Break-in On Brand New SXS - First 20 Hours of Ownership - Kubota Sidekick XG850

In this video we talk about how we drive and use our new SXS while the engine is breaking in while we do our first 20 hour service.
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[@maintenancewithmike]

Excellent video Lucas, and thanks for sharing. We just pulled the trigger on a Kioti K9 and our first video on that comes out Saturday. I have the same BX as you but this time went Kioti. 😮cheers.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Awesome! Congrats on the new ride!

[@JoeTheFarmer]

Come on Lucas, you drive it wide open from day one!!! 🤣🤣🤣. Great and important video to share brother. New machines should last a lifetime with a solid maintenance schedule and initial maintenance is essential. Great video as always!!!

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Well, I can tell you ours isn’t babied. lol. We are sure having a good time with it. Thanks for stopping by, Joe! Hope you and the family are doing well. 👊

[@cedaroakfarm8596]

I have the exact same 2023 Sidekick and read the manual intending to follow the instructions. However, as we used it on the farm, full speed and full power is very rarely required so break-in was literally safe and easy on the farm. I very rarely come out of low range either, it is a perfect choice for the farm roads, trails, gullies, stream crossings and hills. I did have the first oil change at 20 hours. That is when I added the lift kit to get 2 more inches of ground clearance, highly recommend it, not expensive either. My skid plates looked like a grizzly got under there, marking it for his domain. no more. The accelerator is still too sensitive and you learn quickly not to have someone standing behind it you if you are trying to back up slow like to a trailer. The manual will tell you if it sticks in gear, just tickle the throttle and it does release. Also, I have found if you have the parking brake engaged it will cause it to stick in that gear until you release the brake. Love the machine, as with anything mechanical, half the fun is learning how it acts, sounds and performs.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Great comment! I use low range most of the time here too. We have a steep hill trail to climb to access the majority of our property so there is no need to place extra strain on the drivetrain climbing the hill… I will likely do a lift on mine very soon. Thanks for stopping by!

[@comlbbeau]

The break-in for my Polaris Ranger 570 Full Size is very similar to what you quoted from your owner's manual. For the first 50 hours I kept it in low range avoiding aggressive starts, more for the CVT belt break-in than anything else. Varying the RPMs and being easy on the brakes was part of my driving style anyway. I'm sure you will get great service from your Sidekick. I own two Kubota products, and they have served me well with practically no problems over many years.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Right on! Those Rangers are great machines too. 👊

[@smeefamily54]

More good info Lucas: I drove my atv like I stole it when I first got it. Now it is like me, OLD, so I have to go gentle now, just in case I break something on it and me. 🤓I wish the BX23S was that easy to change the oil. That hydraulic dip stick is huge. Take care and stay safe. PS: nice windshield.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Yip, I gotta get to the BX next. Probably this weekend… Thanks, the windshield is so nice!

[@edboley4724]

Nice work Lucas, we may need to put you to work in the shop!!

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

lol. I need a good side gig. I don’t have much to do. 😂🤣

[@danielheisig4258]

Great video! You explain things for us to understand well. What spray lubricant are you using to grease? If you make a change to your suspension , we would love to see a video. Thanks from SC

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Thank you! I sure will!

[@terryderush2657]

Great 👍 stuff 🇺🇸 👍

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Thanks!

[@ironside511]

There are 5 settings on the suspension. Buy a good spanner wrench and keep it under the seat. You’d be amazed how much you can raise the suspension without buying a lift kit. I’ve done many mods and a few custom touches to mine that make it stand out. Machine has lots of potential people don’t realize.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Right on! Thanks for sharing! Does adjusting the suspension change the ride quality?

[@ironside511]

Not that noticeable. 5 being the highest it might make you think it’s tippy…..but it’s pretty stable. I run on 3rd setting with a taller tire. Makes a big difference on rocks…..a floor jack and a minute or so……instant clearance!

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

@@ironside511 I'll be playing with this soon.

[@danielheisig4258]

Would love to see a video on the suspension change. You are a great teacher in your vids

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

I like to write the hours/date on the oil filter with a sharpie and that's an odd place to put the oil dipstick!

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

I usually do that too. Got sidetracked this time I guess. I was really surprised by the dipstick placement. Especially since they recommend you check it before every ride.

[@geraldhawkins2643]

Best thing for break in is run a few heat cycles letting machine cool all the way down to outside temperature and then run it full throttle for 1 second and let it coast to a stop to let rings seat baby it is not gonna get the rings to seat

[@michaelmactavish4445]

kubotas deffently are toughest beast plus kubota cares for alot of people that has kubotas wich why they have good reputation

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

My relationship with my local dealer is really the biggest reason I chose Kubota. I am happy with it for sure!

[@michaelmactavish4445]

yeah my dealer is great too plus they save customers alot of money wich is nice too@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

My new Sidekick is junk along with several others I am finding out. Serious contamination of the oil with gas according to the oil analysis. kubota only cares until the sale is complete and then if there are problems they do not care. Seems to be the Subaru engine design issues. I bought mine because of my dealer but turns out Kubota is in charge of the warranty and how it is handled.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

The 20 hour change on my new sidekick looked like mud. High percentage of gas and moisture. There's a serious problem with some of these Subaru engines. I bought mine because of my dealer and that turned out being a big mistake. There is no diagnostic info on the engine and parts swapping is the only way to troubleshoot. Kubota warranty handling sucks these days. After being loyal for years, last Kubota for me.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

That is a shame! If I encountered that at 20 hours I would not be happy! I hope somebody steps up and does right by you.

[@unemployedredneckhillbilly2023]

@@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead Kubota says it's normal for this engine if not let run 20 minutes evaporate the fuel from the crankcase after each start. Another guy just had his engine blow at 400 hours due to fuel dilution and a fellow just west of me just dumped his after finding the contamination. It doesn't seem isolated and Kubota knows about it and calls it short tripping now. Done with Kubota.

[@michaelmcclure1835]

Kind of off the topic, what size trailer do you haul the tractor on? Or how heavy duty would you recommend?

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

I have a 16’ with 2-3500# axles. Works pretty good. 18’ would be nicer.

[@michaelmcclure1835]

Is it a car hauler or equipment trailer?

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

Mine is a car hauler type. It is homemade, but the frame is very heavy duty.

[@matthewsims359]

kind of off the subject but kind of not. i have owned 3 cummins engine trucks. an 01 2500 5.9, a 18 3500 6.7 and now a 2020 2500 6.7. i have always ran rotella 15w40 synthetic blend until this 2020' the dealership told me 10w30 because the 15w40 would eat up the seals. to you and the viewers, whats yalls thoughts on this. as far as break in, im pretty easy on all of my stuff. meaning, i use how its was designed to be used. i use it but dont abuse it.

[@PeeksPeakHobbyHomestead]

That’s definitely a new one on me. I don’t understand how viscosity would affect seals, but maybe someone in engineering will come along and explain.