Help - Low hydraulic fluid = damage?

Tex22 · May 11, 2005

I have a new TC24DA, HST with the 12LA FEL. In doing the 10 hour fluid check I found the hydro fluid to be 5 qts low. No leaks visible so I am guessing that when the dealer installed the FEL they did not top off the fluid. They also had routed the hydraulic lines wrong so that they would hit the tire when turning. I haven't worked it hard during the 10 hrs. Moved a little dirt and manure. Don't have the ballast set-up so I wasn't lifting a lot. Question is could running it this low cause damage to the pump or the tranny? Thanks for your help.

thcri · May 11, 2005

I guess my opinion and my opinion is that you did not hurt anything. 10 hours is not a lot of time unless they all came at once where you could have heated everything up pretty good. One of my cooler lines broke once and I lost 2 gallons and everything was still working ok.

But is sure wouldn't hurt to listen to some of the full time mechanics here and see what they say. Your dealer will just say you didn't hurt anything.

murph

Tex22 · May 11, 2005

Thanks Murph. I didn't think I hurt anything. It was real light usage for the 10 hrs, operating steady for only about an hour at a time. Just wanted to see what others had to say before I contacted the dealer. He should at least know that the service guy did a half butt job of installing the FEL.

jinman · May 11, 2005

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( In doing the 10 hour fluid check I found the hydro fluid to be 5 qts low. )</font>

Five qt low in a 6 qt system is pretty bad. Five qt low in a 20 qt system is something totally different. I'm sure you didn't hurt anything. I'm glad you did catch the shortage though. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Soundguy · May 11, 2005

I agree with jinman, as long as the pumps were supplied with oil, and no cavitation occoured, and the reduced oil volume didn't cause it to heat up past designed specs.. I'd guess it was ok. Many oil systems spec more oil than they need for actual circulation, to act as a large fluid heat sink.. etc

Soundguy

Tex22 · May 12, 2005

Thanks for the expert opinions fellas. I knew what the dealer was going to say, and really needed a second opinion.

Glenn9643 · May 12, 2005

If you had cylinders extended when you checked that much fluid might have been filling them... I know it makes a pretty good difference in the sight glass on mine if they're extended or closed.