REPLY FROM KUBOTA CONCERNING 50 HOUR FLUID CHANGES

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I sent Kubota Corp an email requesting a plain answer concerning the need or lack of need for first 50 hour change of SUDT fluids in my specific tractors, being a BX2660, a BX25 and a F2680E. Looks like I reached a plain talker and here is the response from Kubota.

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..

 

[Happyman]

I agree: Follow your owner's manual for the specific equipment that you own.
Every tractor is different. There is no "Universal" maintanance schedule.
Thanks, JOHNTHOMAS

 

[TripleR]

Thanks for clearing that up though I am sure there will continue to be those who will disagree.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Now that I know I'm not going to change fluids pretty soon, I need the cork stopping story and the vacuum story and I think there may have been others of how to not lose the fluid when doing screen cleaning. Should have paid better attention when they were posted but figured it didn't apply to me so I didn't save the details, just the highlights. Now need details.

 

[veresjwv]

Hey guys, I own the L3400 and my owners manual agrees with what Kubota said. I do not have to change the fluid at 50 hours just the filter!!! Thanks JohnThomas!

 

[ccsial]

Hey guys, I own the L3400 and my owners manual agrees with what Kubota said. I do not have to change the fluid at 50 hours just the filter!!! Thanks JohnThomas!

I don't know if you have an HST or not.

My L3400HST requires tranny fluid and filter at 50 hours. I attached a scan of my L3400 manual. After the first 50 the filters are at 200 and fluid at 400. I got mine in 2005, maybe they changed the manuals.

 

[montelatici]

"For the F2680, it is the 200 hour mark."

What model is Kubota speaking about? Is it a tractor?

 

[veresjwv]

I don't know if you have an HST or not.

My L3400HST requires tranny fluid and filter at 50 hours. I attached a scan of my L3400 manual. After the first 50 the filters are at 200 and fluid at 400. I got mine in 2005, maybe they changed the manuals.

Just when I think I get it all figured out!!! I do have a HST and I wish I could scan my manual but on page 44 (MAINTENANCE) Transmission oil change 400hours. On Page 43 Engine oil, Engine oil filter, Transmission oil filter (HST) @ 50 hours and back to page 43 Hydraulic oil filter @ 50.
My manual code No.TC223-1971-1 What the Heck???? I guess I will just follow MY manual and see what happens.

 

[Chris86314]

Hey guys, I own the L3400 and my owners manual agrees with what Kubota said. I do not have to change the fluid at 50 hours just the filter!!! Thanks JohnThomas!

I have a B3200 and the manual says the hydraulic fluid does not have to be changed until 400 hours (just like your manual). It also says to just change the filter. After looking at the situation and calling Barlow questioning this method I wrote to Kubota Tech Support (through the Kubota web site) asking how you could change just the filter when the filter sits at the bottom of the pan and all fluid would leak out if you pulled the filter without draining it first.

I got a very quick direct phone call back from a Tech telling me the manual was WRONG and the Oil and Hydraulic fluids needed to be changed, filter changed and screen pulled and cleaned and that YES the fluid would all drain out if you pulled the filter before draining the pan.

Take this for what it is worth but that is what I was told.. so rather than taking any chances I changed all fluids and filters, now I don't have to worry for another 350 hours. Now that it is done, a few dollars for fluids and a few hours time lets me sleep better at night.

 

[dodge man]

I'd have to go check my manual, but I'm almost positive that my BX2350 says change the hydraulic fluid and filter at 50 hours, but doesn't say a thing about cleaning the hst strainer until later. I checked the manual and it does say hst fluid and filter at 50 hours and clean the strainer at 300 hours. No wonder there is a little confusion, they have changed it over the years.

 

[bp fick]

JT, cork lesson

Get a cork, a large diameter from some wine bottles. 1" or so in diameter. Using a utility knife, shape one end with a little taper. When you pull the screen, have a pan under there, because you will lose 1/2 pint, but no big deal. DO LEAVE the dip stick in place Actually the vacuum holds the fluid in pretty good. If you pulled the dipstick, you would have a place for the make up air to enter, which would speed the leaking.

Anyhow, carefully pull the screen. Have cork plug (or tapered rubber) ready and stick it in. You now can take your time about gently cleaning the screen.

That's the trick. Simple and efficient.

The taper is cool because it mean you don't have to have a "perfect" fit. It does need to be approx 1" tapering down to 7/8" or so.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

"For the F2680, it is the 200 hour mark."

What model is Kubota speaking about? Is it a tractor?

It's not a tractor. It's the better for me than a Zero turn mower and a bit more money than a ZTR.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

Just when I think I get it all figured out!!! I do have a HST and I wish I could scan my manual but on page 44 (MAINTENANCE) Transmission oil change 400hours. On Page 43 Engine oil, Engine oil filter, Transmission oil filter (HST) @ 50 hours and back to page 43 Hydraulic oil filter @ 50.
My manual code No.TC223-1971-1 What the Heck???? I guess I will just follow MY manual and see what happens.

You do have it figured out. Go with your manual is what Kubota is saying. Your manual is saying change oil,oil filter and transmission filters (2) at 50hours but not the fluid until 400 hours. The fluid change is the issue and not the filters and engine oil. Only the older models have in their manuals to change the transmission fluid at 50. The manuals/Kubota has changed their recommendation for newer models. Looks like the change started about 2-3 years ago on BX's. So, if you have a tractor over 2 to 3 years old, your manual will have change fluids and filters at 50hours which is what I would do if I had one of those but I believe most tractors over 2 or 3 years old have probably already done their 50 hour service so it shouldn't be an issue of concern for anyone with the older tractors. Now, it's pretty well just up to the owners of newer tractors that haven't done the 50 hours service to decide what they will do.

