RK37HC Hydraulic fluid sight glass level

[Ishkatan]

I just did a fluid change (100 hrs.) and I had to add red dye to make the hydraulic fluid visible. I had overfilled it and had to syphon some out. Now I am a little confused - with loader and 3pt arms up I have nothing in the sight glass. With them down the sight glass shows full with just a sliver of no ink at the top.

For my 50 Hr. service I blissfully had everything down and filled until the sight glass was full and only had a tiny air buble at the top. Now I am wondering if that is correct or if having hydraulics extended (loader up) is the proper position during level checks. After all, normal maintenance calls for the loader to be up while the hood is open. It makes sense to leave it that way while doing the hydraulic fluid change in a shop.

I did not think extending the loader would make a difference since the pistons should have fluid on both sides of the stroke.

P.S. I if you add the dye after you filled the hydraulic fluid give it some time. Mine did not change color until a couple days later - at which point it was very red from too much dye. Picking up the dye at the local Granger outlet saved postage and made the dye much cheaper compared to Amazon.

 

[K5lwq]

You should have loader down when checking fluid level. You did it correctly.

 

[RjCorazza]

That's how I have always checked the fluid level also.

 

[DonRybak]

You did everything correctly. I over filled mine the first time too by going by the specifications in the manual. When I questioned the over filled with the head tractor guy at my local RK and he said those capacities are for a new tractor that has never been filled. You always have so left over fluid after a drain. I had to siphon out about 2.5 liters if I remember correctly. The level should be measured with loaded and 3 point down.

 

[Ishkatan]

I took out over 1.5 gallons to just get a sliver of silver in the sight glass.

For anyone looking for the dye, it is KINGSCOTE Dye Tracer Liquid: Red, 4 oz Container. Add to oil before pouring into tractor if you can. Otherwise, add some then wait a day for it to spread.

 

[DonRybak]

I used the John Deere brand from eBay. I added it after my over filing incident. Poured it in and started the tractor. It was completely mixed in a couple minutes. If I had known how hard it was to see the new fluid the first time I too would recommend adding it to the container before filling.