I have a new L3400 with about 20 hours on it. I can't tell if the fluid level is correct in the sight glass. Hard to tell if it's full or empty. Any other way to check the fluid level? I added a quart of fluid with not change. Don't want to add more if it's already full.
L3400 Can't see fluid in the Sight Glass
- Thread starter KPotts
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Might drive on a side slope to tilt the tractor to one side or the other until you can see the line of hydraulic fluid. Would help if you have some one to keep an eye on it or just start to tilting the tractor, stop and look.
Last edited:
Harvest Moon
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2007
- Messages
- 357
- Tractor
- Kubota L3400 HST-F
Make sure your 3pt is all the way down and your loader if you have one.
k0ua
Epic Contributor
I think he means the "line" of the top of the fluid. sometimes you can see this, sometimes you cant, depends on the slope the tractor is parked on, and like mentioned if the 3pt is up or down, and the loader up or down. It is likely your tractor is full. so fire it up, and raise the loader all the way and dump the bucket and take a look, and then raise the 3pt, to see if the level drops down to where you can see the "bubble" or "line". Remember the fluid is clear, and hard to see. The white backing is just that, a backing to try to make the "bubble" easier to see. I wish they had a dipstick, but they don't.
James K0UA
James K0UA
Chilly807
Elite Member
The level can be hard to determine, no question about it. If you are seeing fluid, it may be slightly aerated when you first shut the tractor off (tiny bubbles). Raising the loader fully and then checking is a good idea, mine usually has the level about halfway up the sight glass with the three point lowered and the FEL bucket on the floor.
If you still can't see the level, you can remove the drain plugs in the tranny, drain out fluid in clean pails and watch the sight glass as the fluid comes out. If a level doesn't appear, it may actually be low.
It's possible that the dealer didn't top up the system after installing the loader, which takes a fair bit of fluid.
Either over-full or low is not good, you've got some investigating ahead of you.
Sean
If you still can't see the level, you can remove the drain plugs in the tranny, drain out fluid in clean pails and watch the sight glass as the fluid comes out. If a level doesn't appear, it may actually be low.
It's possible that the dealer didn't top up the system after installing the loader, which takes a fair bit of fluid.
Either over-full or low is not good, you've got some investigating ahead of you.
Sean
General Lee
Veteran Member
Try the basics first. Lift your frOnt end with the loader and see if that changes the pitch enough to see if the fluid shows and if not park down hill and check that way.
gwdixon
Elite Member
The white background is very white. If the bubble has a yellowish look to it then it is over full.
You might try draining some fluid into a clean bucket to see if the white background changes color. It may take a gallon or two to tell. Then just add it back.
On the other hand, you could just change out the oil at 20 hours and call it your 50 hour change. Not much more contamination is going to happen in those next 30 hours.
You might try draining some fluid into a clean bucket to see if the white background changes color. It may take a gallon or two to tell. Then just add it back.
On the other hand, you could just change out the oil at 20 hours and call it your 50 hour change. Not much more contamination is going to happen in those next 30 hours.
Chilly807
Elite Member
This is what you should see...
The first pic has the tractor sitting slightly nose up hill, very white background, no fluid visible.
The second pic is with the tractor sitting perfectly level on a garage floor, with the proper fluid level.
It has to be pretty much dead level to get an accurate indication.
There's about 60 hours on the fluid in this one. Your's may be slightly paler in colour, but not a lot of difference.
Sean
The first pic has the tractor sitting slightly nose up hill, very white background, no fluid visible.
The second pic is with the tractor sitting perfectly level on a garage floor, with the proper fluid level.
It has to be pretty much dead level to get an accurate indication.
There's about 60 hours on the fluid in this one. Your's may be slightly paler in colour, but not a lot of difference.
Sean
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bullbreaker
Elite Member
Much good advise given here.When I first purchased my L3400 I could not see fluid level either.Dealer came back with a couple qt.s of correct fluid.All it needed was about 1 and 1/4 quarts and it marked halfway on site glass like in Chilly's/Sean's #2 picture.
