X730 hydro oil change

[daisyman]

Gentleman, I haven't been on here for a long time, so this might have been talked about before, but a search yielded no luck.
I just acquired an X730 with 488 hours, and decided to change the hydraulic fluid. Now the problem, I cannot for the life of me get the seat far enough forward to access the dipstick to add the oil. I have done everything in my power the get the seat to move forward to no success. I've power washed the slider bearings and blew them out, shot them with PB blaster, set on the seat and slid it back and forth (it rolls easily) but cannot get it forward far enough. It hits hard at the front of the slide, but not far enough to access the dipstick, or the rear screws to be able to get the seat frame off the fender pan. I can not see the interference anywhere. Anyone ever have this problem?? And a solution!!!!
The engine oil hadn't been changed for 80 hours and was really dark, so I'm thinking the hydro REALLY needs changed. The previous operator, (wasn't the owner) had to have the same problem.
Thanks, Irv

 

[OregonCraig]

Gentleman, I haven't been on here for a long time, so this might have been talked about before, but a search yielded no luck.
I just acquired an X730 with 488 hours, and decided to change the hydraulic fluid. Now the problem, I cannot for the life of me get the seat far enough forward to access the dipstick to add the oil. I have done everything in my power the get the seat to move forward to no success. I've power washed the slider bearings and blew them out, shot them with PB blaster, set on the seat and slid it back and forth (it rolls easily) but cannot get it forward far enough. It hits hard at the front of the slide, but not far enough to access the dipstick, or the rear screws to be able to get the seat frame off the fender pan. I can not see the interference anywhere. Anyone ever have this problem?? And a solution!!!!
The engine oil hadn't been changed for 80 hours and was really dark, so I'm thinking the hydro REALLY needs changed. The previous operator, (wasn't the owner) had to have the same problem.
Thanks, Irv

Just to clarify: after sliding the seat all the way forward, are you tipping the seat forward so that it rests on the steering wheel? That's what I have to do to my X758, which should be the same as yours.

 

[ruffdog]

It sounds like someone mounted the top seat frame to the lower slider in the rear most bolt holes. There are 2 sets of holes and in the rear most setting gains about 1" of leg room. Mine is in the forward holes so I can get to the dip stick and mounting bolts.

 

[Deere Dude]

My X740 had the problem where it wouldn't go ahead far enough and had very limited movement, it seemed to me. I sprayed the track with a water hose but had little effect. What did work was to slam it forward and backward with my body on the seat forcefully up against the endstop. I thought I was going to break something but built up grass or something gradually gave.

Keep on lubing it and every now and then let the seat slide all the way ahead forcefully. I find that is a normal occurence in my preventative maintenance. I was finally able to get at the dipstick

 

[daisyman]

Thank you gentlemen for your advice. I should have gotten back to you with my solution. I did what Deere Dude said and I thought sure I was going to wreck something. I finally got it to move just BARELY enough to get to the back bolts and get the seat track unbolted off the fender deck. I took the sliders off the seat frame and put them in the vice one at a time and wailed the tar out of them with a rubber hammer. At the end of the bottom slide there is a knob to keep them from coming apart. I smashed it flat so the ball assembly would come out and I finally got them apart. There's two ball bearing cages with 6 bearing balls and two hollow rollers(a spring actually) that makes up the slide. The cages were bent but I finally got them straightened out and reassembled. After all that, I finally got my oil changed, although it took the better part of a day!!!!!! What a fiasco!