New(ish) Kubota M62 With Filthy Hydraulic Oil

[Hay Dude]

Sat in salt water

 

[Carl_NH]

Sat in salt water

Agree but OP is in Vermont - not Texas or FL where that could have occurred and the wording indicates it may not be his machine but one he is working on "We have a pretty new Kubota M62 with just about 200 hours".

So we don't really know the full story or history of this machine and service records since the OP hasn't offered this detail.

Could be several explanations as mentioned already - sabotage, incompetence, or flooding,

 

[Hay Dude]

Agree but OP is in Vermont - not Texas or FL where that could have occurred and the wording indicates it may not be his machine but one he is working on "We have a pretty new Kubota M62 with just about 200 hours".

So we don't really know the full story or history of this machine and service records since the OP hasn't offered this detail.

Could be several explanations as mentioned already - sabotage, incompetence, or flooding,

What?
There’s a chance of salt water flooding in a heck of a lot more places than FL or TX.
The tractor could have been brought in from anywhere.

 

[tradosaurus]

Instead of a drain and fill is there a way to flush most of the hydraulic fluid out of the system?

I'm also curious where the tractor came from.

 

[rScotty]

Instead of a drain and fill is there a way to flush most of the hydraulic fluid out of the system?

I'm also curious where the tractor came from.

Good point, there ought to be a better way that drain and fill. But I don't know of any.
Drain and fill isn't a flush, it's just progressively reducing the percentage of contamination. If that.....

rScotty

 

[Smokeydog]

The two hydraulic filters should have magnetic ring to capture iron particles.

Be sure to open all drain points.

Check the front axle oil for flooding evidence. Maybe engine oil.

Guess there are different methods for flushing. The first 50 hour service is basically a break in flush. Changing the polishing HST filter.

Going to have to run it to clean it.

New oil and filters.
Change HST filter after 50 hours and inspect oil.
50 more hours compete oil and filters change. Depending oil condition evaluate next change.

Loaded or blind filters go into bypass. HST filter should remove particles you can see.

 

[BeezFun]

Instead of a drain and fill is there a way to flush most of the hydraulic fluid out of the system?

You could do something similar to what I did to drain the hydraulic system on my boom lift. Remove the hydraulic filter, pick a tube size that just fits over the threaded part of the filter housing and attach it with a hose clamp. Put the end of that hose in a 5gal pail of new hydraulic fluid. Put an empty 5 gal pail under the filter housing because the oil in the system is going to come out of the slots around the perimeter of the filter housing. Turn the tractor on and let it run until the 5 gal pail is getting empty, then turn off the engine and put the hose in a new pail of clean fluid. Keep repeating this until the dirty fluid coming out of the housing looks clean. That all works well to get the oil out of all the common areas of the transmission and drive train that use the common hydraulic reservoir. It doesn't flush the hydraulic cylinders or hoses, or in some cases the power steering system. You can operate each of the hydraulic cylinders while you are doing the flush and that will exchange the fluid in the cylinders and hoses as well.

To be honest I don't think it's worth doing a flush on a hydrostatic tractor. The volume of fluid in the transmission and drive train is so large compared to the volume of the cylinders and hoses/lines, you get it almost all out just by draining the oil the normal way. On my boom lift there is no transmission or drive train, all the oil is in the large cylinders and hundreds of feet of hose. So a flush is the only way to get it out.

 

[oosik]

So....where is mtputney, the OP. Does he have any answers to our questions. Is he the original owner. Where did the tractor come from. To Hell with how that hydraulic oil LOOKS - face it - it's just plain BAD. Something serious has happened to that tractor.

 

[Smokeydog]

Agree the oil looks bad and maybe never know the cause. We could benefit from improved bedside manner for patient care till we get a better prognosis.

I took a great risk to buy my M59 for cheap. 1000hrs with original hydraulic/HST filters. Most would walk away. Even if I had to spend $15K fixing would still be a good deal. With my unique skill set and ignorance took a chance. The local Kubota dealer had a great service manager and let them do the fluid change and a complete checkup. Have done a little extra oil and filter change in the following 5years for my comfort level and almost 500hours. I’m sure the machine has lost some life expectancy because of the neglect. Wether I’ll see issues is TBD. Now much loved and bathed in the finest oils and grease. Has been a great tractor.

So hopefully with the proper care the M62 still can live a meaningful life.

Once abused dogs saved can be the best dogs.

Oil analysis can be a great tool. Collecting a representative sample is often the hardest and most overlooked part. Without surgical type cleanliness from draining, collection and sampling the numbers can be skewed from contamination. I would have to improve my technique and equipment hygiene to collect a representative sample.

 

[5030]

Blackstone pre paid, mail in sample bottles with a return analysis. Been using Blackstone in Fort Wayne, Indiana for years. Quick turn around, comprehensive reports.