Changing UDT hydraullic flud - major stupid

thunderworks · Mar 2, 2007

Disaster has struck! I drained my hydraullic fluid, replaced filters and was starting to refill the fluid on my L5030. I was using a funnel that had a detachable directional spout on it. The spout came loose and dropped in the rear housing and I can't find it . . .It's really hard to find an angle to even look in the filler hole. The ROPS, toolbox, seat etc. . . are in the way of any kind of direct view. I tried using a mirror and a light, but can't get an angle of view. I've been poking about with one of the spring loaded grab finger tools but can't get it. I fear it's dropped all the way to the bottom. The spout is probably 3/4" in diameter and 4" long . . .

What do I do? I assume the differential would chew up the plastic with no problem, but little pieces of plastic floating around the hydraullic system seems like a real bad idea. My tractor is a hydrostatic tranny and I have loader. Anybody have any ideas?

Taiser · Mar 2, 2007

VERY BAD INDEED FOR THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM!!! The filter would probably get it but I wouldn't take that chance.

There are flexible wire tools with fingers on the end but it would be a hit and miss situation trying to get it.

I'm at a lost for this one but I'd probably call the dealer to see what you can possibly do to get it out.

Fjord · Mar 2, 2007

For a start , could you get another funnel the same , take the end and drop it in a bucket of fluid to find out if it sinks or floats, then at least you'd know where you're looking for it.Any chance that it would be easier to see down in there if you drained the fluid back out again?I saw an instrument once that had a little fibreoptic lens with a light on the end of a flexible wand . It would fit down a piece of pipe.It wasn't that expensive (like a few hundred) so it's possible that somebody who inspects inside of engines or boilers might have one and then you could look for it in there.Just a couple of ideas. Wish I could be of more help but I really don't have a clue.Good Luck.

redharley · Mar 2, 2007

Borescope is the tool he is thinking of.might work if pc is floating on top of oil but you still have to get hold of it.most better shops have one for looking inside engine cyclinder's.I think I would keep fishing for a while,how about a pc of wire with a hook on end,keep trying finger tool also.again ask dealer he may have seen this problem before.might also drain oil out into clean pan maybe it will show up at drain hole and you can get it their.Just some idea's,I would try to remove it before running it, good luck

thunderworks · Mar 2, 2007

Taiser: I have one of those flexible wire tools with fingers, and I've been trying to fish it out. No luck so far. I think the diameter of the spout is toolarge to really even grab with the tool anyway.

Fjord: I have another identical funnel. The spout doesn't float. I checked in my bucket of old UDT. I haven't refilled the rear end with fluid yet.

This is an incredibly frustrating screwup.

Rick

Fjord · Mar 2, 2007

This is probably just another shot in the dark, but would it be possible to find a piece of pipe or tube that would fit down the hole and tape it onto the end of a shopvac hose and try to pick it up that way? you could try picking up the other one you have to see if it would hold it.

davemhughes · Mar 3, 2007

I know this will seem like poor advice and maybe it is but......... it is what I would do after I have exhausted everything I could think of short of splitting the tractor. Fill it up with your old fluid you just drained. Before starting take fel off if possible, put old filter back on and run it hard for a while. Then take your old filter off and cut it open to see if the gears chewed it up. If it did put new filter on and run it again. Keep repeating filter change process untill very few pieces are showing up in cut open filters. Then drain fluild and replace it. If not chewed up.......split the case.

As I see it your options are this or splitting the tractor.

Volfandt · Mar 3, 2007

Before doing anything drastic, i.e. splitting the tractor, I'd remove the ROPS, seat, toolbox etc., so I could get a good view down in the hole. I'd exhaust every possibility of getting at that extension short of splitting the tractor. I'm not familiure with your model but the one and only tractor I've split and put back together was a bear and was very time consuming.

I'm not familure with your tractor but you may be able to remove the 3PH assembly (or some other assembly) and get a larger access hole.

Thing is, if you can at least see it, you should be able to come up with a way of getting it out.

Good luck

Northland · Mar 3, 2007

you poor guy - I thought these type of things only happened to me.

I think you need to let the dealer handle this as they probably have had or heard of this happening before

N80 · Mar 3, 2007

I think whoever designed a funnel whose tip can drop down into valve heads, crankcases and transmissions should be flogged. Just for fun, I'd drop them a note and ask them how they'd solve this problem.

I don't have any good practical advice for you, but I hope you'll let us know how you finally solve this.

davemhughes · Mar 3, 2007

Volfandt said:
Before doing anything drastic, i.e. splitting the tractor, I'd remove the ROPS, seat, toolbox etc., so I could get a good view down in the hole. I'd exhaust every possibility of getting at that extension short of splitting the tractor.

davemhughes said:
....... it is what I would do after I have exhausted everything I could think of short of splitting the tractor.

