Kubota B2301 50-Hour Maintenance (there are some surprises)

Performing the 50-hour maintenance on my Kubota B2301 tractor. I discovered some steps and/or procedures that could easily be missed and also ran across some "look-out-fors" as well. Note: Information contained herein apply to the Kubota B2601 as well.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer:
I am not a professional tractor mechanic. I am a shade tree mechanic whose experience extends to passenger cars and trucks, motorcycles, and golf carts.
I am sharing this video to show how I performed the 50-hour maintenance on my Kubota B2301 tractor, and as a first-time tractor owner, share some of the things I learned.
If there is any information in this video you think is incorrect, any information you think is missing that you feel is important to mention, or would like to share alternate methods for performing the procedures contain herein, please leave in the comments. Of course, please be respectful and/or constructive. Thank you, and enjoy the video.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tools and Materials Required to Perform the 50-hour Service:
- Kubota B2301 / B2601 Operator's Manual
- Kubota LA434 Front Loader Operator's Manual (if applicable)
- Kubota engine oil filter part #HH150-32094
- Kubota transmission oil filter part #HH660-36060
- kubota hydraulic oil fluid filter part #HH670-37710
- Oil filter wrench or strap wrench
- Oil filter drain pan
- Lithium spray grease or similar spray lubricant
- Clean container(s) to hold 3-4 gallons of hydraulic fluid
- Grease gun and multipurpose grease (NLGI-2 OR NLGI-1)
- Dialectric grease (battery terminal grease)
- 14mm socket (or possibly 9/16" instead)
- 17mm socket
- 22mm socket
- torque wrench (capable of measuring up to 120 ft./lbs.
- 12" socket wrench extension
- 4 quarts 10w-30 motor oil
- 1 to 2 quarts Kubota Super UDT part #70000-40200
- (socket sizes for front loader bolt torque pending)
- Funnel
- Beer
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other videos that may be of interest:
Adding an LED LIght Bar to My Kubota Tractor
• Adding an LED Light Ba...
Harbor Freight Quick Hitch Tips and Modification
• Harbor Freight Quick H...
Making a Bucket Level Indicator for a Kubota B2301
• Making a Bucket Level ...

[@ddelv1601]

Thanks for the for making the video. I'm getting ready to do the 50 hour service myself. I wanted to comment just to help you with the algorithm!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Awesome, thank you!

[@la435kubota]

The use of a vacuum on the Oil Inlet no doubt works well. Another thought is before removing the Oil Inlet rubber cap would be to grab the Breather tube next to it and suck a bit of vacuum on it then pinch it off with a clamp. Then go remove the Hydraulic HST filter and likely the loss of fluid would be minimal then too.

[@robmoab3410]

Just ordered my 2301 and found your vids. These will be an awesome reference in the near future and I really appreciate your time for making these videos and uploading them. Definitely earned a sub from me!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Glad the info was helpful, and good luck with your Kubota. You're gonna love it.

[@Mainly-boy-outdoors]

Thank for posting this it's a great help.

[@deanadams872]

Great video. I look forward to doing my 50-hour maintenance coming up soon on my newly purchased BX23S. I will reference your video again in the future when it comes time for my maintenance. Thanks.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

I just looked up the 50-hour service info for the BX23S. It appears you have only a transmission oil filter to change (no separate hydraulic system filter like the B2301/B2601) and per the literature, no draining of the fluid is required. Nice! That will save some frustration. Good luck with your service.

[@deanadams872]

Thanks for the info. I will make sure I do a read of my manual before I buy the supplies required. Thanks.

[@garyharman8600]

Great video, just got my B series a week ago, will defiantly re-watch when that time comes, thanks

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Congrats. Good luck with your tractor.

[@zakry3323]

Hey pal, this is great stuff and very helpful without any of the bs. Thanks much for posting!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

You bet. Thanks for commenting.

[@berk3695]

The filter is the same color as the motor and undercarriage because it was on when the tractor was painted. As far as the hydraulic filter goes search the shop vac method. Essentially you can put a shop vac on the filler hole and it creates a vacuum well enough that you won’t lose much if any oil. I learned the hard way like you did. Good video, keep it up!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

I guess I never put 2 and 2 together to realize the filters were the same color than everything else that isn't orange. I later found out that it is useful for the Kubota dealer service departments to tell if a customer has skipped maintenance if the tractor still has grey filters on it. Thanks for the tip about the shop-vac trick. Unfortunately I won't be able to put it to practice as per the manual all hydraulic filter changes from this point coincide with a fluid change as well. However, hopefully someone sees your comment before performing their 50-hour service and can use that tip, however.

[@AnomadAlaska]

Older video, but thank you. If only I had KZbin to reference for my first tractor back in the 80s. She's still a runner, but a little worse for wear.

[@kathleenkerneen2514]

Great video! I just bought a B2301 and am trying to learn as much about it as possible. Your video is very informative. I may just try servicing it myself. Thank you! I really appreciate you!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad to hear that you are considering doing your own service. I encourage everybody to do so as I personally don't trust the dealerships to not cut corners. KZbin is a great resource to learn to do just about anything yourself. And, if you haven any questions, the knowledgeable content creators are always more than happy to answer questions.

[@coolworkgear9231]

Thanks for taking so much time to make these videos. I already ordered a b2601 so no I have to wait for the darn thing to come in whenever that happens. But thanks to you'll have it a lot of reference videos to help me out

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Glad the videos will help you out, and good luck with your new tractor.

[@josephkelly1237]

Great video keep it up

[@willptech7565]

Hi there, I’m pretty sure the reason why the filters are painted black is because they are preassembled in the factory before the paint is put on so no paint gets inside of the filter Housing and clog up the holes.

[@solgudman1439]

Nice job

[@therustyfrankshow7767]

My b2301 is at 54 hours and my dealer is like 4 weeks out on services. Going to try it myself based on your video. I've got everything I need except the strap wrench, going to try and get one today. I also read about the shop vac trick so maybe I don't have to try and save the hydraulic fluid. Thanks for posting, I probably would not have attempted it myself without your video!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Good to hear. Glad the video will help you out.

[@AnomadAlaska]

Get a pair of giant slip joint pliers. That's what I use for overtightened filters.

[@lisapocalypse]

Thanks for this video! I put a deposit on my 2301 yesterday!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Nice! I'm sure you're going to love it.

[@mikebarber9619]

Thank you!

[@peacefieldfarm_mn]

Thanks for doing this video. After watching, I did the 50 hour service on my B2601. Everything you said and did make sense, but I was not expecting the hydraulic filter to be so slippery, and for it to be full of hydraulic fluid! DUH! I was so intent on getting the new on in place quickly, that I dropped the old one on my shop floor, then wasted time dealing with that thing rolling around while fluid was also pouring from where the filter mounts! In hindsight I should have had a separate container to drop the old filter into, then worked on screwing the new one in to place. I won't make that mistake again! Thanks!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

So what you are saying is that you knew the issue with the filter/fluid, you prepared to mitigate it, but still messed it up? Sounds like something I would do. LOL. Fortunately for us that's the only time that filter needs changing that way. All other service intervals involves changing the fluid anyway.

[@peacefieldfarm_mn]

The Country Living Project Yup exactly. I can be so dense sometimes!

[@teamstucker624]

Great information 👍 in this video of Kubota B Series tractor maintenance and I always say there is never too much grease on working machines lol. Just found your channel and subbed.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

I recently read a comment of someone who was always told growing up "Grease is cheap, tractor parts are not." I couldn't agree more. Thanks for watching and for the sub.

[@teamstucker624]

@@thecountrylivingproject3263 I like that saying lol tractor parts are very high dollar with all these electrical safety switches.

[@CAOHnutrition]

Lol I would have missed a lot of that - good video.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Thanks for your comment.

[@mikep.541]

I just finished my 50 hour service on my B2301. Filters were a real treat. I had to use very large channel locks to get all three loose. Plus, as you mentioned, when removing the transmission filter, you lose a lot of hydraulic fluid which isn’t cheap. I figured that Kubota would be much easier to service since they have been in the business so long. Seriously, it’s easier to service a D9.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

It may be cheaper to service a D9 as well.

[@CountryLivingWithTheHarnishs]

When changing the hydraulic filter use a shop vac on your filler hole it will make a vacuum and hold the fluid in so you can change the filter with no mess new subscriber here

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

I'll need to remember that with my next new tractor as all hydraulic oil services from this point are accompanied by a fluid change as well. Hopefully this advice helps someone watching who has yet to perform their 50-hour service. Thanks for the feedback.

