyone with technical authority at Kubota.

Not to say that it doesn't have concrete technical merit, but you have to consider the possibility that it is a "standard issue" response. The wording "Kubota Tractor recommends for you to follow your Operators manuals for servicing..." is a dead giveaway that someone is reading straight from the Customer Service manual.

Again, it could be spot-on, but I guess I'd feel better if someone from Kubota actually explained the justification behind the maintenance interval changes for us ignorant TBN peasants, as opposed to spouting standard disclaimer-ese at us.

Just sayin'. :2cents:

 

[gauthier]

Sounds like it was harder not to drain all the hydro oil than to go ahead and do it,The way I looked at it was 13,000+ tractor,verses 100 dollars or so worth of oil,[I got one of those bargain basement kiotis],plus,if you know the oil has been changed,filters changed,good clean oil is in it,you can wait to change the oil a little longer second time,my thoughts anyways.

 

[General Lee]

Sounds like it was harder not to drain all the hydro oil than to go ahead and do it,The way I looked at it was 13,000+ tractor,verses 100 dollars or so worth of oil,[I got one of those bargain basement kiotis],plus,if you know the oil has been changed,filters changed,good clean oil is in it,you can wait to change the oil a little longer second time,my thoughts anyways.

Your right. I was caught up between what the manual recommends, what some here on TBN do and what what I consider my fairly experienced neighbor stated. He has been tractoring looong before me, has two bull dozers and a large LULL brand forklift.

 

[DiezNutz]

I even said to my buddy before pulling the trans fluid that it will probably gush out. He said, "Na" only about what is in the filter.

Now this surely wouldn't be the same old sage farmer/tractor-veteran buddy steering you wrong, would it?
As knowledgable as my grandparents were about farming, I wouldn't realistically expect them to know details like that about my tractor either, having never owned one anything like it.

Anyway... congrats on your success/experience gained/money saved. More encouragement for those on the fence about doing it themselves! :thumbsup:

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Follow their (Kubota Company Employee) adviseor the guy that just wants to be sure, course I don't understand why the guy that just wants to be sure doesn't do it at 25 hours and every 25hours thereafter.
Guess my big question is "Where did the 50 hours to start with come from"? Why not 25, 60, 75 or 100? Why 50? Who started the at 50?

 

[DiezNutz]

Guess my big question is "Where did the 50 hours to start with come from"? Why not 25, 60, 75 or 100? Why 50? Who started the at 50?

Kubota, friend, Kubota did!
It's right in my OM and WSM - 50 hours. The bigger question (to Kubota) is, "why'd you change your mind, to 300/400?"