Fluids for T474HC?

Rich_Z · Sep 25, 2023

I added a hydraulic top link the other day, and was thinking perhaps I should check the hydraulic fluid level, since some of it filled up the hoses and the cylinder for the top link. I assume there are as many different varieties of hydraulic fluid as there are boxes of Cheerios at the grocery store, so I thumbed through the Operator's Manual looking for a chart of recommended hydraulic fluid brands and types. Nothing. Not even some hints. So that got me thinking about the other fluids. What about engine oil type? There is a chart in the manual showing temperature ranges for weights of engine oil to use, but not anything more than that. Lubricant for the axles and anything else? Guess I am supposed to just make wild guesses at that. And then there is coolant. If coolants for tractors are anything like what is used in regular vehicles, mixing the wrong types of coolants together can get you into one hell of a mess. Like having thick jello in the radiator and all thoughout the engine. So what type of coolant is being used in my T474HC tractor?

Is there another manual out there that provides these sorts of important details? Or is this all shown on stickers placed strategically on the tractor itself?

Digityman · Sep 25, 2023

Here's a link to my post that details all of the fluids my TYM service mechanic used for the 50 hour service.

Hydraulic Fluid vs Transmission Fluid

I own a T474. I'm going to ask a really dumb question, is the hydraulic fluid the same as transmission fluid. In the manual the names are used interchangeably. The reason I ask is I punctured a line and lost some fluid. I bought hydraulic fluid at Napa and started looking for the fill...

www.tractorbynet.com

TractorTYMe · Sep 25, 2023

2manyrocks · Sep 25, 2023

Are the T474 48hp engine and hydraulic filters dealer only items?

TractorTYMe · Sep 25, 2023

Nope

Filter numbers
HST/Hydraulic: NAPA FIL 1586, Wix 51586, Donaldson P169078
Oil filter: NAPA FIL 1626, Wix 51626
Air filter: STP sa9269, WIX 546671, Donaldson P827653

Torvy · Sep 25, 2023

@MossRoad. Can we pin this?

Great info.

tacticalturnip · Sep 25, 2023

@MossRoad I don't want to be left out, so I'm tagging you, too.

Rich_Z · Sep 26, 2023

Ah, thanks for the fluid recommendations. Without me seeking out each and every lubricant, are any of them fully synthetic? Been using only synthetic lubricants in my vehicles for years, and prefer using them over "dinosaur" byproducts.

TractorTYMe · Sep 26, 2023

You're in Florida, you can safely use Rotella T6 15w40 for engine. I use the 5w40 in cold Rocky Mountains with temps down to -37F

Rich_Z · Sep 30, 2023

Well, got a bit of confusion here.

I recently put a hydraulic top link on the T474 and installed a tree puller attachment on the FEL. Figuring they would have used up some hydraulic fluid to fill the hoses and cylinders, I bought a gallon of hydraulic fluid thinking I would top it off. Whatever was left over I was going to put into the hydraulic tank of my car lift in the garage. But I kept pouring into the fill hole on the tractor, and not seeing anything showing up in the sight window. After putting a full gallon in the fill hole, there was STILL nothing showing in the sight window. Eh? So I ran out and bought another gallon. Put that additional gallon in, and STILL nothing showing! So how much hydraulic fluid is actually in that reservoir?

When the tractor was delivered to me, included was a RETAIL SALE PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION sheet. In the section for "Fluid Checks" there is a line item for "Transmission / Hydraulic" with a check in the space for it.

So am I just way out here in right field thinking that this meant that the fluid levels were supposed to be up to spec upon delivery or, well, not sure what else it COULD mean. Maybe just "present", like that system is there and hadn't been missed during the manufacturing process?

Whose responsibility is it to make certain I had full fluid levels when the tractor was delivered to me? Did I screw up by not checking that and just assuming that checklist meant something other than what it seems to mean?

I think I have something like 8 hours on the clock right now. Was it a real good idea that I be driving and using that tractor with low (perhaps VERY low) hydraulic fluid?

TractorTYMe · Sep 30, 2023

Too easy to overfill with the sigh glass, need to add some contrast color into it.

ptsg · Sep 30, 2023

Most likely overfilled as TYMe said. Pretty common to happen on tractor that have the sight glass instead of the dipstick.

You want to check the fluid with the loader down and 3 point down to get the most accurate reading. Also, the transmission on that tractor holds about 9 gallons, give or take.

Torvy · Sep 30, 2023

Guys, just for others who may come across this...what sort of symptoms might one see with too little or too much fluid in the system?

Rich_Z · Sep 30, 2023

Well, OK. So if the hydraulic fluid was already filled to the extent that the sight glass was already completely filled, since there was no line visible to indicate partially filled, wouldn't overfilling by 2 gallons exhibit some sort of indication? Like fluid coming back out of the fill hole or something? Since I added the top link and the tree puller, which HAD to have used up some hydraulic fluid, then the top ranking hypothesis here is that the hydraulic reservoir must have already been overfilled enough that those above mentioned drains on the total fluid content didn't bring the fill line DOWN at all to be visible in the window?

Does that sound plausible to anyone?

ptsg · Sep 30, 2023

Rich_Z said:
Well, OK. So if the hydraulic fluid was already filled to the extent that the sight glass was already completely filled, since there was no line visible to indicate partially filled, wouldn't overfilling by 2 gallons exhibit some sort of indication? Like fluid coming back out of the fill hole or something? Since I added the top link and the tree puller, which HAD to have used up some hydraulic fluid, then the top ranking hypothesis here is that the hydraulic reservoir must have already been overfilled enough that those above mentioned drains on the total fluid content didn't bring the fill line DOWN at all to be visible in the window?

Does that sound plausible to anyone?

The correct level is about half way the transmission capacity, give or take a little bit, so this means it takes close to 18 gallons to be completely filled. So no, with only 2 gallons more, there would be no indicator of being over filled as there is still plenty of room left.

Also, both top link and tree puller will take very little fluid, definitely less than a gallon, maybe even half a gallon. There is also a chance that the tractor was slightly over filled from the dealer, also very common and not a big deal.

dusty3030 · Sep 30, 2023

What you added didn’t drain out hardly any. You maybe would have used a 1/2 pint or pint at most . Your level on sight glass or dipstick wouldn’t have moved enough to notice. You’re most likely overfull

Seven Gables · Sep 30, 2023

TractorTYMe said:
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Unless I’m mistaken those first 7 pails of what TYM is calling transmission fluids appear to be just plain hydraulic fluid not Trans/hydraulic fluid . Does TYM not feel it’s necessary to use a true Trans/hydraulic fluid in there transmission/rear axle?

stoyan79 · Oct 1, 2023

That's what I noticed too. No way I'd use straight hydraulic fluid in my hydrostat transmission.

Seven Gables said:
Unless I’m mistaken those first 7 pails of what TYM is calling transmission fluids appear to be just plain hydraulic fluid not Trans/hydraulic fluid . Does TYM not feel it’s necessary to use a true Trans/hydraulic fluid in there transmission/rear axle?

ptsg · Oct 1, 2023

stoyan79 said:
That's what I noticed too. No way I'd use straight hydraulic fluid in my hydrostat transmission.

The hydrostat couldn't care less. The reason for tractor transmission fluid is because it has friction aditivites for the wet brakes and wet clutch packs.