Need help from knowledgeable hydraulics person

[masalser]

I've looked around on the internet for an answer to this question but haven't found a real answer, so I'm hoping you people can help. I've got an ASV RC100 (similar to a tracked Bobcat skidsteer). I took the machine in to the dealer at 519 hours for some other work and while it was there had them change the hydraulic oil and filters. About fifty hours after that I started to notice that the hydraulics felt a little funny. Took the machine in at 615 hours for other repairs and at the same time asked them to diagnose the hydraulic problem. They found nothing. Took the machine in again at 622 hours for yet more unrelated repairs and asked them again to check the hydraulics. They found nothing. Took the machine in at 670 hours for unrelated problem and told them, "look the hydraulics are all screwed up so you need to fix the problem." At this point the owner of the dealership tells me that they recently found out that the hydraulic fluid that they have been putting in the ASV machines doesn't meet the specs that ASV calls for and that they will change out the fluid and it should fix the problem. At first I thought that they must have used Kubota hydraulic oil rather than ASV Posilube and that the Kubota fluid isn't quite up to the ASV specs and I thought not really a big deal (note: the dealer is primarily a Kubota dealer). But, I looked back through my invoices and saw that instead they put Kubota UDT fluid in my machine.

At this point my machine is virtually unusable due to weird hydraulic jerkiness and power lag in the left track. I spoke with a non-engineer person at ASV who told me that it sounds to him like I've got damage to my drive motor, but he couldn't give me a straight answer about whether the UDT fluid was the likely cause.

My question to you guys is what is the difference between Kubota UDT fluid and for example Kubota spec 46 hydraulic oil? I looked around on the web and found a Kubota website where they specifically say not to use UDT fluid in Kubota excavators. Does anyone know why this is? The hydraulic oil that ASV calls for in their machines is a multi-viscosity oil (I have a spec sheet on it if anyone call tell me what numbers to look at). Is there anyone out there with hydraulic system experience who might be able to help me figure this out? I am really close to suing the dealer, but I hate lawsuits and if the UDT fluid wasn't what caused my problems/damage to the machine then I don't want to sue them.

Any helpful advice or suggestions about where else I might get information would be greatly appreciated. I've posted to the crawlers board at yesterdaystractors.com but didn't get an useful response.

Best Regards,
Mark Salser

 

[Solo]

Maybe the folks at www.compactequipment.com could help with your question.

Solo

 

[Leejohn]

I would make sure they put the right filter on. Or better yet just go get a new one from the MFG. and just try it. The one on there could of got the drive motor or it's just a bad motor. I'm not sure, just off the wall stuff.