Better fluid level indicator??

[Sarge338]

This is going to sound like a stupid question, and it probably is, but is there any kind of an aftermarket gauge that can be added to a tractor to show hydraulic fluid levels… like a fuel gauge?

I have a Mahindra 2555, and I recently changed the PTO seal. Afterward I refilled the fluid checking the dipstick after every operation of the hand pump. I stopped pumping just shy of the high-level notch of the dipstick. Fast forward a few weeks, and I was cycling all of the hydraulics (self-contained) of a new backhoe attachment when I noticed several places on the rear end of the tractor that looked wet. I knew I had cleaned everything after the PTO seal replacement, so the only thing I could figure was the fluid was being pushed out through the seals. I checked the dipstick and it is WAY high… above the flat area of the dipstick. 1) I don’t know how it’s twice as high now as when I filled it, and 2) if I can’t rely on the dipstick to give me an accurate reading, how do I know what’s in there?

On a side note, anyone know of a good way to have a controlled drain of excess fluid? Dropping the drain plug tends to drain more than I want, unless I’m doing a full fluid change. And given the above scenario, I’d rather not end up in a cycle of draining and refilling.

 

[chim]

I bought something like this on Amazon. For what you want to do it would be nice. I always remove drain plugs when doing fluid replacement because I don't trust the tube to get it all. It is useful when transferring oil, fuel and hydraulic fluid.

Amazon.com

 

[ptsg]

This is going to sound like a stupid question, and it probably is, but is there any kind of an aftermarket gauge that can be added to a tractor to show hydraulic fluid levels… like a fuel gauge?

I have a Mahindra 2555, and I recently changed the PTO seal. Afterward I refilled the fluid checking the dipstick after every operation of the hand pump. I stopped pumping just shy of the high-level notch of the dipstick. Fast forward a few weeks, and I was cycling all of the hydraulics (self-contained) of a new backhoe attachment when I noticed several places on the rear end of the tractor that looked wet. I knew I had cleaned everything after the PTO seal replacement, so the only thing I could figure was the fluid was being pushed out through the seals. I checked the dipstick and it is WAY high… above the flat area of the dipstick. 1) I don’t know how it’s twice as high now as when I filled it, and 2) if I can’t rely on the dipstick to give me an accurate reading, how do I know what’s in there?

On a side note, anyone know of a good way to have a controlled drain of excess fluid? Dropping the drain plug tends to drain more than I want, unless I’m doing a full fluid change. And given the above scenario, I’d rather not end up in a cycle of draining and refilling.

Pull one hose of a cylinder and put it in a bucket. I would say probably on of the curl cylinders on the loader might be the easiest. Then just run the tractor and actuate that function to fill the bucket.

As to check the level, always check the lever with the loader on the ground and 3 pt lowered.