The 5030 has enough power that I don't run it at 540 indicated PTO rpm except when I had the rear mount blower on it this winter. When I use the loader for moving round bales, it is just above an idle so most of the time, I vary the engine speed accordingly. One thing I do is I allow the motor to warm up before moving the unit and when I shut it down, I allow it to idle for a few minutes. We have a blanket maintenance program on the farm that works for all power units as well as the Kubota. I adhered to the 50 hour change for oil and all filters including hydraulic high and low pressure. However, I did not change the UDT at 50 hours. I added make-up UDT to the full mark on the stick to make up for lost fluid during the filter changes. The low pressure filter when removed, will allow UDT fluid to come out until you put a new filter on so you need to have one ready(The hydraulic filters are changed more often than the fluid even in Kubota's recommended maintenance schedule). I will change the UDT at 200 hours as I have with all my previous Kubota's. At the 50 hour interval, I replaced the front axle fluid (UDT) with 85-140 Shell Spirax GL5 gear oil. We are coming upon our hay making season and field work with this tractor requires 4WD mode constantly. I need the shock load characteristics of the 85-140 versus the lighter UDT. At the end of the harvest season, I will change the UDT, filters, engine oil and drain the front axle case and replace the 85-140 with UDT for cold weather use. I use Delvac 1200 super in the crankcase, but that's my preference. We buy 55 gallon drums of it and use it in all of our tractors. Any oil that carries the API certification that Kubota states in your manual will do. I would not recommend a synthetic oil. Petroleum based oils, changed frequently will be more cost effective in the long run. As long as you use an oil with the proper API certification, you will get the proper additive package that the engine needs. The main reason I didn't change out the UDT is that the tractor is hooked to a number of different implements, all with hydraulic cylinders that are used by our other tractors. Throughout the growing season, the UDT will become somewhat contaminated so in the fall I will change out the fluid. I just posted a couple of pictures of a GREEN tractor that was ours under the caption of "John Deere Supersteer". Take a look, it really trashed. if the operator did that to my new Kubota, I'd have kicked his rear end.
Daryl
Forage Services, L.P.
