Kubota 50 hour service change

[Mike Costello]

I was at my local Kubota dealer recently(the one who sold me my tractor) and in talking with the service manager about the 50 hour service, he stated Kubota's new service recommendations call for NOT changing the SUDT fluid completely out, but rather just the filter only. Can anyone varify this information?
I have the service manuals for my L4400HST and it calls for filter and fluid change which I was planning on doing myself. He said the changes made by Kubota were fairly recent and not reflected in my service manual which I purchased in early 2009. Obviously, this could make a big difference in cost, but is this good information? Mike.

 

[k0ua]

My 2010 L3400 calls for full hydro change -out at 400 hours. I just did the 50 hour. Oil, Oil filter, hydraulic filter, and Hydro-stat filter. You lose just a little SUDT, so replaced that, probably less than a quart. I used the vacuum cleaner method to keep from losing much fluid.
James K0UA

 

[Mike Costello]

My 2010 L3400 calls for full hydro change -out at 400 hours. I just did the 50 hour. Oil, Oil filter, hydraulic filter, and Hydro-stat filter. You lose just a little SUDT, so replaced that, probably less than a quart. I used the vacuum cleaner method to keep from losing much fluid.
James K0UA

The service manager said to not change the fluid out completely until 400 hours. Until then, do the filters. I guess SUDT must have longevity to it.

 

[BTDT2]

I'm not sure I would trust someone who works on Kubota's day in and day out?:thumbsup:

 

[Mike Costello]

I'm not sure I would trust someone who works on Kubota's day in and day out?:thumbsup:

This 400 hour wait time runs counter to all I've learned in over 25 years in the automotive service business. But, then again tractors aren't cars are they--but alot more fun.

 

[bp fick]

Mike, yea, this has been discussed over and over here, during the past year.

Some say it's nod toward being more eco friendly, others say it is mere marketing of "lower cost of ownership", others say it evidence that sudt simply shouldn't be dumped as it is that good, others say baloney and contend that by golly, they're sticking to a 50 fluid dump and the cost and Kubota's recommendation be hanged.

My personal take is that 50 hours is too short just to dump all that expensive fluid, but for many TBN hobbyists, 400 hours might take five or six years and THAT would be too long, considering condensation.

 

[Johnbro]

Maybe this has already been mentioned, but I believe the rationale at 50 hours isn't that the fluid has deteriorated but rather that it's contaminated by metal bits and pieces from moving parts mating and breaking in. Perhaps their current filtration system is adequate to remove all those, thus no longer making fluid replacement necessary?

 

[Thomas]

That's what my dealer told me also Mike,but for my piece of mine I drain all fluids.

 

[eepete]

If you good folks will let a Deere owner comment in Kubota land, my new JD 4520 (60HP diesel) manual says that the 1st hydro oil change is at 400 hours. This is also the 1st time the filters get changed. I talked with my dealer (who goes to the Deere mothership for schools every year) and he said that they track warranty claims and field rep visits. When they change this sort of thing, it reflects what they are seeing in the real world. The manual for this series used to a change the hydro fluid/filters at 50 hours.

My 1997 B21 was a "Change hydro fluid/filters at 50 hours". So be it for competitive reasons, better manufacturing quality, or whatever it seems to be the trend.

FWIW, my plan is to change the oil at about 2.5 years (the 4520 comes with a 3 year warranty). If anything is bad, I get to catch it while things are still covered. After that, change every 400 hours or 5 years.

Pete

 

[firefighter jim]

Maybe this has already been mentioned, but I believe the rationale at 50 hours isn't that the fluid has deteriorated but rather that it's contaminated by metal bits and pieces from moving parts mating and breaking in. Perhaps their current filtration system is adequate to remove all those, thus no longer making fluid replacement necessary?

My take on it also...............I still changed my fluid out at 50 hours for exactly the reason you stated.................