k0ua
Epic Contributor
This weekend I tackled the 50 hour service on my new DK35seHydro tractor
All went well with the exception on the Hydraulic filter on the right hand side of the tractor.. I spent 2 hours in 90 degree heat trying to get that thing to spin off. I cursed the name of that unknown Korean "gentleman" with the big brawny arms that though that thing needed to be put on that tight. After trying 2 different oil filter wrenches, this wimpy office worker just did not have the strength to loosen it. I wound up drilling a 1/2 inch hole through it, and using a piece of 1/2 inch all thread about 3 foot long to break it loose. It bent the all thread, some but I got it loose enough in the 1/8 of a turn "window" I had between the step and the right tire to get back on it with the oil filter wrench and get it out. Putting the new one (full of new clean fluid) back in was fun too. That was the hardest part of the whole job. Lets's see, main drain plug 2 rear differential drain plugs, the hydraulic and the hydrostat filters, (you know the golden one, that cost's like it is made out of gold). Then the front axle 2 drain plugs, and refill everything. My plan was to use the pump to pump in the fluid without holding those nice heavy 5 gallong buckets up and slowly pouring in the fluid..Well that did not work, see pix of the pump. It would barely pump the oil, and would not pump it fast enough to do any good. Pretty much a waste of money. So I held up the 5 gallon buckets to the funnel and slowly poured in 10 gallons in the rear. Then filled the front I am not sure how much there but probably less than 2 gallons. I had the wife watch the sight glass on that one. I did use a clean dry 1 gallon distilled water jug as a transfer container on that one. The dollar general 62 quart Tote, worked well to catch all the oil, even the 10 gallons that poured out of the transmission and rear end. The front axle was drained into a smaller aluminum pan. The engine oil (two plugs) and filter went easy.. cleaned the air filter, greased the loader, and chassis Zerks. Tightened and checked all important fasteners including the wheels and loader bolts. Found a few sorta loose ones. It took me 2 partial days. Now I know why they want real money to do this. If the Hydraulic filter hadn't taken so much "starch" out of me, I probably could have done it all the first day. But it is still a lot of work in the heat. Also when crawling around under the tractor, I found a huge rats nest on top of the transmission all intertwined with the range selector linkage and electrical wires.. That was fun to remove.. the folding pocketknife shows the scale.
James K0UA
All went well with the exception on the Hydraulic filter on the right hand side of the tractor.. I spent 2 hours in 90 degree heat trying to get that thing to spin off. I cursed the name of that unknown Korean "gentleman" with the big brawny arms that though that thing needed to be put on that tight. After trying 2 different oil filter wrenches, this wimpy office worker just did not have the strength to loosen it. I wound up drilling a 1/2 inch hole through it, and using a piece of 1/2 inch all thread about 3 foot long to break it loose. It bent the all thread, some but I got it loose enough in the 1/8 of a turn "window" I had between the step and the right tire to get back on it with the oil filter wrench and get it out. Putting the new one (full of new clean fluid) back in was fun too. That was the hardest part of the whole job. Lets's see, main drain plug 2 rear differential drain plugs, the hydraulic and the hydrostat filters, (you know the golden one, that cost's like it is made out of gold). Then the front axle 2 drain plugs, and refill everything. My plan was to use the pump to pump in the fluid without holding those nice heavy 5 gallong buckets up and slowly pouring in the fluid..Well that did not work, see pix of the pump. It would barely pump the oil, and would not pump it fast enough to do any good. Pretty much a waste of money. So I held up the 5 gallon buckets to the funnel and slowly poured in 10 gallons in the rear. Then filled the front I am not sure how much there but probably less than 2 gallons. I had the wife watch the sight glass on that one. I did use a clean dry 1 gallon distilled water jug as a transfer container on that one. The dollar general 62 quart Tote, worked well to catch all the oil, even the 10 gallons that poured out of the transmission and rear end. The front axle was drained into a smaller aluminum pan. The engine oil (two plugs) and filter went easy.. cleaned the air filter, greased the loader, and chassis Zerks. Tightened and checked all important fasteners including the wheels and loader bolts. Found a few sorta loose ones. It took me 2 partial days. Now I know why they want real money to do this. If the Hydraulic filter hadn't taken so much "starch" out of me, I probably could have done it all the first day. But it is still a lot of work in the heat. Also when crawling around under the tractor, I found a huge rats nest on top of the transmission all intertwined with the range selector linkage and electrical wires.. That was fun to remove.. the folding pocketknife shows the scale.
James K0UA
The biggest part of the problem was that darn hydraulic filter. The hydrostat filter on the left side was easy, and the oil filter was easy. If I had a good chain wrench, it would probably have not been a problem. And next time I am NOT going to fill that darn hydraulic filter before screwing it on. Like a lot of things, if you are better prepared, it will go easier.:thumbsup:
