Maintenance Woes (and a knuckleheaded dealer)

[W5FL]

ejb,

I have the same size tractor as you and wonder why you would recommend changing the break-in oil at 30 hours?

My manual recommends changing the oil and filter at 50 hours and then the oil changed at 200 hours and the filter at 400 hours which seems reasonable to me for a 68 hp diesel engine.

I only have about 36 hours on my tractor, but the oil is still very clear and feels very clean to the touch. What would be the advantage to changin it before 50 hours?

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I have alway heard that the first oil change is the most important since any type of imperfections in the cyclinders/engine parts would likely get shaved off during the first few hours of use and you would want to get them out as soon as possible...I don't know if it is true or not, but it makes sense to me...I didn't mean to imply that I was going to change oil at 30 hours since JD recommends at 100 hours for my tractor...a previous poster was saying that Kubota reccommends 50 hours for the first change, and my point was simply that there is nothing magical about 50 hours, if I had 30 hours on my tractor (and the dealer recommended 50 hour change) but I had the time, I would go ahead and change it since right now my fields are still to boggy to drive on...might as well get it out of the way...I think that as far as oil changes are concerned, the more the better, its cheap insurance on a major investment that I would like to last as long as possible.

 

[W5FL]

OK, I will change your oil if you will send me some of that wet stuff that makes boggy fields./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I had to wear a painter's mask while tilling this week end to keep from choking to death. (North Central Texas)

Guess I need to check the air filter again! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Well I won't send you any,but feel free to come by and pick up some...I have all I can use and then some...I tried to drive in the field the otherday and sunk in 18 inches...and then the rain came down for another week...

 

[Alan L.]

The only problem with changing the fluids at 30 hours instead of 50 is that you would then need to change them again at 80 hours, otherwise there will be too long an interval between the first and second oil changes. For that reason I would wait til 50 hours so you are dealing with nice round numbers.

 

[Roy]

I can see pros and cons either way. If there is a problem (e.g. metal shavings in the screens), better to find out sooner than later. Flip side, you will do the next service sooner (300 hours for the my UDT) and you will have the tractor out of service /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif.

What's interesting is that my Owner's Guide states (for oil and tranny fluid) "must be done after the first 50 hours". That tells me the requirement (putting on my engineering hat) is to wait at least 50 hours. It may be that they know if there are production issues (e.g. gears machined out of tolerance), it can take up to 50 hours to manifest itself. So, I can see a risk either way.

Now. for myself, (and each has to do their own risk tolerance analysis), I will wait for the 50 hours. I figure that if an unknown problem did occur early on, it will be covered by the 2 year warranty (since I followed the Owner's Manual). If I do it now (at 30 hours), I risk that a problem will arise during that 30 to 50 period, and not be discovered until the 280 hour (adjusting for early change) maintenance, which will probably be after the warranty period.

 

[PaulB]

I am lost about what you refered to as one filter for the hydraulics and one for the HST. Is this unique to the 2910? I THINK my 1700 has 1 hydraulic filter only - at least I hope so as thats all I have ever changed. Anybody know different?

 

[Bird]

Paul, I'm sure you only have the one filter, and the strainer (or screen), just as my Kubotas do (or have had), but I know some of my neighbors' big tractors have dual filters, and my cousin's TC29 New Holland has two spin on filters, and no mention in the manual of a strainer like we have. I haven't seen a B2910 yet, so don't know whether Kubota has changed that or not.

Bird

 

[JimBinMI]

PaulB,
I just finished my 50 hour service on my beloved New Holland TC18 /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif. Mine has a Hydraulic System Oil Filter and an H.S.T. System Oil Filter. This was clearly addressed in my operator's manual on the 50 hour service. I'm sure if you have two filters too it would show it right in your manual. Good Luck, JimBinMI

 

[JimBinMI]

Bird,
I believe you're right about the strainer. I read about you Kubota guys doing your services and how much shavings you all thought was the right amount. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I kind of looked forward to being able to brag about less shavings in my New Holland TC18! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Well, I did my 50 hour tonight and no strainer mentioned but I did change two filters, hydraulic system and H.S.T. (plus oil and fuel) Guess what? Didn't see any shavings /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif what a clean engine I must have /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif Thanks for your info, JimBinMI