I will be looking at one later this week with 900+ hrs. Any known issues with the model? What should I inspect when I look at it? Is there major service due around 1000hrs?
Shake the bucket and look at the pivot bushings. Pretty much goes for all of the lube points, by the adapter pivots especially.
Kubota | Maintenance Schedules - Check Points a lot of things biggest I can think is is hydro fluid clear or milky. Is it quick attach or bucket?? milky means wasn’t changed at 900 hours Use bucket lift front tire off ground in 4wd di the free spin or not.. free spin means 4wd not right
What was it used for by the previous owner? Turn the steering both ways till it stops and see if the steering wheel keeps turning. Is this a stick or hydro ? Look at the coolant in the radiator and see if any oil is present.
I'm jelly! That's gonna be a nice ride. Being HST, the hydro oil and service should be considered critical. Fluid should be changed every 400hrs according to maintenance on my 03 HST. It's not hard to imagine someone not wanting to pay Kubota's price for UDT2 and throwing some $25/5-gallon stuff in there. Inner air filter should be a tell (unless they just did a quickie job for the sale). Is this at a Kubota dealer, or private sale?
Never, never use cheap fluid in any Kubota HST. Having owned at least 10 Kubota's over the last 25 years, I say that from experience. Having said that, neither of my present 2 are hydrostats. Both are hydraulic shuttle but then I farm with mine. Much prefer hydraulic shuttles for their simplicity and better power delivery not only to the wheels but to the PTO as well. Hydro's are inefficient for power transmission.
Actually, milky fluid indicates the tractor was never worked hard enough to 'boil' off the condensation. All of them will make condensation in the gear cases, a product of cold castings and warm moist air.
Have not had any milky fluid in the 4 hydro changes I have done. Slightly darker but always clear. Same experience with other hydrostats I've changed (RTV900, ZD326, JD 2305)
My old L 3600 had milky hydraulic oil. Short runs in cold weather and never allowed it to get heated up enough. The current L48 is Hydro and never has a problem with getting the fluid warmed up.
That makes sense, the hydros do make some heat...unfortunately that's due to the hydro's inherent inefficiency.
I never say that part but it's a fact. Just like a slush box in a vehicle, efficiency is lost with any fluid coupling.
The neighbors L2800 would get milky because he'd fire it up, use it a few minutes and put it away. I rarely do that. In cold weather I start mine, bring the throttle up to 1000-1200 rpm after the oil light goes out then go clean off the deck, steps and garage approach while it warms up. Usually 20-30 minutes then I plow.
