Oil & Fuel L3800HST fluid level

[sadie72]

My L3800 has a glass port to look through when checking the hydraulic fluid level. I'm use to checking fluid levels with dipsticks and not sure I see any fluid in the window. I see what looks like a yellow circular backdrop but not sure if that's the fluid or not. Want to make sure there isn't too much or too little SUDT in the tank.

Can anyone verify how well the fluid level shows up in your appature? Do you also have a yellow backdrop behind the glass?

I just put a new BH77 backhoe on and feel the fluid level may have dropped significantly while filling the cylinders with fluid...

 

[k0ua]

My L3800 has a glass port to look through when checking the hydraulic fluid level. I'm use to checking fluid levels with dipsticks and not sure I see any fluid in the window. I see what looks like a yellow circular backdrop but not sure if that's the fluid or not. Want to make sure there isn't too much or too little SUDT in the tank.

Can anyone verify how well the fluid level shows up in your appature? Do you also have a yellow backdrop behind the glass?

I just put a new BH77 backhoe on and feel the fluid level may have dropped significantly while filling the cylinders with fluid...

Yes the sight glass sucks..park on a level surface. with all implements down. Check level, it may be full and you cannot see anything. Now start tractor and raise front end loader and check again, and dump bucket and check again.. you should see a sight line now that more fluid is in the cylinders and not in the tank. If you still dont see anything, raise hoe, and check again. If you dont see anything, you are probably way low. Lower everything and put some in. Check again. Of course you can overfill, but if it if does not drop when the loader is raised and dumped, and you cannot see the fluid line then it is probably low. Mine was so high from the dealer you could not see any fluid line without raising 3pt, and FEL. hope this helps.

James K0UA

 

[teg]

Other option would be to drive it on an uneven slope (tilted) with the sight glass on the lower side... and see if the level shows.

 

[k0ua]

Other option would be to drive it on an uneven slope (tilted) with the sight glass on the lower side... and see if the level shows.

Teg wouldn't you need to have the sight glass on the uphill side of the slope?

James K0UA

 

[sadie72]

Still nothing. I put 2.5 gals of SUDT in with no change in the glass. Maybe its too full and the fluid just doesn't darken the viewing glass enough to see fluid. I haven't noticed any side effects with hydraulics on loader or BH.

I'm concerned because the dealer did take the 3PH valve apart to remedy the jerky motion a few weeks ago. Thinking maybe it didn't top off the holding tank?

Will call dealer tomorrow. Wish there was a dipstick.

Thanks for the help.

 

[teg]

Teg wouldn't you need to have the sight glass on the uphill side of the slope?

James K0UA

This is to see if the level was too low... basically, you need to do both until you find where the level is!

 

[teg]

Still nothing. I put 2.5 gals of SUDT in with no change in the glass.....

:shocked: I would not worry too much - the early models 2004-early 2006 models had a ratcheting cams for the PTO and to make them quieter, they raised the level of the oil to submerse the cams in oil.

 

[gwdixon]

The background of the sight glass is BRIGHT white. If it is appears yellowish or slightly brown then it is full or beyond full.

If you don't have a slope (and now that you've put more oil in), you could drain a several gallons or so into a clean container - maybe a 5 gallon bucket. The sight glass should be snow white. Then add the fluid back in until it is where you want.

With that much oil in it a slope probably won't help.

 

[sadie72]

I did the hill thing too, both sides. Must be overfilled.

What's the easiest way to remove and contain new fluid?

 

[k0ua]

This is to see if the level was too low... basically, you need to do both until you find where the level is!

Ah.. I see what you mean now.. but I am betting he was full to start with.

James K0UA

 

[teg]

Here is the "raised oil repair" and it used a dip stick instead of the sight glass! Have not seen anyone with this "repair"... Not sure if you can still buy this...

 

[sadie72]

Thanks GWDixon! Wish the bright white thing was written in the manual! I'm in the process of removing the yellowish gold for future top-off attempts.

This forum is freaking great! Thanks gentlemen.

 

[teg]

...I'm in the process of removing the yellowish gold for future top...

Where did you end up draining it from?

 

[Jay4200]

Can anyone verify how well the fluid level shows up in your appature? Do you also have a yellow backdrop behind the glass?

I just put a new BH77 backhoe on and feel the fluid level may have dropped significantly while filling the cylinders with fluid...

Chances are it's full over the site glass. The fluid has a yellow cast, but can not be identified easily until the level drops to halfway on the glass. Filled to spec, my glass is covered.

Get a stick and do an old fashioned dip from the fill hole - line it up on the outside to get the depth right. I used a piece of house wire when I dippered mine.

Easiest controlled drain would probably from one of the rear end drains - they are little and point sideways - oil will shoot pretty far, so be ready to move your bucket if you don't guess the landing right, and do it somewhere that making a little puddle on the ground won't matter much.

JayC

 

[sadie72]

All done and went very well.

I drained by removing the 25mm bolt at the bottom of the rear tranny housing. Caught every drop into a 10gal Walmart tote.....was left with just under 3 gals! The machine was just slightly overfilled before I added 2.5.

So, its filled to the top of the glass with all pistons open and slightly above center when FEL is up, bucket down, backhoe in full curl and stabilizers down.

Thanks everyone.

 

[gwdixon]

I did the hill thing too, both sides. Must be overfilled.

What's the easiest way to remove and contain new fluid?

Use an empty 5 gallon bucket - like the UDT bucket if that is the size you bought. It should fit under the tractor. Use a funnel, remove the drain plug over the funnel, and hope the flow is not too fast to overflow the funnel. You can always plug the drain hole with your finger if it is too fast.

A clean 5 gallon bucket without a lid might be better. If you have to dig a hole in the ground for the bucket or drive the tractor up on blocks or a ramp to fit the bucket then that will work.

In the meantime, you, or someone else can keep an eye on the sight glass to watch when the level reaches the indicator lines on the glass. Then thread the drain plug back in. Add oil back until it is to the level you want.

You'll get covered in oil so just be prepared.

EDIT: Darn we posted at the same time. At least you figured it out.