L4240 w/LA854 and Third function valve: question on draining Hydraulic Fluid

4shorts · Nov 28, 2015

I've seen this set up on many of the GL 40 HST series tractors. When I service them I simply remove the hose with out removing the guard. It will drain like that. On the HST units you'll need to remove the drain plug on the bottom of each rear Axel housing as well to get it all drained off.
Incidentally my Kabota 2011 5740 has the same set up as yours but my 2008 4240 had a different set up for the third function valve without that hose in the bottom. Both are oem 3rd valve set ups.

The 4240 is a very nice machine. :thumbsup:

TripleR · Nov 28, 2015

Paul, my brother is going to do a 400 service on our 5740 this winter, are the drains on the bottom of the axles mentioned in the manual?

crazyal · Nov 28, 2015

I wouldn't accept that. I have a mid PTO so that cover is replaced by the mid PTO shaft. I don't have a 3rd function valve but I do have a return line for the front snow blower. It goes into the case on the side. I think you can see the plug in the upper right corner of 4shorts picture. Hanging down like that just looks like an accident waiting to happen. While the fitting may be protected that hose could get caught on a branch. Between the mess it would make and the possibility of having to repair it in the field would suck.

4shorts · Nov 28, 2015

TripleR said:
Paul, my brother is going to do a 400 service on our 5740 this winter, are the drains on the bottom of the axles mentioned in the manual?

Yes sir. There is one on each side of the rear axel.

4shorts · Nov 28, 2015

crazyal said:
I wouldn't accept that. I have a mid PTO so that cover is replaced by the mid PTO shaft. I don't have a 3rd function valve but I do have a return line for the front snow blower. It goes into the case on the side. I think you can see the plug in the upper right corner of 4shorts picture. Hanging down like that just looks like an accident waiting to happen. While the fitting may be protected that hose could get caught on a branch. Between the mess it would make and the possibility of having to repair it in the field would suck.

No drain plug. you remove the hose at the pipe. Have you ever studied the mess of hoses hanging on the new 60 series. What was Kubota thinking?

crazyal · Nov 28, 2015

I haven't looked at the 60 series. I have seen the fuel tank and didn't like the location. I've broken more than one fitting on my backhoe because a hose got caught on something, once a log buried in the dirt, breaking the weak link. I now have a set of easy outs to remove the fitting if it breaks off at the threads. That's my backhoe, something big and lumbering that really doesn't go into the woods. I guess if your tasks are plowing a field then it wouldn't matter but for me on a tractor I want it to be as bullet proof as possible.

4shorts · Nov 28, 2015

crazyal said:
I haven't looked at the 60 series. I have seen the fuel tank and didn't like the location. I've broken more than one fitting on my backhoe because a hose got caught on something, once a log buried in the dirt, breaking the weak link. I now have a set of easy outs to remove the fitting if it breaks off at the threads. That's my backhoe, something big and lumbering that really doesn't go into the woods. I guess if your tasks are plowing a field then it wouldn't matter but for me on a tractor I want it to be as bullet proof as possible.

Woods work is tough for on equipment. I've torn off steel lines on a Cat D-9 in the woods. Took windows out because of trees. If I were using the tractor in the woods I'd put a full skid plate under it and a cage over it. I was horrified looking at a 6060 last year with hoses outside the FEL and hoses hanging under the rear wheels. I get emails from their owners asking if something can be done about it. Nothing worst than having to repair that sort of thing on site.

Member · Nov 29, 2015

4shorts said:
I've seen this set up on many of the GL 40 HST series tractors. When I service them I simply remove the hose with out removing the guard. It will drain like that. On the HST units you'll need to remove the drain plug on the bottom of each rear Axel housing as well to get it all drained off.
Incidentally my Kabota 2011 5740 has the same set up as yours but my 2008 4240 had a different set up for the third function valve without that hose in the bottom. Both are oem 3rd valve set ups. View attachment 448737The 4240 is a very nice machine. :thumbsup:

It's nice to know you've seen this before, that helps.

Thanks for your reply, I've admired your work on your tractor for some time.

Member · Nov 29, 2015

It didn't end up being as bad as I thought. Below is a picture of the trajectory of the fluid as it started draining when I removed the hose. The fluid from the axle drains actually came out a little more horizontal, I think because the drain hole and plug are smaller.

One thing that was a *big* help was the Home Depot 20 gallon Concrete Mixing Tub that I bought:

Plasgad Black Large Concrete Mixing Tub-887102C - The Home Depot

It was suggested in an older post on Tractorbynet, it's large enough that it can be oriented to be under all three drains at the same time and at $13 the price was right. I used two small pans with one under each filter as well and I didn't have any spills. I'll use a pitcher to get the used hydraulic fluid from the tub into the jugs the new fluid came in to get it to the recycle place.

Thanks for the replies to my post, this forum is great.

Fluid trajectory: