coasterez
Banned
Well, hard to believe I'm at 50 hours already, just since early March. Did the 50 hour service today. Sure was a lot of fluid. Went smoothly enough except that I had my 13 year old helping me. I showed him where and how to remove the engine oil pan drain plugs and left him to it for a couple of minutes. The silly kid didn't put the drain pan under it correctly and then just "ran for help". By the time I got back, he had let over a gallon of motor oil spill onto the ground. What a mess! Well hopefully he and I learned a lesson from that.
I then checked over the whole tractor for loose bolts and what not. Greased all the fittings and lubricated just about every moving part with a touch of lithium. Drove her around a bit and then rechecked the fluids. All remained full.
I did unknowingly leave a rubber washer off of one of the rear tranaxle drain plugs. By the time I realized it (when I found the washer in the bottom of the dirty oil), I had already refilled with fluids. I thought for a minute about pulling the plug and quickly putting the washer back on. But then I thought about how much fluid would come gushing out; I thought better of it. After I drove it around for a bit, I checked the plug for leaks and found none. So, I've decided to save the washer and put it back on at the next changing. Ha! Like father, like son!
There is a descrepancy in the manual, however. One place it states that the HST's require 7.93 gallons of hydraulic fluid vs. 7.19 for the shuttles. In another it is reversed. I ended up putting about 7.5 gallons in - not quite to the full line. Mine is shuttle. I would expect the HST's to require more given the extra filter, etc.
Another problem (probably me), the manual shows 3 grease fittings as viewed from the back, looking at the rear transaxle and 3ph. But, I looked and looked and can only find 2. One on the 3ph right arm level adjust crank, and one on the right side on a linkage arm (not sure what the arm was controlling). There are several linkages on the left, but none had grease fittings. Which one did I miss?
BTW the hydraulic filter was way too tight. It took quite a bit of torque to break it free. I think it was painted on or something. Had to crush it a bit to get it loose.
Tom
I then checked over the whole tractor for loose bolts and what not. Greased all the fittings and lubricated just about every moving part with a touch of lithium. Drove her around a bit and then rechecked the fluids. All remained full.
I did unknowingly leave a rubber washer off of one of the rear tranaxle drain plugs. By the time I realized it (when I found the washer in the bottom of the dirty oil), I had already refilled with fluids. I thought for a minute about pulling the plug and quickly putting the washer back on. But then I thought about how much fluid would come gushing out; I thought better of it. After I drove it around for a bit, I checked the plug for leaks and found none. So, I've decided to save the washer and put it back on at the next changing. Ha! Like father, like son!
There is a descrepancy in the manual, however. One place it states that the HST's require 7.93 gallons of hydraulic fluid vs. 7.19 for the shuttles. In another it is reversed. I ended up putting about 7.5 gallons in - not quite to the full line. Mine is shuttle. I would expect the HST's to require more given the extra filter, etc.
Another problem (probably me), the manual shows 3 grease fittings as viewed from the back, looking at the rear transaxle and 3ph. But, I looked and looked and can only find 2. One on the 3ph right arm level adjust crank, and one on the right side on a linkage arm (not sure what the arm was controlling). There are several linkages on the left, but none had grease fittings. Which one did I miss?
BTW the hydraulic filter was way too tight. It took quite a bit of torque to break it free. I think it was painted on or something. Had to crush it a bit to get it loose.
Tom