Boone
Boone
Elliott Wave
Bronze Member
I just started taking a look at my level after reading this. At times, I would get good readings (level groud, fluid visible and below max. amount). However, after reading this and looking at it lately, it seems to be above the max level. I took small amounts out the past couple of weeks, but no difference.
When I start the Tractor up (loader and backhoe down) and let it idle I can see the fluid is right in the middle of the sight glass. Would this be an accurate reading?
When I shut it down lately, it appears above the max. level. I wonder if it is due to an air bubble. Although it the past, when it looked low a few days would go by and it would rise (that seemed more like an air bubble).
My L3400 hst is 3 years old and has 186 hours. I will be changing the transmission and hydraulic filters shortly. Does anyone no how much Super UDT I should buy assuming I will be losing fluid as I attempt to change the filters?
When I start the Tractor up (loader and backhoe down) and let it idle I can see the fluid is right in the middle of the sight glass. Would this be an accurate reading?
When I shut it down lately, it appears above the max. level. I wonder if it is due to an air bubble. Although it the past, when it looked low a few days would go by and it would rise (that seemed more like an air bubble).
My L3400 hst is 3 years old and has 186 hours. I will be changing the transmission and hydraulic filters shortly. Does anyone no how much Super UDT I should buy assuming I will be losing fluid as I attempt to change the filters?
k0ua
Epic Contributor
I lost about a quart, I had the wife do the vacuum cleaner thing at the fill port, another trick I might try next time is to park parallel on a steep slope to minimize the oil loss. Work fast, think through you actions and have everything laying out ready to go..if you snooze you lose:laughing:
James K0UA
James K0UA
Chilly807
Elite Member
It takes very little incline to change the reading a lot... mine stays pretty much the same all the time, although when it's running I think it drops a little.
If yours is three years old you may want to consider changing the fluid regardless of running hours, due to condensation.
If not, how much fluid you'll need depends entirely on how quick you are swapping filters. I hooked up a shop vac to the fill hole, and lost maybe half a quart over a couple of minutes. It's good to have time to wipe off the filter mounting area and have a look at what you're doing without fluid spilling all over the place.
Sean
If yours is three years old you may want to consider changing the fluid regardless of running hours, due to condensation.
If not, how much fluid you'll need depends entirely on how quick you are swapping filters. I hooked up a shop vac to the fill hole, and lost maybe half a quart over a couple of minutes. It's good to have time to wipe off the filter mounting area and have a look at what you're doing without fluid spilling all over the place.
Sean
This could be due to thermal expansion due to the increase in the fluid temperature. I know that with hydraulic elevators I deal with the oil does expand significantly due to a rise in temperature, may be the same with the tractor hydro fluid.
Rocksprings
Silver Member
Does the L2800 have this white background on the sight glass also ?
does the l2500 have it-?
kbutabob
New member
Two choices,either jack either side to change fluid level to see if it move in sight glass. Or you can pull up an incline and let oil run to back. P. S. The sight glass unscrews
Jay4200
Veteran Member
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- Nov 23, 2005
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- Hudson/Weare, NH
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- L4200GST w/ LA680 & BX2200D w/ LA211
Hey - that's exactly the same color as the fluid in my L4200. Color appears hour independent - a recent change showed new fluid color identical to 600 hour fluid that got changed out. I use the HD Tractor transmission fluid sold as Sam's Club for ~$35 / 5 gal.
JayC
Elliott Wave
Bronze Member
So it has started to get cold here and I noticed my fluid was still visible in the sight glass but not right in the middle like it had been all summer. In the spring I had commented that it was slightly elevated and after having it right at the top of the sight glass in the winter I ended up removing some fluid to get it in the middle. Now I have to add some as the temp cools, so I agree that it appears thermal expansion does play a role in the sight level.
