Oil & Fuel HOW TO CHECK HYDRAULIC LEVELS

[Bobby1953]

Hello, I bought a used Branson Model #2100 a few months ago. All is working fine, but I have one question. On the very top of the engine is a filler cap, for the engine oil. Just below that is another filler cap to the left of the engine, which is for the hydraulic pump, to power the bucket loader. There is no dip stick there, and I can see the gears in the hydraulic pump, but no oil.
Is there supposed to be a dip stick here to check for proper levels? and how much hydraulic oil is the capacity? and what grade?......Thanks for your future help..Bob

 

[Leejohn]

If pump is powered by the engine that would not be hyd oil. That is just another engine oil fill. Check the lines off the hyd pump and where they go is where the hyd oil goes. The rear end is were the hyd oil goes on most. Go in back of your tractor and start looking it over real good and I bet you might find another cap and maybe a dip stick or sight glass. Don't add oil untell you understand what is what on your tractor. Someone with a Branson well read this and maybe can tell you what is what on it.

 

[newbury]

Is the oil in both areas the same color and smell? Generally hydraulic oil is clearer, not as black. My hydro oil is like a clear amber after a hundred hours of use. My diesel oil goes black almost immediately.

 

[Medicth]

On my 4720 the hydraulic oil level check is on the rear of the tractor. The fill port is on the right side just to the left of the lift arm, it is an orange cap. . The level check is just above the pto shaft, tucked under the shield above the pto shaft. It is just a window with a high low mark on it. Not sure if it is the same on your tractor.

 

[LincTex]

. Just below that is another filler cap to the left of the engine, which is for the hydraulic pump, to power the bucket loader. There is no dip stick there, and I can see the gears in the hydraulic pump, but no oil.

This sounds like a power steering pump.

 

[Bobby1953]

LincTex Ok if it is the power steering pump, how do you check for proper hyd. levels. This pump also has hydraulic lines to the control lever, to make the front loader to go up, down, and tipping forward, and backwards. Thanks to everybody for your past, and future suggestions............Bob

 

[LincTex]

Bobby, can you post pictures?

The hydraulic pump should never have gears visible.
It draws oil from the sump of the rear of the tractor. I don't see how it's possible to "see gears".
Are you looking inside the engine oil fill plug near the fuel injection pump of the engine?
My engine (1.7 liter) has two oil fill plugs, yours may be the same.

 

[LincTex]

I found a picture of a Kukje 2100 engine online and "doctored it up"

Does this help?

 

[Bobby1953]

I found a picture of a Kukje 2100 engine online and "doctored it up"

Does this help?

View attachment 479269

Thanks for the picture you forwarded. The illustration sure looks like the one I have. Why would they have 2 engine oil fill plug caps. Is there 2 dip sticks? I only found one. Thanks for your past and future help... Bob .....I have a service manual for this and the illustrations don"t show this, Do I need a owners manual...

 

[LincTex]

Thanks for the picture you forwarded.
Why would they have 2 engine oil fill plug caps. Is there 2 dip sticks? ...

You're welcome.

I guess its a "Cummins thing"?
I have two oil fills on the Cummins in my truck, also - - one on top of the valve cover, the other down in front of the gear that drives the injection pump.
I always just use the "top one" on everything - it's easier to hold the funnel.
I suppose the one on the side is so you can add oil without popping the hood open?

Just one dipstick - - don't overthink this, LOL!
I check my engine oil once every 25 hours - it doesn't use a drop.

 

[Bobby1953]

You're welcome.

I guess its a "Cummins thing"?
I have two oil fills on the Cummins in my truck, also - - one on top of the valve cover, the other down in front of the gear that drives the injection pump.
I always just use the "top one" on everything - it's easier to hold the funnel.
I suppose the one on the side is so you can add oil without popping the hood open?

Just one dipstick - - don't overthink this, LOL!
I check my engine oil once every 25 hours - it doesn't use a drop.

LincTex....You seem pretty knowlegable on tractors. My Branson 2100, according to my service manual, says the lifting capacity is supposed to be approx. 1450#. We just had hurricane come through Fl. Friday, and had 3 trees come down. After cutting up these trees, into 6 foot lenghths, putting about 500-600# with the bucket loader it won"t pick them up. If I lighten the load, to about 400#, it works fine. All other hydraulics work fine..I was thinking of replacing the filter for the hydraulics, because it might be getting plugged up. The hydraulics levels seem to be fine, and there isn"t any leaks. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks......Bob

 

[LincTex]

Diagnosing hydraulics can be tricky - you need to find a gauge that goes to about 2500-3000 psi and enough fittings (usually just a quick connect that fits your loader hoses) and see what hydraulic pressures you are actually getting. I think there is a pressure adjustment on your tractor somewhere.

 

[Leejohn]

That 1450# might be the wrong info. Where did you get that ? The tractor weight is only arond 1800#.

 

[countrybumpkin]

If it has a BL00 loader, the lift capacity is 705 lbs.

 

[LincTex]

..I was thinking of replacing the filter for the hydraulics, because it might be getting plugged up. Thanks......Bob

Oh, BTW - a "plugged" (I really doubt yours is) hydraulic filter won't affect max "pressure" at all, but it will slow down "flow".
Meaning, hydraulics that still operate at full capacity (but much slower) would indicate it needs a filter change.

You would still need a pressure gauge to do some diagnosing if you think pressures are too low.

 

[Bobby1953]

Yes it is a BL00 loader, but my Kukje Machinery service manual says on page #9, [under the Hydraulic System section], "Lift capacity at lift point" is 1433 lbs. This is for models # 2100,2400,2800 manual transmission, and #2400h, and 2800h HST transmission
Am I reading this wrong? The 705 lb. figure you gave me is approx. where I am for max. capacity now, on my bucket loader. Where did you get the 705 lb. figure. Is there a hydraulic flow adjustment to increase lifting capacity?
Thanks for all your past and future suggestions. I truly appreciate it, you all have been very helpful..Bob

 

[sidecarist]

Yes it is a BL00 loader, but my Kukje Machinery service manual says on page #9, [under the Hydraulic System section], "Lift capacity at lift point" is 1433 lbs. This is for models # 2100,2400,2800 manual transmission, and #2400h, and 2800h HST transmission
Am I reading this wrong? The 705 lb. figure you gave me is approx. where I am for max. capacity now, on my bucket loader. Where did you get the 705 lb. figure. Is there a hydraulic flow adjustment to increase lifting capacity?
Thanks for all your past and future suggestions. I truly appreciate it, you all have been very helpful..Bob

I'm willing to bet that 1433lbs is the 3pt hitch lift at the pins, not the loader... loader lift capacity will be in the loader manual, not the tractor manual as its considered a separate component.

 

[Leejohn]

The reason I said what I did before is because I have a kubota B7800 and our tractors are only 100# total weight between the two. My loader is around the 600 to 700# that it can lift. If we could lift the 1400# it would stand the tractor on it's nose.
After you find out the max psi should be and the loader is the 1st valve in the hyd loop then you can raise the psi at the loader valve.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Goggled specs for the loader.

 

[Bobby1953]

OK, I got it, the bucket lift weight is 705#....Now if I check my pressures as suggested, what psi pressure should I have with a load, and without? There also is what looks like a flow adjustment valve, on the joystick block, assuming I can, adjust this valve to get in the proper psi range.
I have seen on utube the demos, where they push the bucket loader down to the ground, and this will lift up the front end of the tractor off the ground. Well my tractor does not do this at all.....Well thanks again for all of your help, I am learning a lot from all your inputs......Bob