I know this has beend discussed here before, but I'm still lost. I called and asked the dealer how to check the hydraulic oil and they said either there would be a dipstick on the back of the tractor or a sight glass on the lower left side of the transmission. there is neither. There's something on the right side that looks like a sight glass, but I can't see anything through it. It's a L4200GST 4x4 around '95. if anybody has any ideas??
L4200 hydraulic oil check. Help!
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N80
Super Member
This is a flaw in the design of these tractors as far as I am concerned. I have an L4400 with the same little window. There are several problems. 1) If the hydraulic fluid is clear-ish and the level is high, you can see no air fluid level in the little window. 2) If the tractor isn't on pefectly level ground it can give you an improper reading, and the slightest incline makes a big change. You can go from perfect to low to high with the smallest ground imperfection. 3) The window could certainly get cloudy, dirty or downright opaque over time. That might be your problem.
When I first got mine the window was clear but so was the brand new hydraulic fluid so in the window you saw no line. Is it high or low? Who knows? So my B-I-L farmer sticks a stalk of clean green grass down in the fill hole and pulls it back out indicating that the level was plenty high.
What is so hard about putting a graduated dipstick in the thing? This is probably my only complaint about my 4400.
All I can say is put the tractor on various inclines and see if you can see a level in the window. If you have to point the tractor uphill for a line to come up in the window then you're low.
When I first got mine the window was clear but so was the brand new hydraulic fluid so in the window you saw no line. Is it high or low? Who knows? So my B-I-L farmer sticks a stalk of clean green grass down in the fill hole and pulls it back out indicating that the level was plenty high.
What is so hard about putting a graduated dipstick in the thing? This is probably my only complaint about my 4400.
All I can say is put the tractor on various inclines and see if you can see a level in the window. If you have to point the tractor uphill for a line to come up in the window then you're low.
CT_Tree_Guy
Platinum Member
All I can suggest is to see if you can replace the sight glass with a new one so you can see through it, and/or maybe drain the hydraulic fluid and replace it with new if it's at all due, or add to what you drained out (if necessary) to give the correct amount (as specified for your machine) and put it back in. Then, barring any leaks, you shouldn't have to check the level again for quite a while).
Jay4200
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...they said either there would be a dipstick on the back of the tractor or a sight glass on the lower left side of the transmission. there is neither. There's something on the right side that looks like a sight glass, but I can't see anything through it. It's a L4200GST 4x4 around '95. if anybody has any ideas??)</font>
Baler,
I have the same machine - and rest assured, there IS a site glass on the lower left side of the transmission/PTO housing, when viewed from the back of the tractor. You must be looking under the side of the machine or something. The site glass and fill hole is in the back above the PTO shaft and amongst the 3-pt hitch control arms. The site glass is about 10" or so below the transmission fill hole, which is on the top of the transmission in the back, is red plastic, and says "oil" on it. The site glass bumps out of the housing... oh, to heck with it - see attached picture.
Please excuse the lack of focus and poor composition - it's pitch dark and I had to shove my arm under a snow-covered tarp to snap the picture /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.
Before I could get a site-glass reading due to low fluid levels, I took a piece of wire (ideal application for a clothes hanger) and dipped it from the fill hole. I then could simply hold it up on the outside of the housing to see where the oil level was on the inside.
Jay
Baler,
I have the same machine - and rest assured, there IS a site glass on the lower left side of the transmission/PTO housing, when viewed from the back of the tractor. You must be looking under the side of the machine or something. The site glass and fill hole is in the back above the PTO shaft and amongst the 3-pt hitch control arms. The site glass is about 10" or so below the transmission fill hole, which is on the top of the transmission in the back, is red plastic, and says "oil" on it. The site glass bumps out of the housing... oh, to heck with it - see attached picture.
Please excuse the lack of focus and poor composition - it's pitch dark and I had to shove my arm under a snow-covered tarp to snap the picture /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif.
Before I could get a site-glass reading due to low fluid levels, I took a piece of wire (ideal application for a clothes hanger) and dipped it from the fill hole. I then could simply hold it up on the outside of the housing to see where the oil level was on the inside.
Jay
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Jay4200
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What is so hard about putting a graduated dipstick in the thing? This is probably my only complaint about my 4400.)</font>
There are a fair amount of moving parts flying around in the housing below the tranny fill hole. I suspect that a dip stick would likely create a potential danger of interfering with something and getting chewed up. It would really suck to destroy a few thousands in hydraulics because of a $2 dip stick.
