Overfilled Trans Fluid?

[4Papa]

The attached photo is of my transmission sight gauge and I'm trying to determine if it's overfilled or is low. I don't remember if there's an interior tube within the square acrylic outer tube (or case) or if the golden trans fluid is supposed to fill the entire square case. I had a cylinder leak in a Bush Hog cylinder and knew I needed to add hydraulic fluid to the tractor to make up for it. I did so in very low light and never saw what I expected to see as fluid in the gauge. I stopped after adding 4 gals as I doubt that much leaked from the mower. The 100 hp tractor takes 21 gals so I have somewhat of a buffer. The low hydraulic level light never came on and the tractor didn't seem unhappy whether under or overfilled. Thanks for the help.

 

[RayIN]

fluid level should be between red marks. It appears way over-full to me.
Use a clean drain pan, loosen drain plug, allow level to fall to top red mark, re-tighten drain plug.

 

[Racer4]

Sounds about right. When I first changed the oil in my gc2410, I totally went past the sight glass because the oil was very lightly colored. I completely missed seeing it in the glass and probably put a gallon and a half too much in.

 

[RayIN]

Sounds about right. When I first changed the oil in my gc2410, I totally went past the sight glass because the oil was very lightly colored. I completely missed seeing it in the glass and probably put a gallon and a half too much in.

Yup, there's a lag-time between adding oil and when the true level shows in the sight-glass.
I did that with 80W90 oil in wet hubs. Had to drain out about half the next day.

 

[5030]

You can buy lubricant dye from John Deere or on Amazon to alleviate the issue. Problem with gross overfilling is it can compromise the seals and cause them to fail or begin leaking.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I use this oil extractor / dispenser to adjust the hyd. fluid level:

Amazon.com

Just put the tube in the oil fill port and you can add or extract oil without using the drain plug. Makes it a snap to get the right oil level.

I also use it to change the hyd. oil. No worries about over filling a drain pan.

 

[RayIN]

Speaking of drain pans, I make my own from plastic 55G drums. They hold 1G per inch of height. Mine is cut 12" high.

 

[shooterdon]

There is a dye I bought so I can see the oil level

 

[CalG]

For tractor transmission sumps, there is very little down side to "overfilling".
All one needs do is pull a top plate sometime, look down at the bull gears, and observe that there is lots of room for fluid or air. As long as fluid is not spewing from fill or vent ports, I don't worry a bit about "too much". I try to be good, but I just don't care any more.

Now LOW fluid levels get me hopping!

Engine sumps with fast spinning cranks is a different matter all together..

But let me indulge...

I have a Fordson E27n in my collection that I have had the engine off of twice. The crank and rods are all poured babbit, and run on splash. There is no oil pump. The clutch on this tractor is wet, and runs in the engine oil. There is a scraper that pulls oil off the flywheel and gravity feeds down a pipe to the crank mains.
In hill country, the angle of that oil pipe can easily point the wrong way. Oil does not flow up hill for squat, so there is the risk of drying up the front main when say mowing or making bales up hill.

This must have happened a time or two back when the E27n was a stylish number, so some enterprising dealer came up with a "Hill Country Lubrication KIT".
The "kit" had a single part,

A shorter engine oil sump dip stick!

At 1200 rpm rated top speed, Windage in the oil pan is not significant ;-)

I find the engine oil drips from the magneto connection on the down hills, and from the self starter connection on the way back up.

It's been like this for the past 30 years, so it must be OK!

;-)

I did add about a gallon of transmission juice to the gear box sump this summer after draining off the accumulated water condensate at the drain fitting. I was impressed with how little water was there. IIRC the gearbox holds about 10 gal, and the bolt on lift cylinder for the three point takes 2 gallons or so in it's own sump. But that's hydraulic fluid.

Just running with my thoughts, thought it might be fun ;-)