Kubota Super UDT and filters.

[buck12]

My point is I can go to the dealer and if the part isnt in their stock I have never had to wait more than a day to get a part. That includes parts for my 25 year old Kubota. That doesnt appear to be the experience of some forum posters for their TYM/LS/Mahindra/Branson/Bobcat tractors.

I own both Kubota and Mahindra tractors and a JD lawnmower. The only one I ever to wait on dealer parts is the JD. The Kubota only has 43 hours I am hoping reliability and part availability is as good as Mahindra.

 

[HillStreet]

I've always used Super UDT2 and Kubota hydraulic and hydro filters. I replaced the air filters on my L5740 a while back and was disappointed when I noticed the replacement outer filter was made in China. I think the one I removed (Kubota brand) was made in Germany or maybe Japan. I should have taken a pic so I could remember, but it definitely wasn't China. I guess Kubota is farming out their filter production to the lowest bidder. I'll probably go with a WIX air filter next time around.

Even though filter may be made in China, it is probably made to Kubota specs. in the past few years I have been buying aircraft spark plugs and filters from a company that manufactures in China. They far exceed American spark plugs and filters. Most of us pilots have switched over.

 

[Trillium Farm]

Even though filter may be made in China, it is probably made to Kubota specs. in the past few years I have been buying aircraft spark plugs and filters from a company that manufactures in China. They far exceed American spark plugs and filters. Most of us pilots have switched over.

You are absolutely right!! China can manufacture as good as any western country, but when they do the price advantage shrinks considerably.
The stigma of cheap & low quality will stay with China for generations.
The japanese also did this after the 2nd war, but thanks to Deming and a different mind set they quickly moved on to produce quality and look where they are now.

 

[rScotty]

I've always used Super UDT2 and Kubota hydraulic and hydro filters. I replaced the air filters on my L5740 a while back and was disappointed when I noticed the replacement outer filter was made in China. I think the one I removed (Kubota brand) was made in Germany or maybe Japan. I should have taken a pic so I could remember, but it definitely wasn't China. I guess Kubota is farming out their filter production to the lowest bidder. I'll probably go with a WIX air filter next time around.

And there's the problem in a nutshell: How do you know that the WIX or other brand filter hasn't done exactly the same thing? That they haven't also farmed out their filter production to the lowest bidder?
For that matter, the same thing goes for hydraulic fluids as well. We have no way to tell if the product is being made for high profit or for high quality.

There's no transparency as to which one is cheap and which is quality, so we can't even vote with our pocket books. Kubota - and others - have made the assumption that we would vote for low price instead of higher quality. But I think they have made a mistake in thinking that way. Particularly so when you get up into the larger and more expensive tractors.
rScotty

 

[greenrider1]

And there's the problem in a nutshell: How do you know that the WIX or other brand filter hasn't done exactly the same thing? That they haven't also farmed out their filter production to the lowest bidder?
For that matter, the same thing goes for hydraulic fluids as well. We have no way to tell if the product is being made for high profit or for high quality.

There's no transparency as to which one is cheap and which is quality, so we can't even vote with our pocket books. Kubota - and others - have made the assumption that we would vote for low price instead of higher quality. But I think they have made a mistake in thinking that way. Particularly so when you get up into the larger and more expensive tractors.
rScotty

I guess anything is possible, but WIX is in the business of making filters, and Kubota isn't. The made in China Kubota branded filter may be good quality, or maybe not. Chinese made oil filters (Fram comes to mind) have a reputation of being terrible quality with a high failure rate. WIX has a reputation for making quality filters and I've yet to find one made in China, at least for the applications I normally use them in. Most I've seen are made right here in the USA, and they're easy to get right at my local NAPA (NAPA Gold, made by WIX). It just seems like a lot of Chinese companies have terrible quality control and are willing to cut corners to make products as cheap as possible. Hopefully the hydraulic and HST filters don't get outsourced to China. I would rather support American workers and our economy, or any economy other than China's, for that matter.

 

[RalphVa]

Mighty expensive stuff you're all talking about. What's the change interval recommendation? Only 400 hours? That's teeny if translated in miles at 35 mph average I've seen used for tractor engine oils.

Some automotive MTs are being sealed now (our Cabrio's was) with synthetic fluid in them. Doubt the HST is as severe service as automotive transmissions, and I think even those have far higher hours translated from miles. Think this, like the every other year recommendation to change coolant, is waaaay too conservative. Should be changed. Hopefully everyone will at least take their old fluids to auto supply stores and pour into their used oil bins.

Ralph

 

[WM75Guy]

Since I don't have to change fluids and filters very often I stick with OEM. Here is the Messick's video where Kubota and Napa filters are cut apart and compared. What I get from it is the only way to know is cut some open and compare. Cost and size are not good indicators of quality. Also a cheaper filter is cheaper for a reason.

Napa Filters VS Kubota Filters - Do you need OEM filters? - YouTube

 

[Peter 315]

I cut them open all the time just to see whats going on....

 

[RickB]

Kubota and every other equipment manufacturer has a vested interest in providing filters and fluids of a quality that helps optimize and lengthen the performance of their branded equipment so that equipment gains public favor and widespread approval. Quality is more important than price point.
Aftermarket filter and fluid retailers have a vested interest in market share for their products, the big picture for them is the fluids and filters themselves, not the equipment those fluids and filters protect. The benchmark of aftermarket filters is the price point and not failing or causing an acute equipment failure while they are in use.

 

[ovrszd]

Kubota and every other equipment manufacturer has a vested interest in providing filters and fluids of a quality that helps optimize and lengthen the performance of their branded equipment so that equipment gains public favor and widespread approval. Quality is more important than price point.
Aftermarket filter and fluid retailers have a vested interest in market share for their products, the big picture for them is the fluids and filters themselves, not the equipment those fluids and filters protect. The benchmark of aftermarket filters is the price point and not failing or causing an acute equipment failure while they are in use.

Well explained.