50 hour fluid change

[Whiskey Sniffer]

I finished my fifty hour fluid and filter change and it went fairly smoothly. The hydraulic filter was a challenge (see photo) but nothing that a big screw driver and a hammer couldn't fix . If you haven't done this yet be sure to grab the rubber washer under the drain plugs, on a humorous note I replaced a plug without the washer and the drain leaked. I found the washer in the large blue oil container so I thought ok I'll just remove the plug stick my finger in the hole put the washer on and replace it. Well my right finger is in the hole and I drop the plug and it rolls to my right out of reach. So now I have to stick my left finger in the drain hole so I can reach the plug with my right hand all the while laying on my back under the tractor, it's a good thing nobody was around as it would have made a sailer blush what can out of my mouth. I grab the plug and washer all the while trans fluid is pouring out with the finger exchange. Replaced and mission accomplished.

 

[MoKelly]

Exact same thing happened to me on my first oil change --- didn't replace the washer as it fell into the oil drain pan. Noticed the washer as I was putting the used oil back into the containers the new oil came from.

I didn't use the finger trick. I just drained out the new oil, replaced the washer and put the oil back in the tractor.

Felt sort of stupid.

Oh well.

MoKelly

 

[rider7767]

On my 200 hour service, I drained my oil and let it drip out for a minute. My wife came out and asked to look at something. All the while, I was thinking about getting back out to the tractor. When I was done with what she wanted me to do, I headed back out to the tractor. Putting new oil in the tractor is like getting new shoes. I was excited to take care of my tractor. Started pouring oil in to the rear end. After about a gallon, I heard a noise. I was my nice new clean oil draining into my drain pan with the old oil. I forgot to put the main drain plug in. I felt pretty dumb!

 

[roadhunter]

I did my 50 hour service last weekend and had a little trouble switching out the jugs when draining out the hydraulic fluid. Let's just say there is a huge oil stain on the basketball court. Pretty dumb!

Also had difficulty getting the hydraulic filter by the right rear wheel loose. Ended up taking off the rear wheel and using 2 filter wrenches to get it to turn.

Still dont' understand why the hydraulic fluid need to be changed as it was clear as could be.

 

[Whiskey Sniffer]

I did my 50 hour service last weekend and had a little trouble switching out the jugs when draining out the hydraulic fluid. Let's just say there is a huge oil stain on the basketball court. Pretty dumb!

Also had difficulty getting the hydraulic filter by the right rear wheel loose. Ended up taking off the rear wheel and using 2 filter wrenches to get it to turn.

Still dont' understand why the hydraulic fluid need to be changed as it was clear as could be.

Note the blue plastic storage bin in the photo, this is what I drained my oil in (15 gal container I believe) then I used the red funnel and the cut gallon jug to put it back into the original containers. My fluid was clear also. I thought about taking the rear wheel off too but opted for the screw driver and hammer method as recommended by Michigan Iron. Most of my spilled fluid was down my arm then dripped to the floor.

 

[ritcheyvs]

On my 200 hour service, .... My wife came out and asked to look at something. All the while, I was thinking about getting back out to the tractor. When I was done with what she wanted me to do, I headed back out to the tractor. Putting new oil in the tractor is l...I felt pretty dumb!

I had a Cape Dory 27 sail boat and I was aligning the engine with the prop shaft,one evening, when my wife called me to come do something. Long story short, I forgot to tighten the bolts that hold the prop shaft flange to the engine flange. A few weeks later while sailing with a friend, he ran aground on a lee shore. While trying to motor off, three of those bolts came lose and dropped out, causing the prop shaft to "cone" to the extent it broke the shaft log creating a serious leak (euphemism for "we were sinking"). That was the only time I used a tow-boat service (which cost hundreds) and a local boat yard (many hundreds more) to do the fiberglass work. Chalk it up to old age, perhaps, but interruptions can be annoying, costly, and, sometimes, dangerous.

 

[Threepoint]

Thank you all for posting these experiences. I'm at 43 hrs on my NX4510. Haven't decided whether I'll do a complete fluid change at 50, but you can bet I'll be thinking about these posts when I do!

 

[TJP89]

On my 200 hour service, I drained my oil and let it drip out for a minute. My wife came out and asked to look at something. All the while, I was thinking about getting back out to the tractor. When I was done with what she wanted me to do, I headed back out to the tractor. Putting new oil in the tractor is like getting new shoes. I was excited to take care of my tractor. Started pouring oil in to the rear end. After about a gallon, I heard a noise. I was my nice new clean oil draining into my drain pan with the old oil. I forgot to put the main drain plug in. I felt pretty dumb!

We've all done stupid things before, I can't tell you how many times I've wondered why the $%@# screw won't go in, only to find the drill is set to turn the wrong way:mur: At least you remembered to put fluid in, you could have forgot and tried to move the tractor on an empty tranny

 

[s219]

I had to replace hydraulic and HST filters for my 50 hr service a couple weeks ago. Forgot to plug the breather, and was wondering 1) why the fluid kept rushing out, and 2) what the loud whistling noise was. Have a nice oil stain on my barn floor now. I quick threaded the old filter on and plugged the breather with a nail, and then everything was a piece of cake. Lost about 2 quarts. Normally I don't lose but a couple drops.

 

[freewookie]

Thank you all for posting these experiences. I'm at 43 hrs on my NX4510. Haven't decided whether I'll do a complete fluid change at 50, but you can bet I'll be thinking about these posts when I do!

This has been debated pretty heavily. I only changed filters as was the recommendation of my dealer, with exception of the engine oil.