Change hydraulic fluid at 50 hrs or not?

[oosik]

Hmmmm!!! Now when I changed all the oils at 50 hours there was very little metal fines/filings on any of the magnets. I was expecting a lot more based upon what the dealer advised. Ha, ha - did you have any trouble finding a "tub" to catch all the tran/hydraulic oil? I ended up using a large Tupper ware quilt storage tub and at that I wasn't too sure it would hold it all. It did - but it came up to within a half inch of the top. I was getting a little excited and hopping around there near the end. View attachment 378693

 

[Gregster613]

I gotta give it to "Hill Billy Bob" - I never thought about it like that -- but yet, what a point to make/state!! No one ever thinks about changing their transmission fluid in their daily drivers at 50 hours. Yes, I changed my tractors oil at 50 hrs and I sleep very well thank you, but I do see his point. My oil was severely untested I'll admit - I did have sludge and like "DFKRUG" suggests who knows what style oil was initially installed? I have yet to change my fuel filter, it's working fine, and I have no regrets. Yet, I did change out "pristine" looking hydraulic fluid - just to be safe/sure! Did I really need to? I'll never know and that's fine too. The decision is - "too each, their own" I guess. Good point/observation "Hill Billy Bob". Greg

 

[ritcheyvs]

Hmmmm!!! Now when I changed all the oils at 50 hours there was very little metal fines/filings on any of the magnets. I was expecting a lot more based upon what the dealer advised. Ha, ha - did you have any trouble finding a "tub" to catch all the tran/hydraulic oil? I ended up using a large Tupper ware quilt storage tub and at that I wasn't too sure it would hold it all. It did - but it came up to within a half inch of the top. I was getting a little excited and hopping around there near the end. View attachment 378693

When I did the 400 hr change on my DK45S, there was a considerable amount of iron dust and shavings on all three magnets (two big center line drain plugs and the magnet inside the hydro filter). This model does not have final drive drains. I had several plastic cat litter tubs (like 35 pound litter capacity) that fit nicely under the drains and each caught 3-4 gal . The oil drained quite slowly until I removed the fill plug, at which time it drained with a vengeance; I stuck that fill plug back in when I swapped drain containers. 10 gal is a lot of oil. I didn't own this machine at 50 hours but I'd be in the "sleep well" school if I did.

 

[xring100]

Hmmmm!!! Now when I changed all the oils at 50 hours there was very little metal fines/filings on any of the magnets. I was expecting a lot more based upon what the dealer advised. Ha, ha - did you have any trouble finding a "tub" to catch all the tran/hydraulic oil? I ended up using a large Tupper ware quilt storage tub and at that I wasn't too sure it would hold it all. It did - but it came up to within a half inch of the top. I was getting a little excited and hopping around there near the end. <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=378693"/>

Pulling the drain plug on mine was an eye opening experience. I had four 5 gallon pails and a piece of gutter to channel the fluid. First 5 gallons was out in under 30 seconds. 17 gallons is a lot. I have a fumoto valve that I'm going to install in the side drain at 600 hours

 

[grsthegreat]

i still cant believe that anyone would risk a 15-30,000 investment for the cost of hydraulic fluid. i changed both at 50 hrs.

 

[oosik]

Ha, ha - It does tend to exit rapidly - especially when hot. As a matter of fact - its like somebody kicked a hole in the dam.
Mine holds 15+ gal, which is good because any more would have created a real mess.

 

[chuck172]

i still cant believe that anyone would risk a 15-30,000 investment for the cost of hydraulic fluid. i changed both at 50 hrs.

I can't either!

 

[CJONE]

I gotta give it to "Hill Billy Bob" - I never thought about it like that -- but yet, what a point to make/state!! No one ever thinks about changing their transmission fluid in their daily drivers at 50 hours. Yes, I changed my tractors oil at 50 hrs and I sleep very well thank you, but I do see his point. My oil was severely untested I'll admit - I did have sludge and like "DFKRUG" suggests who knows what style oil was initially installed? I have yet to change my fuel filter, it's working fine, and I have no regrets. Yet, I did change out "pristine" looking hydraulic fluid - just to be safe/sure! Did I really need to? I'll never know and that's fine too. The decision is - "too each, their own" I guess. Good point/observation "Hill Billy Bob". Greg

Well lets look at it this way. On a car what does the trans fluid do? It lubes a trans that was broke in on a dyno, so all the initial crud is gone and that is all that fluid does. Rear diff? Very small space and it lubes the gears/bearings with no real break in other than hardened gears so very minimal crud from that and also a magnet to catch that. Tractor sump oil?? Lets see it goes through at least 2 hydraulic pumps, then to a Hydrostat [if equipped] also to hydraulic lines, then to a loader with cylinders, then to a 3 point lift, then to a power steering control, then to a steering cyl, then to many different attachments, then it is returned to the sump with NO return filter where it lubes the transmission and lubes the wet brake systems and drive reduction systems and a few things I forgot. All with no break in except the hydrostat test, [I hope!] Will this cause your tractor to fail immediately nope probably not. As far as long term? well as a owner you can decide for yourself. I put 200-300 hours a year on mine and I want to get to 2000-3000hrs before I have to start repairing pumps/hydrostats. CJ

 

[murphy1244]

My Ventrac is To change oil and filters at 2000 hours...No 50 hour change!:scratchchin:

 

[coobie]

i still cant believe that anyone would risk a 15-30,000 investment for the cost of hydraulic fluid. i changed both at 50 hrs.

++1 on that.I think it,s called being Cheap.LOL