50 hour and 200/250 hour hydro fluid change for Scut or Cut regardless of brand

[AxleHub]

Greetings,

There are lots of threads about maintenance servicing our Scut and small Cut tractors. And a significant issue both in time and cost is the changing of the hydraulic fluid and filter.

Recently I realized that any of my hydraulic implements I might use retain fluid in them when disconnected. Now granted maybe a Fel or Snowblower or grapple or extra remotes might not individually contain much fluid . . but combined together it is a percentage of a 2.5 gallon hydro capacity.

And obviously getting clean fluid into the implements means getting clean fluid in the transmission.

So how might a person clear out that used fluid retained in all those implement sources without contaminating a fresh hydro fluid reservoir ?

Now I understand a single implement is only a few percent added to the hydro reservoir. But added together in a number of items it could easily add 25% to a 2.5 gallon reservoir. And if hydro fluid changes happened frequently . . Again it probably wouldn't be an issue. But every 200 hours is a long time for many of us.

So any simple easy inexpensive ways to clear all the lines in all the implements? And would empty air filled lines create an issue of bubbles to bleed off or etc. etc. ?

 

[N80]

I don't have a technical answer for you but would offer a few practical observations. First, the solution to pollution is dilution. Which is to say that a system full of new clean fluid will help dilute any impurities in the implement lines and a new filter should handle any that are not sufficiently diluted. Second, flushing implement lines and cylinders would likely be time consuming and frustrating if you can't get all the air bled back out. Third, your observations point to the need for good practices when changing implement lines and connections to avoid contamination. Fourth, I'm not sure how much the fluid in an implement line or cylinder actually circulates. I suspect it mostly just stays right there in the cylinder or line and if not contaminated with air or water should continue to work just fine without harming the rest of the system.

 

[TheMadOne]

I see where you're coming from, but I think N80 has the right of it. Also, most Hydraulic oil I'm familiar with has a 2000 hour rating at a minimum, with 4000 being pretty much industry standard.

So, while you'll maybe never get 100% pristine oil, the fouling that will be there will be so minuscule as to be negligible, and the effort/cost of bleeding each implement would be far beyond any return you'd get.

 

[Jay4200]

Greetings,

There are lots of threads about maintenance servicing our Scut and small Cut tractors. And a significant issue both in time and cost is the changing of the hydraulic fluid and filter.

Recently I realized that any of my hydraulic implements I might use retain fluid in them when disconnected. Now granted maybe a Fel or Snowblower or grapple or extra remotes might not individually contain much fluid . . but combined together it is a percentage of a 2.5 gallon hydro capacity.

And obviously getting clean fluid into the implements means getting clean fluid in the transmission.

So how might a person clear out that used fluid retained in all those implement sources without contaminating a fresh hydro fluid reservoir ?

Now I understand a single implement is only a few percent added to the hydro reservoir. But added together in a number of items it could easily add 25% to a 2.5 gallon reservoir. And if hydro fluid changes happened frequently . . Again it probably wouldn't be an issue. But every 200 hours is a long time for many of us.

So any simple easy inexpensive ways to clear all the lines in all the implements? And would empty air filled lines create an issue of bubbles to bleed off or etc. etc. ?

Just pull all of the hydraulic pistons to their shaft-in position, and pop the attachment. There's not that much fluid involved.

 

[Henro]

Hi,

I started to write a somewhat detailed reply, but then deleted it...why bother?

Your concern is probably only an issue in the idealistic sense.

As some have said above, it is likely not an issue in the real world.

I would be much more concerned about renting or using someone else's implements...no knowing of what fluid is in them...and not wanting to mix fluids in MY tractor...

Bill

 

[brasco426]

I would be much more concerned about renting or using someone else's implements...no knowing of what fluid is in them...and not wanting to mix fluids in MY tractor...

Bill

Now that's a valid point, and point taken.

 

[whis]

lots of more important things in life to worry about than this. if you found a bunch of metal then it would be different

 

[Ivan49]

When my new tractor was delivered I asked about the hyd oil in my backhoe and other equitment mixing with the new tractor oil. He told me to just go ahead and plug the lines in and use it even though the new tractor uses a different hyd oil. He was the service manager of the dealership so I guess I will take his word

 

[s219]

It's a non-issue. Unless you have known contamination from water, etc, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. Your filters will catch any chips/debris that could cause issues. Hydraulic fluid had a long life, thousands of hours.

I do think the worst thing you could do is try to bleed stuff dry. Much better to have it all full of fluid, both from the standpoint of protecting the metal, but also to avoid air getting into lines/pumps/valves when you reconnect things.

The main thing is to have extra fluid around to top off the tractor's reservoir any time you connect a new hydraulic implement or accessory.