The good news is that there is a whole lot of margin for error in fluid reading. While I am no fan of site glasses in general, I suppose the 'stick down the hole' method, combined with a lack of big oily puddles under your machine works "good enough".
Jay
There are a fair amount of moving parts flying around in the housing below the tranny fill hole. I suspect that a dip stick would likely create a potential danger of interfering with something and getting chewed up. It would really suck to destroy a few thousands in hydraulics because of a $2 dip stick.
The good news is that there is a whole lot of margin for error in fluid reading. While I am no fan of site glasses in general, I suppose the 'stick down the hole' method, combined with a lack of big oily puddles under your machine works "good enough".
Jay
N80
Super Member
I'm assuming there must be a reservoir area somewhere in the system. I know that other tractors have dipsticks for this, truck trannies do, engines have dipsticks for oil. I just don't see how it would be any feat of engineering for Kubota to find a spot for a dipstick.
But, your margin of error point is well taken. It doesn't have to be accurate to the ounce.
But, your margin of error point is well taken. It doesn't have to be accurate to the ounce.
Jay4200
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm assuming there must be a reservoir area somewhere in the system. I know that other tractors have dipsticks for this, truck trannies do, engines have dipsticks for oil. I just don't see how it would be any feat of engineering for Kubota to find a spot for a dipstick.)</font>
Agreed - and as I said before, I am no fan of site glasses. I personally watched a friend check motorcycle oil via a site glass (don't see many dipsticks on motorcycles) and verify that it was full beyond the glass, then ride off on it. Problem was, it wasn't full beyond the glass, it had been totally drained, which looks pretty much the same through a site glass. *POOF* Seized.
OTOH, it may've been a point of practicality - just about all of the sump is under the tractor - good luck dipping anywhere under there! Maybe it's just covert payback for Hiroshima.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But, your margin of error point is well taken. It doesn't have to be accurate to the ounce. )</font>
Right - there is better than 10 gallons in the L4200, so even being a gallon low (which is about what you need to put you out of the site glass) doesn't mean much.
Jay
Agreed - and as I said before, I am no fan of site glasses. I personally watched a friend check motorcycle oil via a site glass (don't see many dipsticks on motorcycles) and verify that it was full beyond the glass, then ride off on it. Problem was, it wasn't full beyond the glass, it had been totally drained, which looks pretty much the same through a site glass. *POOF* Seized.
OTOH, it may've been a point of practicality - just about all of the sump is under the tractor - good luck dipping anywhere under there! Maybe it's just covert payback for Hiroshima.
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( But, your margin of error point is well taken. It doesn't have to be accurate to the ounce. )</font>
Right - there is better than 10 gallons in the L4200, so even being a gallon low (which is about what you need to put you out of the site glass) doesn't mean much.
Jay
CT_Tree_Guy
Platinum Member
FWIW, just talked to my friend who has an L4200GST and he says the sight glass is near the top link of the 3PH. He says his is fine, nice and clear, no problems seeing through it.
For some reason I'm reminded of a story my friend told me about some huge compressor they had just rebuilt. They asked some kid if he had checked the oil and the kid said yeah. The fired it up and it disintegrated a little while later. The said "Hey, I thought you checked the oil". "I did", he said. "There wasn't any in it". Oooof /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
For some reason I'm reminded of a story my friend told me about some huge compressor they had just rebuilt. They asked some kid if he had checked the oil and the kid said yeah. The fired it up and it disintegrated a little while later. The said "Hey, I thought you checked the oil". "I did", he said. "There wasn't any in it". Oooof /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
Jay4200
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</font><font color="blue" class="small">( FWIW, just talked to my friend who has an L4200GST and he says the sight glass is near the top link of the 3PH. He says his is fine, nice and clear, no problems seeing through it.)</font>
See pic in previous post. Ditto on the nice and clear too - leaks, but is clear. At least was - I think I completely clouded mine last week by shooting it with brake cleaner (clearing the spooge to find the leak) but I'm not sure - it looks OK in my picture (go figure). The good news is that new ones cost all of $6.
Jay
See pic in previous post. Ditto on the nice and clear too - leaks, but is clear. At least was - I think I completely clouded mine last week by shooting it with brake cleaner (clearing the spooge to find the leak) but I'm not sure - it looks OK in my picture (go figure). The good news is that new ones cost all of $6.
Jay