My Idiot Moment

[MacTractor]

So my tractor has been dropping some hydro fluid on the floor of my garage from one of the FEL QC's. I know which one and have cleaned it out but there must be an issue with the O-Ring. The strange part is that it doesn't leak when running, only after you shut it down. Overnight there will be a small little puddle, basically a small leak.

I have forgotten to check the hydro level lately so as the tractor was sitting in the gargage for a week or so, I checked the level and it looked like there was nothing in the glass. I figured this was from the loss of fluid do to the leak here and there.

I figured I would top it off. I put in a little, no change. Then some more, nothing in window. More, and some more. I started thinking something is not right. I ended up filling it right to the top of the filler hole.

So it turns out the glass was full. I guess i have never paid much attention to how it looks but when looking at it when it is full, it looks like there is no fluid there.

So I pulled the plug and drained out until finally it dropped. I can easily see the difference when the fluid dropped but ended up wasting a crap load of Hydro fluid along with making a bit of a mess.

I think I would prefer a dipstick over the window.

All better now.

 

[Ted Summey]

The idiot move would have been to look and think it was okay then later find out the level was actually low. This way 2 positives occurred. One you erred on the cautious side and made sure the level was right. Two, you learned something about your tractor. The route you took was much less expensive than having to do repairs because you burnt up a pump. Btw a dipstick would be hard for me to read because hydro fluid is so clear.

 

[BRBurns]

I have also confused a full sight glass with an empty one. I have stopped short of adding fluid to it though.

 

[Zebrafive]

The idiot move would have been to look and think it was okay then later find out the level was actually low. This way 2 positives occurred. One you erred on the cautious side and made sure the level was right. Two, you learned something about your tractor. The route you took was much less expensive than having to do repairs because you burnt up a pump. Btw a dipstick would be hard for me to read because hydro fluid is so clear.

I agree, no harm done.

Did you drain to a dirty container? I can't why you wasted the fluid.

I have trouble checking the level when the fluid is so clear too I wonder if adding an once ot two of red atf would be ok ? :anyone:

 

[danedgington]

Yes...What model tractor? On the 2520 if you drain and add new fluid and are used to seeing the red factory fluid, and miss the sight glass, and keep going until it comes out the fill hole.....It is absolutely amazing how much is in there beyond the full point............................Or at least that is what I have heard.....I haven't done anything like that.....

Now I have figured using the dipstick gives a better indicator of getting close. The sight glass goes from empty to overfilled really quickly....

 

[Gator6x4]

John Deere sells the red dye for the hydraulic fluid. Obtain a bottle and the fluid will show in the glass.

 

[MacTractor]

The idiot move would have been to look and think it was okay then later find out the level was actually low. This way 2 positives occurred. One you erred on the cautious side and made sure the level was right. Two, you learned something about your tractor. The route you took was much less expensive than having to do repairs because you burnt up a pump. Btw a dipstick would be hard for me to read because hydro fluid is so clear.

I agree here, better safe than sorry. I didn't realize how clear the hydraulic fluid was until I was refilling it.

I agree, no harm done.

Did you drain to a dirty container? I can't why you wasted the fluid.

I have trouble checking the level when the fluid is so clear too I wonder if adding an once ot two of red atf would be ok ? :anyone:

Yes, the only pan I had had some oil in it.

Yes...What model tractor? On the 2520 if you drain and add new fluid and are used to seeing the red factory fluid, and miss the sight glass, and keep going until it comes out the fill hole.....It is absolutely amazing how much is in there beyond the full point............................Or at least that is what I have heard.....I haven't done anything like that.....

Now I have figured using the dipstick gives a better indicator of getting close. The sight glass goes from empty to overfilled really quickly....

I can tell you that I must have put 4+ liters in it to make it come to the top, so this is true.

I am going to look for the JD Dye as I would much rather have it Red so that you know you have a leak. I would guess that I could dump alot of fluid on something like a lawn without even knowing it. I had a rock pierce the hydro filter on my BX 25 before and noticed right way as I could see the trail behind me.

 

[Harry in Ky]

Regarding the wasted fluid: this may not seem practical to everyone, but I keep a short hose with a male coupler on one end. If I need to drain hyd oil from a tractor(or lower the level), I simply plug the hose into a coupler, put the open end of the hose into a clean container and operate the associated valve. I can pretty much empty the entire tractor this way, and have the oil safely contained for re use when the project is completed.

 

[k0ua]

Another 10 second thing you can do to determine if the fluid level is below the sight glass or over the top of the sight glass is raise the front end loader and/or 3pt. IF it is over you will see the level drop, if it is below you will not. Or the FEL wont lift at all if it is bad enough:shocked: This is why you check the level while the tractor is not running, and on level ground with the loader down and the 3pt down.

James K0UA

 

[Gator6x4]

This is file information I have on the JD Hydraulic dye. The price may still be good, the part number will probably be the same.

Part Number: MT3668
Part Price: 3.91 USD
Description: FLUID, HYDRAULIC OIL DYE