3x20 power reverser hydraulic filter change

[tuolumne]

Can I change the hydraulic filter without changing the oil? I have 500 hours on 3520 power reverser. The oil seems very clean and 6 gallons isn't cheap.

 

[bobmisi]

And how much did your tractor cost ? 6 gallons of oil is cheap insurance versus repairs...............

 

[RoyJackson]

Personally, I would not just change the filter...and I think you'd be making a mistake. You have a $30,000 tractor there and 6 gallons of hydraulic fluid just isn't that much money (especially over the length of time it takes to accumulate 500 hours).
But, if you must...have a larger deep drain pan handy as the fluid is going to start flowing fast when you pull the filter. I reckon you'll lose at least a gallon.

 

[tuolumne]

I will follow the advice of those with more experience than I. I am used to motor oil changes...it's clearly dirty. In this case, the hydraulic fluid appears like new. Is this normal? I have never "plugged" the tractor into older implements, being as wary of this as do-it-yourself blood transfusions. Thus the only fluid that the machine has ever seen is low-viscosity hyguard from the 448 backhoe, a sawmill that I built, and the FEL implements that came with the machine.

 

[Cidertom]

For the first change, I would dump it for the simple reason that you need to pull the sump screen and clean that. The manufacturing shavings, and such are in there. While you potentially could catch, and super filter the oil, you are going to have a lot of time invested.

 

[dconine]

The only one you can tell if hydraulic oil is bad is by doing an oil analysis unless you can see some moisture in it. It is not going to appear dirty because it is not subject to to the byproducts of combustion, as it just loses is viscosity and anti-wear additives.

In my opinion, follow the owners manuals service intervals as the oil is cheap compared to the repairs. I agree with getting the stuff out while its pretty new due to shavings in the system screen.