Hydraulic fluid

[Cranblue]

I never worry about how long any motor oil or hydraulic fluid will last. I let Blackstone Labs tell me, been doing that for years now.

What are you getting for hours on hydraulic fluid ?? Kubota uses full synthetic and wants 400 hr change interval same as motor oil. I ran JD excavators that where 4K on hydraulic oil like 1k on filters.Kubota to me seems ridiculous on interval a farmer or landscaper etc would be changing often and as you know expensive.I’m little surprised that Kubota is so short on hydraulic interval where’s there’s no combustion like the motor.

 

[rScotty]

Followup to my post a week ago. Here's the sample I set aside when I replaced the UTF in my occasional-use backhoe. Photo after standing 1.5 years, and the text I set it on for the photo is readable.

Autozone (Warren) 303 UTF after ten years use in a now 40 year old backhoe. I used a suction pump to drain the hoe's tank, no water or debris found. To me this sample indicates the fluid could have stayed in there longer.

(After reading all the criticism of 303 I used TSC's Traveller UTF for the refill).

That's great and the oil looks good, but what does looking clean really tell us?

if I remember right, doesn't your backhoe have its own pump and sump? My similar backhoe was PTO driven and didn't share oil with the power shift transmission. If that is how yours is configured, the backhoe oil never sees all those transmission wear particles from gears meshing, bushings and bearingwear, and wet clutch debris.

Looks to me ike the front half of your tractor could benefit from a high grade transhydraulic fluid and you can get by without such a specialized oil in less demanding PTO-driven backhoe. Maybe light weight motor oil or just an all weather hydraulic oil. Anyway, it's a good thing you can't see evidence of anything amiss in the backhoe oil. That would be ugly.
rScotty

 

[California]

if I remember right, doesn't your backhoe have its own pump and sump? My similar backhoe was PTO driven and didn't share oil with the power shift transmission. If that is how yours is configured, the backhoe oil never sees all those transmission wear particles from gears meshing, bushings and bearingwear, and wet clutch debris.

Looks to me like the front half of your tractor could benefit from a high grade transhydraulic fluid and you can get by without such a specialized oil in less demanding PTO-driven backhoe. Maybe light weight motor oil or just an all weather hydraulic oil. Anyway, it's a good thing you can't see evidence of anything amiss in the backhoe oil. That would be ugly.
rScotty

Yes, this 3-point backhoe has its own PTO pump and hydraulic system.

This hoe is on the YM240, a gear tractor, no clutch packs or wet brakes. Its Operation Manual specifies JD 303. I assume TSC Traveller is a sufficient modern UTF for in it.

The little YM186D can't lift this 750 lb hoe, but I use it for everything else. Its Powershift and power steering make it more maneuverable and convenient for general use.

 

[rScotty]

JD 303 was an excellent oil, and widely recommended by lots of manufacturers. I guess we won't ever know just how it was formulated or additive, or in fact any of the specs. I'm just curious enough about oils & chemistry to wish that JD had published some tech info on good old 303, but I can understand the logic of keeping it a trade secret - a kind of a special super secret sauce.

Your assumption on TSC Traveler UTF may be right, I hope so. But I don't know any way to be sure.

Those PTO driven Yanmar 3pt backhoes are pretty awesome implements. And awesomely dangerous. I had one for years, too. My buddy still has it.

rScotty

 

[DMW]

JD 303 was an excellent oil, and widely recommended by lots of manufacturers. I guess we won't ever know just how it was formulated or additive, or in fact any of the specs. I'm just curious enough about oils & chemistry to wish that JD had published some tech info on good old 303, but I can understand the logic of keeping it a trade secret - a kind of a special super secret sauce.

Your assumption on TSC Traveler UTF may be right, I hope so. But I don't know any way to be sure.

Those PTO driven Yanmar 3pt backhoes are pretty awesome implements. And awesomely dangerous. I had one for years, too. My buddy still has it.

rScotty

303 oil may be fine for in your application, but not for any modern equipment.

