If you struggle to see the hydraulic oil level...

[Teachu2]

I couldn't check mine without readers and a flashlight - couldn't see the fluid well enough. Easy solution - Go to a Deere dealer and get part#MT3668. Should be ~$6. It is a bottle of red dye for hydraulic oil, so you can easily read the sight glass and/or dipstick. Pour it in, run a couple of minutes, and never strain trying to see it again.

If you don't want to go to a dealer, you can get it shipped to you for $13. The local Deere parts people told me they could order it, $12, take two weeks to get. I asked at the lawn and garden parts counter at the same dealer (20' away in the same room!), he got it in two days for $6.....

 

[newbury]

I usually just put the stick on my glove or pants leg.

But it's been discussed on TBN before for years. Used to be $4.25.

 

[mrmikey]

Or add a liter of ATF.............Mike

 

[oosik]

I pull the dipstick, wipe it off and then dance around to find the correct light angle where I will be able to read the oil level. Redip, go to that "correct" position and read the level.

 

[CincyFlyer]

I pull the dipstick, wipe it off and then dance around to find the correct light angle where I will be able to read the oil level. Redip, go to that "correct" position and read the level.

A lot of tractors (my Mahindra, for example) have fluid level windows, and if the fluid is new and very clear it's impossible to see if it's overfilled or underfilled, unless the bubble is right at window level.

 

[M5farms]

wet dipstick = Good dry dipstick = Bad

doesn't get much harder than that

 

[GC1710]

wet dipstick = Good dry dipstick = Bad

doesn't get much harder than that

Many of us don't have dipsticks...the new "way" is sight glass only....it's a PITA....especially if you have a backhoe attached....

 

[M5farms]

Many of us don't have dipsticks...the new "way" is sight glass only....it's a PITA....especially if you have a backhoe attached....

I guess that's another reason I don't need a new tractor. I did not know they did away with dip sticks

 

[newbury]

I guess that's another reason I don't need a new tractor. I did not know they did away with dip sticks

Unfortunately they didn't. There are a lot of them in Friendly Politics

 

[k0ua]

I guess that's another reason I don't need a new tractor. I did not know they did away with dip sticks

My Kioti has a dipstick. My old Kubota had that hateful sightglass. I prefer the dipstick.