When to change hydraulic fluid in your tractor?

[arrow]

No, not a dumb question, I've been considering a similar issue. The L5740 we just purchased had its scheduled 50 hour service done at 42 hours in October 2012. When I got it last month it had 107. Unless I get into some unexpected project soon, this machine won't reach its 200 hour service until next winter so I was thinking about the same issue, except that I don't know its history in terms of how it was used/cared for. Thinking I'll do the 200 hour service at 150 which will be summer, and then go to 400 hrs at which point I'll be back on the factory intervals. Or should I drop everything and do it ASAP?

Don't believe it's an issue. Just check levels and if ok, wait as you desire.

 

[California]

Agree. That first change is important to get any manufacturing residue out. After that, following the factory recommendation should be fine.

Just a point of reference for the old simple tractors with manual transmission: Yanmar's models designed in the 70's including my 1980 YM240, have only a fine wire mesh 'strainer', nothing to catch micron-size particles. Plus a recommendation for annual fluid changes. This seems to be sufficient, I've never heard of this causing a problem.

Their subsequent models designed for export to the US added a hydraulic filter, possibly because American owners weren't expected to change fluid that frequently. As I noted above, my change when I bought the tractor at year 20 found a lot of crud in the strainer, then the next fluid change at year 30 found little, and the fluid looked good. But of course if I had seen evidence of water (milky fluid) at any point I would have replaced the fluid immediately.

 

[WilliamBos]

What trans? If it is a newer powershuttle, no way I would leaveit in there that long. Every 300 hours here, which is every 3 years max.

 

[California]

What trans? If it is a newer powershuttle, no way I would leave it in there that long. Every 300 hours here, which is every 3 years max.

... Yanmar's models designed in the 70's including my 1980 YM240, have only a fine wire mesh 'strainer', nothing to catch micron-size particles. Plus a recommendation for annual fluid changes. This seems to be sufficient, I've never heard of this causing a problem. ... But of course if I had seen evidence of water (milky fluid) at any point I would have replaced the fluid immediately.

I wouldn't run fluid in my other Yanmar that long, its Powershift has precision valve circuits like an automotive A/T. The changes at years 10 and 20 were on the manual transmission YM240. I think its only risk is contamination, not wearing out the properties of the fluid.

 

[WVH1977]

The transmission is a synchronized shuttle shift. I have bought the hydraulic oil and will be changing it out next weekend. I am going to get two 5 gallon buckets with the tops on them to put all the old oil in. My buddy wants the oil for his old backhoe. Next question, will a siphon work for draining the fluid out into the buckets? I was planning on doing that and then draining the rest left in there through the drain plugs so I won't have as much oil to deal with draining under the tractor. Has anyone done it this way? Is that a good way to go about it?

 

[California]

will a siphon work for draining the fluid out into the buckets?

That worked for me. First downhill from my new-to-me backhoe into jugs, then downhill from the new fluid container into the backhoe.

Here's my old post describing it. (And some notes about the need to drain and see what's in there, on old equipment).

 

[WVH1977]

Thanks for all the input. The oil is changed and I am glad I changed it.