300 hour service

[itsmatt]

My TC45 is due for its 300 hour service and I've got some questions. I read over the manual tonight and mapped out what fluids need to be changed, what needs to be adjusted and what needs to be lubricated. It seems like it should be something I can handle.

First, I'm wondering about the hydraulic fluid change. Is this as straightforward as the manual says? I'm trying to figure out how to handle 9.2 gallons of fluid right now. Any tips?

Also, I've got to change the coolant. It states in the manual that I need to run water through it and run the tractor to get the gunk out before I put in the new coolant. What do you A) collect all the coolant/water in and B) do with this afterwards? I'm not sure my landfill has a place for this. I suppose the county adminstration might know.

Would you consider any of the 300 hour maintenance a "two person job" or should I be able to do this all on my own?

Lastly, I have a question about checking the tires. Yeah, I know these are newbie questions, but that is what I am. Is there any trick to checking the tires when they've got fluid in them?

Thanks for entertaining my novice questions.

Matt

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( First, I'm wondering about the hydraulic fluid change. Is this as straightforward as the manual says? I'm trying to figure out how to handle 9.2 gallons of fluid right now. Any tips?)</font>

Matt, your tractor has enough ground clearance that you can sit a 5-gallon bucket under it. You'll need two buckets, and if possible, a catch-pan/drip-pan for when you quickly swap buckets under the oil drain stream. If you do it outside like I did, the few spoonfuls that you'll loose aren't many.

I use tall kitchen bags to line the 5-gal buckets and I double bag. When all the oil is drained, I set the buckets aside while I change the filter and put in new oil. A long-neck funnel helps because of where the filler is located. After the oil is in, you'll have the containers to pour the old oil into. Use your funnel again and decant the old oil into the oil containers. When the 5-gal buckets are empty, you only have to take out the oily trash bags and you'll have clean cans and easily disposable oily bags. That's the way I do it.

Don't forget that you have two oil drain plugs for the hydraulic oil. I only take out one at a time.

I'm not sure what you have to do with your antifreeze in your area. I'd check with an autoparts store or your local gov't for a disposal site as you mentioned. If you change your antifreeze and it doesn't look bad, I would not worry about flushing the system. Permanent 50-50 antifreeze does not have a significant amount of sediment unless you have some other problems.

EDIT: Also, when you check filled tires, you need to make sure the tire is rotated so the valve stem is at the top. That way it will be sitting in air. If it's at the bottom or side, you'll be getting fluid into your air gage.

To check the oil in your front wheel drive bevel gear, you'll have to remove your front tires. I just use the loader to lift the front of the tractor for this check/R&R.