Hydraulic fill on 4300 w/ power-beyond

jdmar · Jul 24, 2008

I have a 4300 and the power beyond for the backhoe. The hydraulic connections bolt behind and rise above the orange hydraulic fill plug. That plug is a real bear to get on and off. Does anyone know of an extention tool to help? I have thought of just making my own with a metal rod. Put a groove in one end to go over the plrug then put a "T" in the other to turn it. Anyone else have ideas or come across the same problem. I think I have one more removal and the ridge on the orange filler plug will break off.

Peter

arrabil · Jul 24, 2008

Just looking at that myself. I was just going to grind off the ridges and use slip-joint pliers to remove it in the future.

Why are you taking it out so often?

jdmar · Jul 28, 2008

The problem is that the fill pug is about 30 degrees off horizontal. Any plyers seem to get at best 1/2 turn. Not such a big deal but it seems the part could easily break off the center ribs...then there would be nothing to grab. I use an open end wrench then a screwdriver in the top to put down force to hold it in place and turn at the same time. But it still seems to slip off a few times and each time it takes a small piece off the cap. The open end wrench seems to work since its end is angled also. I just use the tips to provide force agaoinst the ribs of the cap.
I don't remove it a lot. It just seems that at any time I may break a flange then have trouble removing it..would have to wait for the new one before I could re-install and get back to work. I quess I should just torder one now and consider it a "wear item." Maybe they could make one with a hex top then we could use a socket with flex/wooble joint to remove...hmmm.
What brought it too my attention is I had a connector loosen on the power beyond and spilled some fluid...saw the telltale track on the ground as I backed up. I then filled up to keep the sight glass about centered. I just thought this seems to be a not well thought out design when eveything else works so well. I though I may be missing the "big picture" or something ( ya know: like when you can't find your glasses that are sitting on your own face!).---Not that I ever did THAT!
Peter

arrabil · Jul 28, 2008

Aha! Check out my fill cap. Totally different from yours. And mine has no clearance problems now that I bent down the bracket as I was installing the power beyond.

According to JD Parts, yours is the correct cap. I wonder where the previous owner got mine?

joecdeere · Jul 29, 2008

Arrabil, you do have the correct cap, the one in the upper picture was the one from the factory. it has subbed in time to yours to keep water from standing there entering the fill hole. It's lots easier to grab also

jdmar · Jul 30, 2008

Thanks, I think I will get the newer cap...and maybe remove the bracket for the SMV sign...I already have the SMV on the seat so do not need it on the bracket just behind the seat.
Peter

arrabil · Jul 30, 2008

jdmar said:
Thanks, I think I will get the newer cap...and maybe remove the bracket for the SMV sign...I already have the SMV on the seat so do not need it on the bracket just behind the seat.
Peter

Why do they even offer that removable SMV bracket? Can you move the SMV somewhere else with a backhoe? I've been trying to figure out if I'm putting the SMV on the seat or on that bracket.