I usually like to shorten the service of the first fluids and filters for the first change by half of the recommended amount for NEW equipment. In my mind I am getting the tooling shavings etc out of the system early. So far I have caught some pretty big stuff when I have done this and it certainly does not hurt. The downside it it raises the service costs. Anyone have input on the value in the Kubota to shorten the 50 hour window to 25 hours and then performing the 50 hour service again at 50 hours?
I moved my 50 hour to 25 hrs and did the 100 hr a little early too. I tend to do that sort of thing for all new machinery. After that, I use the recommended intervals as guidelines - while realizing that the guidelines themselves are more likely opinions than fact.
There are some things I should do that I don't pay enough attention to. One example of that is changing the coolant. I don't do that nearly as often as they recommend. Never have on any machine....and never had a problem. Yet.
On things I let slide, I do try to at least check up on them. Stuff like brake adjustment, front axle slop, the radiator hose, belts, power steering hoses, or cooler lines. Sometimes I'll just spend an hour going over stuff.
If you favor initial maintenance, what do you think about checking the valve clearance? The first check is coming up on the
M59 at 600 hours - actually it's now at about 650 but will probably put it off until warmer weather. So that will be somewhere in the 700 hr range.
Sure wish that Kubota had put a compression release on this tractor - or some way to crank it over without it starting. That would be nice for pre-lube in cold weather too.
Good luck with your new machine.
rScotty
Philip.
