Mahindra 2545 on sand

[SPYDERLK]

number scales are different for different types of oil. Heres a chart. Read Horizontally to see how viscosities relate.

Viscosity Charts - Bob is the Oil Guy

 

[pripyat]

OK so I learned some things today..

The 2545 hydraulics use the transmission oil. Operators manual calls for 80W gear oil for the transmission which is similar in viscoscity to hydraulic fluid.

Im going to call the hub dealership tomorrow and ask if I should use 80W gear oil as the manual states or UTF.

[edit] Here is the bucket after I had been using the tractor for a while and had cycled the curl. I don't think I had cycled it enough in that video, I noticed that it was really bad yesterday when I first started the tractor. Just with my hand there was over an inch of seemingly free cylinder movement. I cycled the curl a couple times and it got slightly better. Cycled it more times and it got slightly better. There was still play in the bucket, from the cylinder moving, after having been cycled 8 or 10 times. I'm pretty sure I could hear air in the system at the very end of the curl motion. I'm beginning to wonder if it needs to be properly bled.

2545 Bucket - Google Photos

 

[pripyat]

OK, just talked to the hub dealership where they do all the service work on the tractors. He said that they use Service Pro Universal Transmission and Hydraulic Fluid. Service Pro has two products, "premium universal hydraulic tractor fluid" and "Premium Low Temp Tractor Hydraulic Fluid". I'm assuming they are using the former. I would consider neither of these to be 80W gear oil as the manual states should be used in the transmission.

Anyway, I guess I'll be looking for a high quality UTF as SPYDERLK said. Thanks for the input, it is greatly appreciated. I am glad I finally get some closure on this topic.

 

[SPYDERLK]

OK, just talked to the hub dealership where they do all the service work on the tractors. He said that they use Service Pro Universal Transmission and Hydraulic Fluid. Service Pro has two products, "premium universal hydraulic tractor fluid" and "Premium Low Temp Tractor Hydraulic Fluid". I'm assuming they are using the former. I would consider neither of these to be 80W gear oil as the manual states should be used in the transmission.

Anyway, I guess I'll be looking for a high quality UTF as SPYDERLK said. Thanks for the input, it is greatly appreciated. I am glad I finally get some closure on this topic.

The KEY thing about the universal tractor fluids is that they have Extreme Pressure additives like gear oils do, and therefore hold up fine in a transmission while ideally suiting hydraulic and wet brake applications.

 

[CincyFlyer]

GL4 80W-90 would work, correct?

Universal tractor fluid. Period.

 

[pripyat]

Spent a bunch of time on BobIsTheOilGuy. Apparently Schaeffer makes some of the best lubricants you can buy, as good or better than Amsoil or Chevron. I'm assuming this would fit all the minimum requirements for the transmission -

https://www.schaefferoil.com/documents/202-315-td.pdf


I know I can buy oil for less. Can someone confirm that this is as good or equivalent to UTF that you would get from TSC?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Spent a bunch of time on BobIsTheOilGuy. Apparently Schaeffer makes some of the best lubricants you can buy, as good or better than Amsoil or Chevron. I'm assuming this would fit all the minimum requirements for the transmission -

https://www.schaefferoil.com/documents/202-315-td.pdf


I know I can buy oil for less. Can someone confirm that this is as good or equivalent to UTF that you would get from TSC?

Viscosity @ 40

C, cSt (ASTM D
-
445)
52.00
-
63.00
Viscosity @ 100

C, cSt (ASTM D
-
445)
9.1

10.00

The copy paste is rather disappointing but the #s are there.
. . . I have hilited the cool and hot viscosities. These numbers demonstrate the high Viscosity Index. Essentially they show that the oil is as thin as the thinnest 85W wnen both are cool - and as thick as the thickest 85W when both are hot.

IOW, it is your friend; flowing nicely when cold/cool and staying thick enuf when hot to lubricate and seal well.​

Ill wager this is way better than any generic UTF youll find. It would be nice to compare it to Kubot SUDT and other touted high performers.

What does it cost? --- SUDT is probably near $20/gal. Generic UTF is around 9 or $10.​

 

[pripyat]

It is $27/gal with 2 day shipping. The pennzoil I was looking at was similar at over $100 for a 5 gallon bucket. There are some people on the oil forum that seemed to know their stuff (send off their oil for analysis) that only use schaeffer products so I'm thinking this product should do well. By the description it seems to be intended for this exact use (shared sump trans/hyd).

Why does curl on my tractor get air in it as im working? I cycled it, worked for about three hours. I could tell it was getting bad towards the end. I checked it and I could move the cylinder in/out well over an inch by hand. I cycled it to its extremes three times and it stiffened right up. This cant be normal..

 

[SPYDERLK]

It is $27/gal with 2 day shipping. The pennzoil I was looking at was similar at over $100 for a 5 gallon bucket. There are some people on the oil forum that seemed to know their stuff (send off their oil for analysis) that only use schaeffer products so I'm thinking this product should do well. By the description it seems to be intended for this exact use (shared sump trans/hyd).

