Doing my own service

[jbunkley]

My dealer has closed & the nearest dealer is 2 hours away. So I am doing it my self. I have all the required filters & fluids (hydraulic fluid is not Branson, but told it will work). Is it necessary to flush the hydraulic system after draining old fluid? If so, how is this done?
Thanks

 

[polo1665]

My dealer has closed & the nearest dealer is 2 hours away. So I am doing it my self. I have all the required filters & fluids (hydraulic fluid is not Branson, but told it will work). Is it necessary to flush the hydraulic system after draining old fluid? If so, how is this done?
Thanks

I did not flush mine at the 50 hour service so if it is necessary, I'm in trouble. How many hours on your tractor? My next hydraulic fluid change is not required until the 200 hr mark if my memeory serves me right.

Mark

 

[Reg]

My dealer has closed & the nearest dealer is 2 hours away. So I am doing it my self. I have all the required filters & fluids (hydraulic fluid is not Branson, but told it will work). Is it necessary to flush the hydraulic system after draining old fluid? If so, how is this done?
Thanks

DO read old threads on the hydraulic FILTER !
There was someone who found an ALMOST replacement, but there were troubles with it.

The fluid isn't brand name critical, but there is a LOT of it.
I think the best "drain pan" for the money might be a mortar tub, although I have used a plastic wheelbarrow tub with all the holes taped up (broken wood parts, another story).
No need to flush, I doubt that there is a good "solvent" to flush with anyway and I suspect that residual quantities of whatever flush you use could be a potential problem.

 

[jbunkley]

I do have the Branson hydraulic filter, the dealer I called gave me crossover filter #'s for the oil,air & fuel from NAPA. All which I have but was concerned about the residual fluid left over in the tranny.

BTW, I found a mortar tub to do the drain in. I have plenty of 5 gal buckets, they are too tall so went looking for the tub. Sometimes it pays to not throw things away.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[jbunkley]

Sorry polo1665, you asked how many hours? 151
Thanks

 

[Reg]

Right, I do HEAR YA on the residual fluid.

My point/argument was that whatever you flush with will also leave some "residual" and if it is any kind of a "solvent" it might be worse to leave that in than old trans fluid that just failed to leave.
I suppose you COULD use a whole "flush" of new trans oil, run all cylinders to max/min a dozen times, put the back-hoe on and run all of it's cylinders, etc., than change it again, but that is more "retentive" than my life style permits and more expensive than my wallet allows (-:

Trying to remember the numbers, but I think the spec says 37 quarts so I bought 10 gallons, 20 actually because I got a good deal on Shell Rotella (not a typo, they DO make tractor trans oils) at a Walmart that was on the edge of suburbia/rural_area and decided to not carry it after a 6 months trial period.
Anyway, it took maybe a gallon less to fill it than I expected, but I follow the manual suggestion of adding an extra gallon when running on side slopes - not that I do it often, but I don't want to be sucking up air once I start traversing a bank.

 

[devlin57]

Has anyone use a pump to suck out the hydraulic fluid instead of letting it drain. With that much to drain, I was thinking of sticking a hose down in and suck it out. Would probably have to drain the last little bit though. What do you all think.
Bill

 

[Reg]

Has anyone use a pump to suck out the hydraulic fluid instead of letting it drain. With that much to drain, I was thinking of sticking a hose down in and suck it out. Would probably have to drain the last little bit though. What do you all think.
Bill

I haven't tried that.
Given that you need a drain pan anyway, I think the mortar tub is about the best solution.
Wide and long, just about can't miss it.
Also handy under the truck because it is big enough to reach between the drain plug and the oil filter, so those can both be draining and dribbling at the same time.
Not so tall that the underguts of the tractor will hit it when you drive off, or even a pick-up truck.
Not worth messing with a pump to jugs AND a drain pan - IMO, etc.

BTW, for the first change you might not have the holding capacity for 9+ gallons of oil anyway, so it might be best to leave the old stuff in the drain pan until you have filled with fresh and have an empty 5 gallon drum to go. If you can only get a bit over 9 gallons in then put the surplus in (a milk jug ?) so you have two empty drums to dispose of (responsibly).