L4400 hydraulic sight window hydraulic fluid level check

[smilinjak]

Here is what you need to do. Make sure the tractor is level front to back and side to side.
Place bucket level on the ground, and 3pt down.. Check sight glass with bright flashlight Look for a possible bubble at the top.. If you see nothing, proceed as follows.
Start tractor, make sure brake is set and out of gear so it does not run you over as your are kneeling in an unsafe place.

It is best to have someone else operate these controls while you keep your eye glued to the sight glass.
Raise loader all the way up, and dump bucket all the way..note if you start to see the fluid line appear, if not raise the 3pt also. Now look. If you still cannot see it, lower everything back down, and add some fluid quart at a time, and check on the theory that the fluid level was always below the bottom of the sight glass and should start appearing from the bottom up. If this doesn't work add another quart. If it runs out of the fill port, clean up the mess and drain some out until you can see the line at the top of the sight glass when all implements and FEL is lowered and level.

Second option. Go to the John Deere dealership and get some of their hydraulic fluid dye designed to pour into your hydraulic fluid. Don't worry it will work fine with your Kubota too. Now your fluid will be red. Operate the 3pt and your loader several times to mix it. Look at the sight glass, If it is red, then the fluid level is high, with all the implements down and level bucket. If it is still white, add fluid until you see the red fluid come up the sight glass to near the top. Done. Below is the JD part number.
Part Number: MT3668
Part Price: 3.91 USD
Description: FLUID, HYDRAULIC OIL DYE

The answer to any question tractor will come up on Tractors by net sooner or later. I have been trying to find some kind of dye for my Kubota fluid for two years. I ask the "K" dealer, no such luck, ask the fuel supplier, he just scratched his head. Now here it is plain as day. Thanks very much. Guess I will leave my Kubota hat at home and wear my 1 million mile Cat hat when I go to JD tomorrow.
Smilinjak

 

[Chilly807]

Ain't that the truth.. I might have to get some JD dye myself. Funny about the hat, I almost never wear my Kubota hat, hideous thing that it is. Instead, I've got a couple of well worn Deere hats I like. I was wearing one when I went into the Kubota dealer a couple years ago, forgot I had it on. After the parts guys gave me grief for the hat, I mentioned that IF I had a Kubota hat I MIGHT wear it.. walked out the door with one, but it IS butt ugly.

Sean

 

[k0ua]

Ain't that the truth.. I might have to get some JD dye myself. Funny about the hat, I almost never wear my Kubota hat, hideous thing that it is. Instead, I've got a couple of well worn Deere hats I like. I was wearing one when I went into the Kubota dealer a couple years ago, forgot I had it on. After the parts guys gave me grief for the hat, I mentioned that IF I had a Kubota hat I MIGHT wear it.. walked out the door with one, but it IS butt ugly.

Sean

Last fall the Kioti dealer gave me the wrong air filter, I went to put it in at home and it did not fit, and I had brought the part number in on a piece of paper to the parts guy. So it was part my fault for not double checking what he handed me. Any way when I took it back he apologized profusely, and had 2 Kioti hats waiting for me.

 

[Chilly807]

It never hurts to keep on good terms with a customer, hats are good advertising.

Sean

 

[k0ua]

It never hurts to keep on good terms with a customer, hats are good advertising.

Sean

And you have to admit that the Kioti hats are pretty spiffy.:cool2:

 

[allenjack]

I used this procedure, adding a quart at a time, and saw the fluid rising in the window to the recommended level. After about an hour of working with the loader, I expected the fluid level to be at that same level after shutting down for the day, but it wasn't. I waited another hour and there was no change, still not visible. Anyone experienced this.

 

[smilinjak]

I used this procedure, adding a quart at a time, and saw the fluid rising in the window to the recommended level. After about an hour of working with the loader, I expected the fluid level to be at that same level after shutting down for the day, but it wasn't. I waited another hour and there was no change, still not visible. Anyone experienced this.

Best get some of the John Deere fluid dye, you are likely over full now due to expansion from warming up. I put the dye in my L3800 and can now see the fluid level from 10 feet on a bright day. According to one of the old time mechanics at the Kubota dealer an over full condition can cause foaming of the fluid leading to excessive noise and some loss of lift capacity. Foamed, reffered to as aereated , contains air which will compress, liquid doesn't compress. He mentioned that HST noise increases with load and temperature when the fluid level is too high.

Smiminjak

 

[Chilly807]

I used this procedure, adding a quart at a time, and saw the fluid rising in the window to the recommended level. After about an hour of working with the loader, I expected the fluid level to be at that same level after shutting down for the day, but it wasn't. I waited another hour and there was no change, still not visible. Anyone experienced this.

Don't shoot the messenger, but are you parked exactly the same as it was when you filled it? If I'm not perfectly level mine either shows over full or low. My garage floor is about the only spot I have that's reliably level enough to get a good reading in the sight glass.

Sean

 

[allenjack]

Thanks for update. It has been about 80 hours since I replaced the fluid and filter with about 9 gallons on the refill. Since then I have used the log splitter and disc with the remotes. I suspected very small amounts of fluid loss and was surprised to be under filled. You have confirmed my feelings. I will get the dye.

 

[allenjack]

I went back to the spot by the barn where I had added 5 qts. one at a time. I thought I had missed seeing the rise in the window and that it had too much fluid since I already had put in a gallon previously. When I did return to the exact spot I saw the slightest amount just appearing in the window. I added another qt and it was just enough to show in the middle of the glass. For the last 130 hours the fluid had been down. I ordered the dye and will have it on hand. Thanks for replying.