Draining transmission/hydraulic oil: your tips

[geneP]

I'm about to drain my hydraulic and transmission oil. The manual says it holds about 11 1/2 gallons. Obviously I don't have a pan to fit under the tractor that holds that much oil. I don't look forward to having oil running down my arm while trying to replace the plug so I can empty my drain pan. I know this is a creative group. Has anyone found a work-around for this? Comments appreciated.

 

[Redneck in training]

I am using buckets. They fit under the drains with few inches left (my tractor has three drain plugs). If one bucket is going to be too full I put the plug back on few thread and wait till most of the fluid drains to other buckets and then open all plugs again to get the last drop of fluid out. But I agree it is a messy process one way or the other.

 

[Baby Grand]

When I did my 50 hr service, 6 years ago, I got the bottom of the engine and transmission nice and clean with a hose, then let it dry. Found a Rubbermaid clothes bin - roughly 24x18x12" to catch the 11 gallons and drained it with no issues. Gave it a good, close look with a magnet & flashlight, then gave it the sniff test. It looked & smelled fresh, so I put it back into the transmission, using a funnel & plastic pitcher. Put the pitcher in the clothes bin, snapped the lid on, to seal it up, and tossed it up in the shed loft for the next time I needed it.

Hauled the bin down from the loft about a year ago to do the 400 hour fluid change. Same procedure as last time, except fresh oil this time. Easy-peasy.
-Jim

 

[Harry in Ky]

When I need to drain a system for repairs I use 2 1/2 gal oil jugs. I keep as many as I have room for. They work equally well for oil or fuel storage while equipment is being worked on. To drain a hydraulic system, simply take a short length of hose with a male tip on one end. Plug it into a remote(or loader) valve outlet and stick the open end into a jug. Carefully stroke the valve and pump the oil into the jug til it's full then move to another jug. Continue the process until it stops pumping. At this point, a small pan under the drain plug will usually handle what's left. The oil is neatly contained, and after a day or two will settle the worst to the bottom. When I pour it back in, I can see the oil as it's poured so only what looks good goes back into the tractor. If the bottom portion looks dark, cloudy, or whatever, then it goes in the waste oil. I find it quick, easy, and cuts down on floor dry as well.

 

[big bubba]

i do same as baby grand walmart has cheap plastic bins (cheaper than rubber maid) for any size you want. you might get a larger one than your capacity in case you have to cut a bit to fit under....actually my initial challenge was not draining, but replacing the hyd & ft axle fluid....investing in hand pumps that fit over 5 gal buckets work out great...check out northern tool as starters. just buy hyd & ft axle in 5 gal
this one has worked out great for me....yes, bit of an upper body workout, but far better than contaminants and oil down your sleeve Ironton Lever Action Bucket Pump — 5-Gallon | Barrel Hand Pumps| Northern Tool + Equipment
as far as the touch/visual/feel/taste test on hyd oil change on replacing existing, my suggestion is change fluid within 1st several hundred hrs. of use. after that, well use your judgement. contaminants in replacing existing are always an issue (w/me at least)
good luck

 

[sandyc]

I use a large plastic cement mix pan from lowes. I then use large plastic kitty litter pails with snap covers and drop it off for my dealer to use for heating..

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[JRobyn]

Many in the past have advocated using a shop vac on the fill opening to put a small vacuum in the system. I have NOT actually tried this but it seems it should work and others have reported that it does. For draining, I assume that one would want to get positioned to simultaneously reach both the drain plug and the vac on/off switch to control the flow. Ideally, a big valve suitable to fit in the vacuum line for control would be nice. Good (low mess) luck with whatever method you use.

- Jay

p.s. - I wonder if Fumoto makes a drain valve to fit?

p.p.s - evidently so! Everything from M10 through M30 in several pitches. Size Chart | Fumoto

 

[srcaaga]

Many in the past have advocated using a shop vac on the fill opening to put a small vacuum in the system. I have NOT actually tried this but it seems it should work and others have reported that it does. For draining, I assume that one would want to get positioned to simultaneously reach both the drain plug and the vac on/off switch to control the flow. Ideally, a big valve suitable to fit in the vacuum line for control would be nice. Good (low mess) luck with whatever method you use. - Jay p.s. - I wonder if Fumoto makes a drain valve to fit? p.p.s - evidently so! Everything from M10 through M30 in several pitches. Size Chart | Fumoto

I purchased a 15 gallon drain pan with wheels from Northern Tools. Worth it's wait in gold. I just roll it under my MX 5000 and no mess. I then lift it with my forks and drain the used oil back into the containers from the new fluid and drop off for recycling. The drain pan has a drain valve making it easy.

 

[srcaaga]

I purchased a 15 gallon drain pan with wheels from Northern Tools. Worth it's wait in gold. I just roll it under my MX 5000 and no mess. I then lift it with my forks and drain the used oil back into the containers from the new fluid and drop off for recycling. The drain pan has a drain valve making it easy.

Just checked Northern Tool and the 15 gallon model now comes with a hand pump to transfer the oil for $169. I have an older model with no pump and I just left the pan with my forks to drain.

 

[geneP]

Thanks for all the suggestions. My tractor has a belly pan so that complicates things with less clearance to wrk with. I decided to take the pan off to get a good look at the drain and filter area. After that, I could get 5 gallon pails under the drain. I put a parts store drip pan under the tractor, set the pail on the pan and just used another pail to push the full pail out of the way. The pan caught what little spilled, so clean-up was easy.

Thanks again for the comments.