Oil & Fuel On my way to 100

[MossflowerWoods]

The front axle oil capacity of my CT335 (same tractor in white) is listed as 8 quarts. Filling it by the top plug on the axle tube and the sight glass only took about 6 quarts. I had to remove the upper plug at each wheel end to find where the rest of the oil was needed. Each wheel end took close to another quart to fill up to the plug hole. In total I put 7.5 quarts back into the front end and still left some space at the top of the glass.

You might want to peek into the upper plugs on the wheel ends and see if they are full of oil or not. Mine needed some help to fill.

Excellent Post Milkman!

I will go looking also.

David

 

[milkman636]

I'd like to hear back whether you guys had a good fill at the wheel ends or not. Please post back your findings.

Bobcat calls for 80w-90 in the front axle. That was pretty thick stuff here in November. It was barely above freezing when I did my 50hr service. My initial assumption was that internal oil passages in the housing would have allowed oil to flow down to the wheel ends, but it didn't seem to be happening.

 

[k0ua]

I'd like to hear back whether you guys had a good fill at the wheel ends or not. Please post back your findings.

Bobcat calls for 80w-90 in the front axle. That was pretty thick stuff here in November. It was barely above freezing when I did my 50hr service. My initial assumption was that internal oil passages in the housing would have allowed oil to flow down to the wheel ends, but it didn't seem to be happening.

I will try to check it this weekend.. yeah I though about using 80-90 but it said use either the same tranny fluid or the 80-90 so I used the hydraulic fluid

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

The front axle oil capacity of my CT335 (same tractor in white) is listed as 8 quarts. Filling it by the top plug on the axle tube and the sight glass only took about 6 quarts. I had to remove the upper plug at each wheel end to find where the rest of the oil was needed. Each wheel end took close to another quart to fill up to the plug hole. In total I put 7.5 quarts back into the front end and still left some space at the top of the glass.

You might want to peek into the upper plugs on the wheel ends and see if they are full of oil or not. Mine needed some help to fill.

Here is what I found: If you look closely at the one photo when I did the service, you might notice the right hand side of the tractor was up on a 4 x4 piece of lumber to level the tractor as my work area slopes slightly.. Well today I pulled into the area, and of course the right hand side is down by 4 inches as I did go get the 4 x 4 chunk of lumber. The sight glass shows at the top when the axle is level, and when on this slight incline the sight glass shows low since it is on the left hand side of the axle or the "high" side. So I unscrewed the right hand side (low side of the axle) upper plug and of course when I got to the last thread oil leaked out rather rapidly, so I screwed it back in fast. The left "high side" plug, I took out and of course no oil leaked out. and I could see how it would not by looking at the sight glass being down to only about 1/4 full. But if you level the tractor the sight glass is where it needs to be at the top. So I called it good. So I believe if the sight glass is at the top, you should be good to go. I will continue to monitor the sight glass level to make sure as I work the tractor (but I have already put on over 4 hours since the service) that the level stays up as air pockets work themselves out.

James K0UA

 

[Coyote machine]

If I'm not mistaken the sight glass should have a red circle, (bullseye), in it, into which one should center the white floating ball, (in the red 'bullseye'), while the tractor is on a level surface. This would indicate the front axle is full. Filling the actual sight glass does not allow for expansion when the fluid heats up and can lead to a seal blowout.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

If I'm not mistaken the sight glass should have a red circle, (bullseye), in it, into which one should center the white floating ball, (in the red 'bullseye'), while the tractor is on a level surface. This would indicate the front axle is full. Filling the actual sight glass does not allow for expansion when the fluid heats up and can lead to a seal blowout.

I bet I need to wash the mud off to actually see this supposed "sight glass" y'all are referring to...

David

 

[k0ua]

I bet I need to wash the mud off to actually see this supposed "sight glass" y'all are referring to...

David

Inboard side of the axle on the tractors left side.. so get off of the seat on the left side, and look at the axle. I don't remember a red circle.. I will look again.

James K0UA

 

[kco]

If you were changing the fluid you would drain from all plugs. The intention of this drain was to avoid uncontrolled fluid gushing out when replacing the filter but the fluid is not yet due for replacement.

Maybe for the next scheduled change of filter only, I'll trial the quick swap option and see how it goes.

Our tractors are different, but for my DK35SE HST I had no problem changing the hydraulic and HST filters without draining oil. After the initial bit spilled due to oil in the filters there was no need to rush to avoid oil loss. Like others, I put some oil in the new filters (about 1/2 full) before installing them.

I recently installed the kit to fix the "reverse squeal" issue which requires removing the HST pipe, one end of which is lower than the HST filter. I ran that rear wheel up on a 10" x 12" block to raise that side and was able to make the change without loss of oil.

 

[k0ua]

Once again, the Coyote Machine is correct there is a red bullseye.. You have to get your head down and look straight in to the axle, preferably with a flashlight. So today I leveled the tractor with with the 4 x 4 piece of lumber, (level ground in Branson is hard to come by) When I checked the side filler plug on one side the fluid did not come out right away it took a few seconds.. I am thinking there was an air pocket trapped up there. (thank you Milkman636) Then the fluid ball was in the red bullseye (middle) area. I believe I am good at this point. Thanks All.

James K0UA

 

[milkman636]

No problem, glad to help. Next time I plan to start filling with the upper plugs out to see if that makes a difference. Sounds like the lighter oil helped the venting process to go pretty quick though.