[@harveyroad6]

At 15:00 min mark have a look at your filter it has 12 facets on the end. They sell sockets for every size that fit the end of the filter that fit a 1/2" ratchet. Consider buying one for each size you need and mark them for the filter application, engine oil, trans, etc, and keep them in your tractor tool box. I have the rubber strap that slips when oily also have Channellock filter wrench, great tool, which I like for removal but sockets are slick for install. They cost 5$ each but are worth it in the long run.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

I used to be able to get by with a strap-type filter wrench, but I have since procured the socket style you mentioned. Good idea to mark them like you said, especially when you end up with several. Thanks for the feedback.

[@ML-lg4ky]

Love your due diligence. Thanks for sharing.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

You are so welcome!

[@RichardGilbert2727]

This is great because you go through EVERYTHING. I need that as I prepare to do my first 50 hour service on my B2601. Do you know what the bolt sizes are for the front loader main frame bolt and nuts? Having your info for the wheel bolts and nuts is very helpful!

[@leonardcampbell9750]

Operator's manual does mention draining the hydraulic fluid.

[@renegoudreau8578]

There is a way to change hydraulic filter without draining. Get a helper to put a shop vac halfway over the fill tube to create slight vacuum on the reservoir. Remove filter and replace with new. Lost approximately 1 litre of oil doing this.

[@mikecioka1180]

That nice that they do not force you paid for maintenance in the dealer

[@ChiDraconis]

There is another style of oil filter wrench that has flats on it; They work better; For loader bolt torque it is better to invest in what is called 6-point impact sockets then use them like most use 12-point chrome which is capable of breaking in strong hands; If you are brave once you get used to mechanizing oil filters can be removed by forcing a screwdriver through it but do not do it until you get the touch for working out of a bind; Place any oil on the rubber gasket with installing the new one; You will be told not to pre-charge the filter with oil but most oil pump work on a bypass where what goes to the engine is not that which goes through the filter; This defies common sense but if you look at the charts there is a reason for it: If filter ever does get clogged it's goodbye engine; It has a 2-spring system with bypass going at lower pressure to force engine oil tunnels to get first feed; Also use glow--plug preheat more than they tell you; Engine starts better and i am sure they run all the time anyway;

[@spiritintheforest]

The Kubota manual is painfully obtuse sometimes. They reference points on the tractor without illustrating where they are and the hydraulic fluid/filter section is super confusing. Eg. Doesn't tell you which filter is the suction vs HST filter. Thank goodness for videos like yours and others to clarify.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Even sometimes when illustrations are included it's hard as heck to figure out what you are looking at.

[@thercpoop]

geeezing

[@gbel9295]

The Oil filters look different so that the dealer knows and can see that the initial 50hr service was completed...That way if the 50hr service wasn't completed and there was a transmission issue....They can see that the service wasn't complete and you will get hit with the bill and it not go to warranty...

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Makes sense. Thanks for the info.

[@FJB2020]

It is different becasue they paint the entire engine with the filters attached.. Just scrape off the paint and you will see it is white underneath..

[@duanehamdorf2228]

Thanks for the info. You still happy with yours?thanks 👍

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Yes. Still happy with it. Best money I ever spent.

[@johnr.383]

Great, now I think that I should make a custom toolbox with most used sockets and tools for easy maintenance instead of looking in messy toolbox...

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

At least your tools are in your toolbox and you know where to find them. My tools are everywhere but my toolbox.

[@spiritintheforest]

I've started annotations in my manual with the correct socket/wrench sizes to use. Kubota could have included it if they knew how to write a good manual.

[@wkualum3194]

How do you like it? The 2301 that is.

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

I just posted a new video (Kubota 100 Hour Review) that answers that question where I go into some amount of detail on what I like and what I think could be better or different. However I don't like it, I love it!

[@dave434]

I'm looking at one of these now, Have you been happy with the B2301?? The One I am looking at has LOW hours of 4! Yes 4! Asking 17500.00 I would like to get it for 16---16500. Should I get it, Your video will be a great help to me servicing it. Thanks!

[@thecountrylivingproject3263]

Four hours on a tractor is basically a brand new tractor. Does it have a front loader?

[@dave434]

@@thecountrylivingproject3263 Yes, It does have a front end loader. Owner said 16500 would get it delivered! I went to local Kubota dealer and looked at a 2601 , He said is was just like the 2301 except for less hp, I really didn't care for the forward and reverse peddle, but I say once a man got use to it, maybe it wouldn't be a big deal.

[@tombrandon8043]

Kubota 10:06

[@benjybaldwin773]

10w 30 in a diesel motor?.. 15-40 for this guy

[@FJB2020]

It calls for both in the manual and is dependent on the temperatures you operate in.