 

[Chilly807]

You do have it figured out. Go with your manual is what Kubota is saying. Your manual is saying change oil,oil filter and transmission filters (2) at 50hours but not the fluid until 400 hours. The fluid change is the issue and not the filters and engine oil. Only the older models have in their manuals to change the transmission fluid at 50. The manuals/Kubota has changed their recommendation for newer models. Looks like the change started about 2-3 years ago on BX's. So, if you have a tractor over 2 to 3 years old, your manual will have change fluids and filters at 50hours which is what I would do if I had one of those but I believe most tractors over 2 or 3 years old have probably already done their 50 hour service so it shouldn't be an issue of concern for anyone with the older tractors. Now, it's pretty well just up to the owners of newer tractors that haven't done the 50 hours service to decide what they will do.

You're right, I suspect Kubota re-evaluated the service intervals and came to the conclusion that it wasn't necessary to change fluids that early. Possibly the maintenance costs were out of line with competitors.

If I have the time I'm going to have a look at other manufacturers such as JD, Case, NH, etc and see what they recommend, out of curiosity. I'm planning on following my manual, though I may drop the hydraulic fluid anyway at 50 hours depending on how much I lose changing the filter. Mine doesn't require SUDT so it's not the end of the world cost-wise.

My manual # is TC223-1971-3 for a 2009 L3400DT, the manual date is 2007, so no changes since then. My intervals look the same as veresjwv.

Chilly

 

[timswi]

When in doubt, change it all...I have a $20,000 machine. Not gonna cheese out on $140 worth of filters and fluids. I buy nothing but Kubota maintenance parts and keep the reciepts..If something were to happen, it's their stuff in the machine.

 

[ccsial]

If I have the time I'm going to have a look at other manufacturers such as JD, Case, NH, etc and see what they recommend, out of curiosity. I'm planning on following my manual, though I may drop the hydraulic fluid anyway at 50 hours depending on how much I lose changing the filter. Mine doesn't require SUDT so it's not the end of the world cost-wise.
Chilly

My 2008 John Deere X748 required transmission fluid change and filter at 50 hours.

You won't lose much fluid. I did the 250 hour hydraulic and transmission filter on my L3400 this fall and lost about a quart.

 

[sw03]

I'd have to go check my manual, but I'm almost positive that my BX2350 says change the hydraulic fluid and filter at 50 hours, but doesn't say a thing about cleaning the hst strainer until later. I checked the manual and it does say hst fluid and filter at 50 hours and clean the strainer at 300 hours. No wonder there is a little confusion, they have changed it over the years.

This is one reason why I trust manuals very little to some extent.

My bx24 states to change all hyd and strainer at 50. But fuel filter at 100.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

This is one reason why I trust manuals very little to some extent.

My bx24 states to change all hyd and strainer at 50. But fuel filter at 100.

I didn't understand what in your post makes you not trust manuals. The BX24 and BX2350 are the same tractors, almost and it appears that this is when Kubota implemented the change, during the production of these models. I've never changed a fuel filter yet but maybe I haven't kept a tractor long enough and I follow the manuals. I did change one on a Gas Kubota that the rubber filler cap lid ring had fell into the gas tank and stopped up the filter but never on any of my diesels. In my mind Kubota had studied and planned to make the service interval change for years. One day they did it. There has to be an ending minute and starting minute some where on almost any change and it appears one minute old manuals were produced and the next minute new manuals were produced. Date of purchase could have been different since the tractors are shipped all over and some dealers sell 10 a week and some dealers sell 1 in 10 years. Barlows has a new tractor that hasn't been made in 5 years that another dealer couldn't sell so it has been shipped to him to sell. Someone can probably get a great price on it if they want a 5 year old new tractor with full warranty and 0% interest. I didn't.

 

[veresjwv]

Makes sense to me JohnThomas!

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

While getting ready for Church today, I pondered this situation a bit more thoroughly. I think I have it figured out! Those of us that have BX's or a bunch of us that have BX's know that one front tire/rim is bad. I figured out that Kubota had bought a bunch of bad rims or tires and for some reason they didn't get the supplier to replace them. Maybe the supplier went bankrupt. I believe they have 2 stacks of mounted tires for the front of BX's.The stack of good ones and the stack of bad ones. Now they only put one bad one on each machine because you rarely hear of anyone having two that go flat on the front, just one. I believe what they done on the change over was planned at the beginning of the run on the BX24 and BX2350 that they were going to supply the new manuals indicating no SUDT fluid change at the first 50 hour service. Now, don't quit on me yet, I'm getting there. When change over time came some idiot in publication ordering had ordered more of the old manuals or the publisher did not make the changes and it wasn't caught until mid run. So as with the run of bad BX front tires the company to save money continued sending out new machines with the old manual until all of the old manuals were depleted then started sending out the new manuals. Therefore we have BX24's and BX2350's with different manuals. Now they got rid of all them old manuals by the time the BX25 and BX2660 came out so all of them will have the new manual. Now this is how my mind works and this is what I think happened until someone comes up with a better theory or the Company Rep calls or writes me something different. Now I have started thinking again after having stopped for a few minutes and I now believe my theory will be quoted in future forums as "The Kubota representative said (my theory) I read it/heard it or saw it.