FEL Questions

[atk_man]

How full do you keep the resevoir?
How do you check it if there is no check plug?
How often do you change the fluid?

Thanks.

 

[MChalkley]

What kind of tractor are you talking about?

The FEL doesn't have its own reservoir, so you use the sight glass/whatever on the tractor's hydraulic system to determine the fluid level.

Fluid changes are specified by the owner's manual for the tractor.

Does this help?

 

[atk_man]

It is a 79 b7100.
It does have it's own resevoir.
I don't have an owners manual.

 

[MChalkley]

Well, you learn something every day around here. The only FELs I've ever seen with their own reservoirs were home-builts for farm tractors that weren't designed to have FELs. Sorry I couldn't help you, but somebody will.

 

[atk_man]

I guess, mine is different. It is factory though (so I've been told.)

It has a separate pump as well - on the front of the machine.

 

[MossRoad]

Does it have it's own PTO pump as well?

 

[rbargeron]

Mark - Way back then, the smaller Kubota loaders could be had either way - running from the internal hydraulics or an optional front-mounted pump with a reservoir mounted on the loader frame. The internal hydraulics were powerful but slow. Externals were faster but had a lot of redundant plumbing.

 

[rbargeron]

Since the hydraulic reservoir is just for the loader, the change interval is long (whenever it looks to have milky contamination from condensation). The level should be high enough that the pump doesn't starve when the front end is high. Everything about it is less critical because the tractor gearing isn't depending on it.

On rigs with separate hydraulic system for the loader the oil may not often get hot enough for the condensed water in the tank to evaporate. Put a clean stick or rod down to the bottom and inspect what comes out - if it's clean it's fine.

 

[frank_f15]

my old ford 2n had an add on fel. the resivoir was the pipeing that formed the loader frame, there was non way to check the level, but if i noticed the loader stuttering i added a quart, not very precise, but it worked.as far a s changing it, i changed all the fluids when i bought the tractor and then only once every other year and that was probably more than necessary, but that depends on the amt of use and the conditions of use.