L3400 Can't see fluid in the Sight Glass

[Elliott Wave]

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?

 

[k0ua]

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

 

[Chilly807]

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

 

[jbrody44]

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?

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]

Does the L2800 have this white background on the sight glass also ?

 

[jimbo64]

Does the L2800 have this white background on the sight glass also ?

does the l2500 have it-?

 

[kbutabob]

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]

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.

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]

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.

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.