 

[California]

Those PTO driven Yanmar 3pt backhoes are pretty awesome implements. And awesomely dangerous. I had one for years, too. My buddy still has it.

What's the dangerous aspect? Was that the one where the top link folded or something?

Mine has the original heavy, 3-ply, top 3-point link. And the add-on safety restrainer down by its 3-point pins that would prevent it from pitching forward if the top link tore loose.

I bolted on a barn door handle beyond (from me) the operator controls, since it lacks a loop above the controls that I see on other backhoes. There was nothing there to grab to pull myself up onto the hoe, and dismounting risked bumping a control. Now with that secure point for my right hand I can reliably keep clear of the controls. I also put a handle on the ROPS for my left hand. Now getting up/down is easier and safer. (Photo).

Thankfully the ROPS is far enough forward, and low enough relative to the seat, that my head can't get under it. It touches my back at/below my shoulder blades if I lean back, not a problem.

Aside from careful dismounting to stay out of the PTO, I haven't noted any particular hazards in some 15 years of operating it.

 

[rScotty]

What's the dangerous aspect? Was that the one where the top link folded or something?

Mine has the original heavy, 3-ply, top 3-point link. And the add-on safety restrainer down by its 3-point pins that would prevent it from pitching forward if the top link tore loose.

I bolted on a barn door handle beyond (from me) the operator controls, since it lacks a loop above the controls that I see on other backhoes. There was nothing there to grab to pull myself up onto the hoe, and dismounting risked bumping a control. Now with that secure point for my right hand I can reliably keep clear of the controls. I also put a handle on the ROPS for my left hand. Now getting up/down is easier and safer. (Photo).

Thankfully the ROPS is far enough forward, and low enough relative to the seat, that my head can't get under it. It touches my back at/below my shoulder blades if I lean back, not a problem.

Aside from careful dismounting to stay out of the PTO, I haven't noted any particular hazards in some 15 years of operating it.

The safety aspect.... yes, I remember on mine that it didn't have that loop above the controls. It was always a problem getting on and off without hitting a control. Glad you fixed it on yours. Back when the YM186 was new, farm safety was not much of a concern for tractor manufacturers

But the safety aspect I was referring to isn't the Yanmar 3pt hoe, it's any 3pt hoe attached to a tractor with draft control. If a person doesn't remember to specifically disable the draft control then any downpressure on the bucket will compress the top link and cause the lift arms to raise quickly, trapping the operator between controls and whatever is behind him.

It's common enough that when 3pt hoes were popular for farm tractors every dealer had warnings prominently displayed & every year some other kid got crushed that way.

I don't even know if the YM186 has automatic draft control, but one day I hooked up my YBH600 to the JD 3pt and an hour later barely saved myself by bailing out sideways as the big cat II 3pt simply folded up the "safety restraint" and the BH controls pushed into the back of the tractor seat. The backhoe seat was folded in half.

It is completely preventable if a person just remembers to disable the auto draft control when mounting a 3pt hoe, but like others I had forgotten. It all happened real fast with lots of hydraulic noise, snapping metal, and violent shaking.

rScotty

 

[rScotty]

303 oil may be fine for in your application, but not for any modern equipment.

I'm not sure I agree with that point of view, but at any rate it doesn't matter since JD 303 hasn't been produced for decades.

rScotty

 

[California]

... I hooked up my YBH600 to the JD 3pt and an hour later barely saved myself by bailing out sideways as the big cat II 3pt simply folded up the "safety restraint" and the BH controls pushed into the back of the tractor seat. The backhoe seat was folded in half.
... It all happened real fast with lots of hydraulic noise, snapping metal, and violent shaking.

Wow! Glad to hear you survived that.

Neither of my Yanmars has draft control, so I don't have that risk. The YBH600 stays on the YM240 because the little YM186D can't lift it. I keep hoping to find a YM187D, rated to lift that much weight, but they seem to be rare.