Do they really charge that much? (2024)

I called my local dealer and informed them I had a B2601 and needed a 50 hr service and asked for the cost.

Service person replied $600-700 dollars.

I said, "Wow, I had no idea it would cost that much."

She laughed and said, "Yep, we hear that a lot."

I was trying to save myself some time by dropping it off before heading out of town. And then just picking it up when I got back. I guess not.

I was thinking it would be around $350. At that price they're still making money.

But for $600-700 I will just do it myself.

John D 2 said:

I called my local dealer and informed them I had a B2601 and needed a 50 hr service and asked for the cost.

Service person replied $600-700 dollars.

I said, "Wow, I had no idea it would cost that much."

She laughed and said, "Yep, we hear that a lot."

I was trying to save myself some time by dropping it off before heading out of town. And then just picking it up when I got back. I guess not.

I was thinking it would be around $350. At that price they're still making money.

But for $600-700 I will just do it myself.

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You wouldn't do it yourself if it was $350? The 50 hour service is an easy job based on the four Kubota tractors that I've owned.

mcmxi said:

You wouldn't do it yourself if it was $350? The 50 hour service is an easy job based on the four Kubota tractors that I've owned.

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If the drive out price was $350 and included all the filters and engine oil and greasing it up I'd consider it.

John D 2 said:

If the drive out price was $350 and included all the filters and engine oil and greasing it up I'd consider it.

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If you do the service yourself, which is very easy, you won't have to haul your tractor to and from the dealer, you'll know it's all been done right, and you'll save money. Obviously it's your decision and you don't need to justify that to anyone.

mcmxi said:

If you do the service yourself, which is very easy, you won't have to haul your tractor to and from the dealer, you'll know it's all been done right, and you'll save money. Obviously it's your decision and you don't need to justify that to anyone.

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I've already watched some videos on it and will be doing it myself. . .

I was just shocked at the price.

check out their service fee per hour.

Shops near me are all $130 / hour, don't matter the colour of tractor !
There could be $100-$200 in filters and oils, 3hr @ $130 = $390 labour, so $500 without itemizing it all....

What gets me is how long someone making $15 an hour has to work to pay for 1 hr shop time ! Start at 9 hrs, then add a few more for taxes and other deductions..... it'd be 2 days work for 1 hr shop time.

GreensvilleJay said:

check out their service fee per hour.

Shops near me are all $130 / hour, don't matter the colour of tractor !
There could be $100-$200 in filters and oils, 3hr @ $130 = $390 labour, so $500 without itemizing it all....

What gets me is how long someone making $15 an hour has to work to pay for 1 hr shop time ! Start at 9 hrs, then add a few more for taxes and other deductions..... it'd be 2 days work for 1 hr shop time.

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Where I live, $15/hour is fast food service wages. Not too many of them own tractors.

GreensvilleJay said:

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D-Day | Normandy Landings

check out their service fee per hour.

Shops near me are all $130 / hour, don't matter the colour of tractor !
There could be $100-$200 in filters and oils, 3hr @ $130 = $390 labour, so $500 without itemizing it all....

What gets me is how long someone making $15 an hour has to work to pay for 1 hr shop time ! Start at 9 hrs, then add a few more for taxes and other deductions..... it'd be 2 days work for 1 hr shop time.

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$130 per hour in Canadian dollars =$95 USD.
That is cheap!

$150/hr is about where most shops are here (mid south, usa) and keeps going up.

cost of doing business keeps going up for tons of reasons (mandates, laws, rules, restrictions, mfg direction, etc)-NOTHING the shop can do about it, most don't turn but maybe 10% profit after all the bills are paid.

you ain't paying a tech $15/hr here either-at least not one that's any count. Decent techs are gonna be $25/hr minimum-and seasoned/experienced techs are closer to $50/hr. Truth be told I'm at $62-but have been at it since 1992 (not in kubota anymore though). At the kubota shop I was at $24 and no raises were given in the 2 1/2 years I was with the new folks-the old owner (shop was bought out) gave us 5% per year. Sometimes more depending on bonuses etc. At $15/hr there's possibility of that tech just up and leave halfway through your tractor service...seen it happen, several times. "Lube tech" as they called them. Drop the drain plug, walk off to lunch-don't come back. Now where did he leave off? There's many ways to look at it, though. I started off at $3.75/hr and went to $4.25 in 6 months (min wage went up). I could have (and maybe should have) left after the first year but I stuck it out, gave it 110% effort and succeeded to manage the shop and parts for a little bit. Went back to mechanic'n instead of managing. Not my cup of tea. One CAN work their way up but it takes effort and some folks don't have the physical ability, some don't have the mental ability, some don't want to, and others are so strung out on whatever that they just don't or can't. Some have family issues holding them up, others are just plum dumb and/or don't got no want-to. Some are drunks and can't show up, some are drunks that can't function without being intoxicated. We are all different and it takes a special kind of person to do it for a living, and I believe an even more special kind to want to do it-and give the effort to succeed. It ain't easy, trust me.

$700 does seem steep for a 50hr on a B series. But I'd like to see the itemized estimate before saying it's outlandish or legitimate.

lugbolt said:

$150/hr is about where most shops are here (mid south, usa) and keeps going up.

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That's the going rate at the local Kubota dealership here in NW Montana too.

GreensvilleJay said:

They may not own tractors BUT they have $$$$ cars to maintain PLUS insurance !!!
NONE of the 'trades' is south of $100/hr anymore.....

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My point is, that $130 CAD is equal to $95 USD.
You are getting a labor bargain!

When the dealer did my 50 hr. 2.5 years ago, it was $246, and $117 of that was labor. I got free transport due to an inspection recall for the loader pins; mine were fine.

I just did my 200 hr. service; it cost about $300 including the UDT2 (I replaced both air filters, the hydraulic filter (only the transmission filter is required) and the fuel filter in addition to the required items).

I will take it to the dealer for the 400 hr. service at 400 hrs. or 6 months before my warranty expires - whichever comes first. To me, it will be worth the extra money to have full diagnostic prior to the warranty lapsing.

Elliott in GA said:

When the dealer did my 50 hr. 2.5 years ago, it was $246, and $117 of that was labor. I got free transport due to an inspection recall for the loader pins; mine were fine.

I just did my 200 hr. service; it cost about $300 including the UDT2 (I replaced both air filters, the hydraulic filter (only the transmission filter is required) and the fuel filter in addition to the required items).

I will take it to the dealer for the 400 hr. service at 400 hrs. or 6 months before my warranty expires - whichever comes first. To me, it will be worth the extra money to have full diagnostic prior to the warranty lapsing.

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Isn't the warranty 2 years or 1,500 hours.

mcmxi said:

If you do the service yourself....you'll know it's all been done right

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The reason I got the dealer to do my first service was exactly so I'd know it was done right. Doing it myself is pretty much a guarantee it hasn't been done right!!

mcmxi said:

If you do the service yourself, which is very easy, you won't have to haul your tractor to and from the dealer, you'll know it's all been done right, and you'll save money.

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This isn’t always the case