I thought I was clear about splitting the case as the very last option but as I see it it really boils down to just a few options available to you. The one I do know for sure is this seems like a nightmare of a problem. Any chance of being able to to gain a different access point into the case, look all over the case for one as some times they will put just a cover in a spot where an additional option was supposed to go. Like a mid-pto or something.

kmdigital · Mar 3, 2007

The same thing happened to me years ago with a Farmall 826, except the extension was about 12" long. Since there was no easy way to get it, we called the dealership, and they said it wouldn't really hurt anything so we let it go, and didn't even change the filters. Worked fine, and never had a problem.

The reason is that the fluid all goes through the filter before it goes to the pump, so it will definitely catch it. Most likely it is heavier than the oil, so the gears will chew it up some and the pieces will fall to the lowest spots and set there. A few smaller peices may eventually end up in the filter, but most won't.

If you can't locate it, I certainly wouldn't split it are majorly disassemble it to get it out. If it isn't too hard, maybe removing one or two plates or access covers will get you what you need, but otherwise you'll never know it's in there.

thunderworks · Mar 3, 2007

Update: I made an adapter to fit a 5/8" od plastic tube to my shop vac and tried to suck it out -- no luck. I think the spigot has been pushed essentially to the bottom of the rear end.

I also called a Kubota dealer in KC who thought the likelihood of a problem was very low. He said that the only problem would be if the spigot plugged the inlet hydraullic suction line which would rob the transmission, the steering, loader (i.e. everything) of hydraullic power. He did tell me that under the seat there's a removeable cover plate that would give me access to the rear end, but his recommendation was similar kmdigital . . . ignore it.

I'll keep you posted.

Rick

duber34 · Mar 3, 2007

I sure wouldn't feel comfortable just ignoring it. Wish I had some advise to help you out.....

Regards,
Duber

JerryG · Mar 3, 2007

When you change the oil, let it drain good and try to see if you can see it through the drain hole. You might need to jack the tractor up on one side or one end to get the funnel part to float to the end where the drain plug is at before you drain the fluid. I'm with Kubota in thinking that you shouldn't have any problems even if you can't get it out.
As far as using a funnel to get the oil in goes, I know that there are things in the way of pouring the oil in so I made a funnel. It is made out of PVC with a 4" or 6" reducer at the top and then 45* elbow and short sections of pipe. The pipe is just small enough to go into the hole. It has worked great and doesn't come apart and it will stay in place while I am pouring.

Glowplug · Mar 3, 2007

There is NO WAY I would feel comfortable just ignoring it. Sure, it may be okay. But I would never feel the same about my tractor and wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

What you really need is a colonoscope. I have been able to extract some "interesting" objects from deep dark places using a colonoscope. . .if you get my drift.

Unfortunately, you're talking tens of thousands of dollars for that. And I doubt there is a colonoscope rental store around.

But a colonoscope is basically a flexible fiberoptic scope with a port to pass instruments through such as graspers. Sounds very similar to the shop device that was mentioned earlier. Heck, you could probably get a used colonoscope on e-bay. They have everything!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Sully2 · Mar 3, 2007

thunderworks said:
Update: I made an adapter to fit a 5/8" od plastic tube to my shop vac and tried to suck it out -- no luck. I think the spigot has been pushed essentially to the bottom of the rear end.

I also called a Kubota dealer in KC who thought the likelihood of a problem was very low. He said that the only problem would be if the spigot plugged the inlet hydraullic suction line which would rob the transmission, the steering, loader (i.e. everything) of hydraullic power. He did tell me that under the seat there's a removeable cover plate that would give me access to the rear end, but his recommendation was similar kmdigital . . . ignore it.

I'll keep you posted.

Rick

Personally...Id pull the cover plate ASAP.

Barnboy · Mar 3, 2007

A wad of sticky duct tape on the end of a wire, dowel rod ect.??? This has worked on simular situations for me. Dont know if it will get oil soaked before you reach the plastic tube.

john_bud · Mar 3, 2007

Wow! This must really stink.

First, leaving it in there isn't a good option to me. May be ok,but....

I would step back for a bit and think calmly. You havn't had any good luck getting it from the top. Other options are needed. The rear PTO cover may easily come off and it should give you access to the spot where the spout is. If it is not there, the front PTO cover would be the next option. Then the top access cover. Finally, pulling an axle trumpet off.

I have the work shop manual for the "10" series and will look to see if there are any other options. May not be applicable, but will look anyway.

Hang in there!

jb