Oil & Fuel HST & Hyd oil filter change

[Carl Bert]

My service manual says to change the Hyd & HST oil filters at 50 hrs but not to change the hyd fluid until 400 hours. My question is, how do you change the filters without draining the oil. Or do you have to drain the fluid, replace the filters and then put the old fluid back in? If thats the case then I might as well use new fluid. Ok I am sitting in my driveway waiting for a response. Thanks

 

[TripleR]

The manual on our L5030 indicates to drain the fluid, change filters and then put the oil back in. My son was helping me and he just swapped the filters out with the oil in place and only lost about a quart of fluid. We did not want to go through draining and replacing. It worked out fine for us; don't know about the B, but it shouldn't be much different.

The dealer said they do it the way we did.

 

[k0ua]

On my L3400HST I lost less than a Quart of fluid total, by having my wife hold a vacuum cleaner to the filler port neck to pull a partial vacuum on the system to help prevent fluid from gushing out . Dont know if it really worked or not, but really very little fluid was lost when changing the hst and hydraulic filters. Others have said park on a steep slope sideways with the intended filter to change upslope and let gravity help with this.

James K0UA

 

[crbr]

A quick swap of the filters is the concensus of what I have read here over the years. Most have lost minimal fluid with this method.

 

[Will_C]

When I did the 50 hour service on my B2620, I had the replacement filters ready to go-I finished unscrewing the old one with my left hand and had the new one in my right hand. I lost about a quart of SUDT.

Will

 

[RobertN]

Replacing the filter should not result in too much fluid escaping; as others have noted a quart or so. Just make sure you have the new filter ready to go...

 

[Carl Bert]

So its about a quart for each filter? There is no where, that I can think of, on my property that I can afford to drop 1/2 gallon of fluid. Its either paved, concrete or lawn.

I called my brother in law, he has a transmission shop. I'll go there next week and do it on the lift. I guess I'll change the fluid too, while I'm at it. Thanks for the quick responses guys. :thumbsup:

 

[Carl Bert]

The manual on our L5030 indicates to drain the fluid, change filters and then put the oil back in. My son was helping me and he just swapped the filters out with the oil in place and only lost about a quart of fluid. We did not want to go through draining and replacing. It worked out fine for us; don't know about the B, but it shouldn't be much different.

The dealer said they do it the way we did.

Hey TripleR, how you doing? Glad to see you switched back to your old avitar pic. Always nice when that pic pops up in a discussion.

Must be nice having kids old enough to help out. My boy is only 8, still some time before I can get him under the tractor.

 

[RobertN]

Oil pan and a couple strategically placed rags...

Changing filters, and when doing fluids for my old Kubota B series, old Farmall-A, and my NH TC40D, I've never had a problem with oil hitting the floor...

So its about a quart for each filter? There is no where, that I can think of, on my property that I can afford to drop 1/2 gallon of fluid. Its either paved, concrete or lawn.

 

[TripleR]

Hey TripleR, how you doing? Glad to see you switched back to your old avatar pic. Always nice when that pic pops up in a discussion.

Must be nice having kids old enough to help out. My boy is only 8, still some time before I can get him under the tractor.

Doing very well thanks. I missed the old Avatar too, so went back after trying some others.

Eight is about right to start his apprenticeship. The good things about them at that age is they are low to the ground and have skinny fingers.:laughing:

My sons are 42 and 32, so they sure are a lot of help and more important the older I get. I have turned all the maintenance on the M8540 to my youngest son. My mobility is getting worse, so I will be doing less and less overall.

We lost a total of one quart on the 5030 changing both filters and just put an oil drain pan under it.

Good luck.

 

[fredhargis]

I had read here about having a plug ready to put into the oil hole when changing those filters, so I bought one: a tapered rubber plug at Lowes. I only changed the trans filter, but didn't need the plug....only seemed to loose what was between the filter and the casting. It took less than a quart to top it off. The hydraulic filter may be a different story, tho.

 

[Crocus]

I was pleased to find these comments about changing the HST filter and dealing with the spilling oil. My B26 (purchased used at 250hr) reached 400 hours and reading in the manual that the HST filter should be changed. Noting the oil level at the dip stick I couldn't see how to remove that filter without oil running out. I re-read the manual but it says nothing about an oil spill. I tried it and of course oil started to spill onto the top of the oil pan, down my sleeve etc. That can't be right I thought! What dumb engineering would require partial oil draining or dealing with the mess created by changing that filter.
I will try the "tilted-tractor" method with plenty of rags on hand.

Aside from this issue I am extremely pleased with this tractor. I am continually amazed by what it can do.:thumbsup:

 

[avc8130]

I plan on just winging it "hot swapping" the filters without draining the fluid on my L39. I am at the 600 hour service and have the same requirement of new filters but not new oil. I would swap the oil too, but that would add $250 to the service cost!

ac

 

[Dead Horse]

When I service either one of my tractors I have a five gallon pail handy. (It is astounding how many uses there are on a farm for 5 gallon pails. I must have 20 of them and am always looking for an empty one!)

There is always some oil spill when changing hyd or HST tranny filters, same with changing fuel filters.

Around here used hyd oil, motor oil, gear case oil and what ever else ends up in the "catch all" pails, is considered an asset that gets consumed various ways.

For example I have been running 4+ chainsaws for 12 years or more in some cases, using used motor oil as bar oil. Stuff works great and I have never had a problem with failure to oil or premature chain or bar wear. (Matter of fact this AM I was down sharpening most of my 18+ saw chains and came across one I have had for all of 15 years! Sadly this mornings service will likely be the last one this chain will take as there is barely anything left of the teeth).

I might add that the cast off oil makes a great wood preservative, too...... I do know carpenter ants seem to HATE the stuff!

 

[Carl Bert]

I was pleased to find these comments about changing the HST filter and dealing with the spilling oil. My B26 (purchased used at 250hr) reached 400 hours and reading in the manual that the HST filter should be changed. Noting the oil level at the dip stick I couldn't see how to remove that filter without oil running out. I re-read the manual but it says nothing about an oil spill. I tried it and of course oil started to spill onto the top of the oil pan, down my sleeve etc. That can't be right I thought! What dumb engineering would require partial oil draining or dealing with the mess created by changing that filter.
I will try the "tilted-tractor" method with plenty of rags on hand.

Aside from this issue I am extremely pleased with this tractor. I am continually amazed by what it can do.:thumbsup:

It really is a great machine. I wasn't sure if I had made a mistake not getting the L45, but so far so good. I only use it for projects around the house, and it hasn't let me down yet. I just dug a 14' x 8' x 7' deep hole for a basement staircase that I am putting in. What more can you ask from such a small machine?