50 hrs: Do I need to change the HST fluid?

[newbomb_turk]

JD2305 manual says to change the HST/Hyd fluid after 50 Hrs. Mine is at 58 hrs. I have had the tractor less than 2 years. Priced the fluid/filter, and it came to $98.80!

Real question is how many people actually change the HST/Hyd fluid after 50 Hrs? The fluid still looks fine. Thinking I could wait another year, and change it at about 100 Hrs, but sure don't want to damage anything.

Todd

 

[MikeInEburg]

I'd sure change it. Maintaining the warranty is one good reason. Maintaining your investment is another. Just yesterday I spent $200+ for 50 hr materials. You'll think $100 is cheap compared to a problem.
Mike

 

[greenmule]

I'd say most change it at 50 or less hours. Book says to,you got that warrenty thing you need to worry about too.

But,you go ahead and wait another year if you want.

 

[JerryG]

The fluid can look good and even look new and still have problems. The filters and screens can have metal shavings or cutting caused by a damaged part. If that problem is caught soon enough less damage might be done. I was at my dealer one time and they had a new looking 100 hp tractor in with the engine out. The oil filter had plugged up and starved the engine which destroyed everything. The owner had put 150 hours on the tractor and thought the oil looked to good to change. He had never changed the oil.

 

[WilliamBos]

I agree. Do the service. The 50 hour mark can be the most critical time, so neglecting it could be costly.

 

[RalphVa]

The fluid is not the problem. It'll probably last for 1,000 hours or so. The problem is metal particles from the manufacture/assembly process.

You could collect the fluid and very slowly add it back to your diesel fuel, probably about a quart every 15 gallons. 'Twould take a while to use it up. Filter it first.

Ralph

 

[Jerry/MT]

JD2305 manual says to change the HST/Hyd fluid after 50 Hrs. Mine is at 58 hrs. I have had the tractor less than 2 years. Priced the fluid/filter, and it came to $98.80!

Real question is how many people actually change the HST/Hyd fluid after 50 Hrs? The fluid still looks fine. Thinking I could wait another year, and change it at about 100 Hrs, but sure don't want to damage anything.

Todd

The folks that designed and built your tractor put that requirement into the maintenance requirements for a reason and it wasn't necessarilly to sell you some oil and filters. Get some prices on the parts that are bathed by the fluids and protected by the filters and you'll see that $98 is cheap insurance. When you buy a tractor, you need to be prepared to maintain it. There 's also the idea of maintaining the warrantee and that's worth something.
You don't have to buy your engine oil or your filters or the HST oil from the dealer, but you do need to make sure what you use meets the OEM spec requirements for these items.

 

[greenmule]

Add the old hydro oil to my fuel tank,about a 1/2 pint or so,to each tank full,now why in the world would I want to do a thing like that?

 

[ray66v]

The fluid is not the problem. It'll probably last for 1,000 hours or so. The problem is metal particles from the manufacture/assembly process.

I agree, after the first 50 hrs the oil in mine, is good to go for 200hrs.

You could collect the fluid and very slowly add it back to your diesel fuel, probably about a quart every 15 gallons. 'Twould take a while to use it up. Filter it first. Ralph

A recent study concerning lubricity issues in ULSD fuel showed that adding used oil, among other commonly used additives actually lowered the potentially already low lubricity characteristics of ULSD. Because of that, this practice is not recommended. Most additives were reformulated due to this problem.

 

[WH401]

Change the oil, the manual says it for a reason. The oil might look nice, but it's the little bits of metal or other foreign objects that could be floating around that will harm it.