Can I change hydraulic filter without draining fluid?

[YLee Kioti]

Thanks all for your responses. In my case the fluid is about 6 inches below the fill port so I am going to try the vacuum (with a slight air leak). My John Deere Manual specifically says to prefill the new filter 1/3 to 1/2 full with new fluid. It even shows a picture with a funnel inserted in the center hole of the filter

As this horse gets beat to death, I've come to a compromise. I add sufficient oil for the filter media to soak up the oil Once soaked maybe a just a tad more but not enough to run out as I place it in a horizontal position and then install. Still achieves the goal of reducing dry time as fluid lows through during start up. :thumbsup:

 

[GamblerAcres]

I wonder if this suck hole method will work to hold the antifreeze in the block while installing a freeze plug style block heater?

 

[aczlan]

I wonder if this suck hole method will work to hold the antifreeze in the block while installing a freeze plug style block heater?

It should.

Aaron Z

 

[mrmikey]

can't see why it wouldn't long as the AF was low enough in the neck of the rad............Mike

 

[oosik]

Ha, ha - - four years ago - when changing hydraulic filters - I tried the shop vac trick. There is still a large spot on the lawn where the grass will not grow and - I now have a new shop vac. All-in-all - - I feel rather fortunate that the original shop vac didn't go up in flames and smoke. Live and learn.............

 

[Diggin It]

^^ Well, that's part of my concerns. I can see how this may work on larger transaxles with bigger ports, but not on the smaller ones.

I'm thinking about trying to bend a piece of 1/2 copper tubing to go just barely down into the opening and connect to a smaller shop vac. But I'm still not wild about the prospects.

 

[oosik]

The concept is great - if you can fabricate a system that will work. In my case it could mean - not having to catch 16+ gallons of hydraulic fluid and then getting it back into the tranny. Unfortunately - my experience also shows - you wouldn't be staring at an ever growing puddle of hydraulic fluid.

 

[Diggin It]

Well, I can do it in a dirt floored shed where spilled fluid could act as a termite treatment, so no issue there. Flamin' Shop-Vac is a different issue though.

 

[Texasmark]

Yeah if you have your new filter ready and are fast. I usually run my fluid twice as long as recommended since mine is light duty but change the filter at the normal drain interval. I put a regular oil drain pan under the filter, get ready with the filter finger tight on the shaft and whiz old off and new on.

 

[Fallon]

When I pulled the filter on my L4060 it was off my machine for several minutes with a full sump of hydraulic oil. Only a few drops & lots of bong type noises made it out. No fiery death or any other problems. Unless you are dealing with gasoline or something else volatile a shop vac & sparks arent going to ignite anything. Additionally the sparks & motor are exposed to the air above the shop vac, not internally to the filter or dust bin.