Why does curl on my tractor get air in it as im working? I cycled it, worked for about three hours. I could tell it was getting bad towards the end. I checked it and I could move the cylinder in/out well over an inch by hand. I cycled it to its extremes three times and it stiffened right up. This cant be normal..

Thats extremely expensive. Might be worth it.

Your "air" has to do with the dumping action of the bucket. There is pressure on the rod side of your curl cylinders just to hold the bucket lip up - extreme if holding a load. To dump, this fluid must be bled off while hopefully routing enuf pump flow to the base end to keep it full as the cylinder extends. If the base end is not kept full the bucket will get floppy. This is probably what is happening. However many loader valves have regen on the dump circuit to deal with this. In the hard rightward position it applies pressure to both ends of the curl cyls. Since there is more working area on the base ends there is a net extension force on the cyls causing dump. But since equal fluid pressure is on both sides no fluid void is allowed. Indeed fluid escaping from the rod end is used to supplement pump flow into the base end.​

So try dumping fully with hard right joystick and then curl to the position you want. ... It should be firm.

Heres a video about regenerative flow:

 

[SPYDERLK]

Kubot SUDT:

https://www.kubotausa.com/parts/kubota-parts-products/lubricants

. . . A lot better cool but not as good hot.

 

[pripyat]

Over 40 hours on the tractor. Still not very efficient with shuttle shift. I would be a lot better if I could shift range (HML) while the tractor is rolling. If I do, even with clutch in, it grinds. I have to be in M or L to scoop dirt effectively but need H to get back and forth to the dirt pile. Kills me having to stop to shift. And M is a royal pia sometimes, i'll either go slightly past it or it won't fully be in position when I let out the clutch.

Anyway, pics.







[Edit]




Stuck it over the weekend, fortunately was able to winch it out without issue.

 

[pripyat]

A couple of you guys mentioned MTL for a grapple. I started looking seriously at them again, comparing to EA. I don't have an immediate use for the root grapple but I really like how close the tines are on the MTL rock grapple. Pictures of the two attached.

I called and talked to them this morning, I spoke with the guy who designed the grapples. He said that a 60" HD root grapple weighs 488lbs and the rock grapple (RK5) weights 45lbs more at 533lbs. He said that the rock grapple was much stronger and was a better built piece of equipment. He didn't ask my specific uses but asked for my equipment HP and said that I would be fine with the heavier duty rock grapple. He mentined liking the ability to dig into the ground by pushing with the tines out straight versus having to roll the bucket to get to the "teeth" on the root grapple. Pics of the two units below for reference.

I believe if I had to buy something now I'd pay a little more for the rock grapple. I've got piles and piles of corn husk, balls of grass, etc from the landscaping rake that I don't want to till under the soil. I want to get it out so the soil can start properly compacting after all the years of being farmed. With the rock grapple it should allow the small stuff to fall through the cracks and keep the larger stuff worth burning in the implement. It should also work just as well as the root grapple for hauling logs and such. It will have to be pushed directly into soil to pull up roots but that won't be an issue as I don't have nearly as much use for the root ripping as I do general hauling of stuff.

 

[thekkfan]

If you order it from their ebay store, you can use this for $100 off. But act fast ends 7pm PST, and you have to use the ebay app on your phone or tablet.



This is how I got mine delivered for $925. :dance1:

 

[deezler]

I think you can get the same 15% off the website from any computer. Just use code PSAVETODAY at checkout. Definitely not a trivial discount!

 

[thekkfan]

Nope, it specifically says 'in the app' right on the coupon. I've tried before and it will not subtract from the total if you use the regular website.

 

[pripyat]

Apparently they charge more for their stuff on ebay. Total would come out to $1199 (including residential shipping charge) for the rock grapple if I purchased through the website. On Ebay they sell them for $1019 plus $169 for shipping. Additionally, they charge separately for residential shipping, which can vary between $60 and $100. If mine comes out to $60 it would be $1019 + $169 + $60 = $1248. Subtracting $100 for the coupon gives $1148. Savings of $51 using ebay coupon. Unless they accept lower amounts on ebay through the "make an offer" feature..

 

[thekkfan]

They do. Make an offer, but don't get crazy. The increase when I got mine was to cover the 2.9% paypal charges them for payment processing. So at $999, I only got $75 off not the whole 100.

Also, they tried to charge me residential, but I assured them trucks run up and down my road all the time, and I have a truck stop at the end of my road. Also no tommy lift needed, told them I'd get it off the truck with my tractor.

 

[pripyat]

So I made an offer, waiting to hear back. Hopefully they don't check ebay once a day, in the AM.. lol

 

[thekkfan]

They were pretty quick when I was asking questions and made an offer. Good luck!

 

[pripyat]

Welp, it is end of business and they have not accepted nor declined my offer. Bummer.