MarkLeininger
Platinum Member
So this moron I know forgot to clean the hydraulic strainer when he changed the hydraulic filter and fluid. Can I pull the strainer without losing much (or hopefully any) fluid?
B2710 Hyd strainer
- Thread starter MarkLeininger
- Start date
- Views: 5198
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,831
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
What tractor did the moron do that on.?
alchemysa
Veteran Member
It's been discussed a few times. I've never tried it but some say its possible. You'll need something to plug the hole while you are cleaning the screen.
Some have said that a vacuum cleaner held to the top oil filler hole creates a vacuum in the crankcase that minimses or stops the flow through the drain hole. And positioning the tractor (safely) on a slope may help.
Be prepared to catch a lot of oil anyway, or possibly even catch the whole lot. Theres an O Ring that can be fiddly to fit correctly. That could be difficult if you have oil everywhere. By the way, you may have 2 screens. One for the hydraulics and one for the HST (if you have HST)
Some have said that a vacuum cleaner held to the top oil filler hole creates a vacuum in the crankcase that minimses or stops the flow through the drain hole. And positioning the tractor (safely) on a slope may help.
Be prepared to catch a lot of oil anyway, or possibly even catch the whole lot. Theres an O Ring that can be fiddly to fit correctly. That could be difficult if you have oil everywhere. By the way, you may have 2 screens. One for the hydraulics and one for the HST (if you have HST)
LBrown59
Super Star Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2004
- Messages
- 16,831
- Tractor
- 2003 Kubota BX1500/2004 Kubota Bx23/2005 Kubota BX1500
Just drain it at the drain plug .
If u can keep the fluid clean strain it and pour it back in.
OP
MarkLeininger
Platinum Member
OK thanks, I think I'll drain it into a clean container and pour it back. Naturally this is the first time in my life I've ever purchased a manufacturer's lubricant, I filled it with SUDT which might be the only thing that won't come down in price even if the world economy does collapse. So I'm not going to lose a drop of this stuff.
Ductape
Elite Member
Or, more importantly, if times get really tough you can boil off the lubricant and you will have all of that 24K gold dust left!
ovrszd
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- May 27, 2006
- Messages
- 32,246
- Location
- Missouri
- Tractor
- Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
Before you spill oil all over yourself and the floor, let's discuss the purpose of the strainer. It's not like a filter. It's only there to trap debris caused by a mechanical failure in the system, such as a bearing going out, O-ring deteriorating, gear teeth chipping, etc. If you found no evidence of anything like that in your drained oil, I wouldn't worry about the strainer.
I'm betting after you make a mess and look at the strainer you are going to see a perfectly clean strainer that you are only going to risk contaminating.
I'm betting after you make a mess and look at the strainer you are going to see a perfectly clean strainer that you are only going to risk contaminating.
alchemysa
Veteran Member
Before you spill oil all over yourself and the floor, let's discuss the purpose of the strainer. It's not like a filter. It's only there to trap debris caused by a mechanical failure in the system, such as a bearing going out, O-ring deteriorating, gear teeth chipping, etc. If you found no evidence of anything like that in your drained oil, I wouldn't worry about the strainer.
I'm betting after you make a mess and look at the strainer you are going to see a perfectly clean strainer that you are only going to risk contaminating.
The fine mesh of the strainer slowly clogs up with fine grit and filings that are a natural result of manufacture, running in, and daily usage - not just 'mechanical failure.' A clogged strainer can starve the HST of oil, resulting in major performance problems and ultimately severe and expensive damage.
If you have any doubts - clean the strainer!
OP
MarkLeininger
Platinum Member
This doesn't sound right to me. Engines and hydraulic parts are manufactured to tolerances in the tens of thousandths. If there were grit and filings in the lubricant it would ruin the engine and transmission. I think in the old days (like 50 years ago) this might have been true. I'm inclined to agree with ovrszd that the strainer is to catch catastrophic failures, in which case cleaning the strainer is not my greatest problem. So that means I can sit on the couch this weekend and think great thoughts instead of getting all oily. I'm actually tempted to drive one side of the tractor up on car ramps to see if I can pull the strainer without spilling any oil, just to contribute knowledge to the tractor community. And of course to find out for myself just what's living in my strainer.
alchemysa
Veteran Member
So you really think the strainer is there just to catch the bits when something explodes?
But anyway I didn't say theres grit in the oil. I said it gets trapped in the strainer and ultimately clogs it. Are you aware how fine the mesh of this strainer is? Its almost as fine as cloth. Perhaps you are thinking its coarse like a veggie strainer.
