Loader Will low trans fluid cause the loader not to lift all of the up?

[BrianinMichigan]

I have a L3000DT. This winter we built a frame on the front of it and put a snow plow blade on. We put quick connectors on all of the hoses. Well I put the bucket back on yesterday and now the bucket won't raise all of the way up and I can no longer lift the front of the tractor off of the ground. Would low trans/hydraulic fluid ( a quart or two low ) cause the problem? Some fluid was lost installing the connectors but really don't know how much. I used to be able to come within an inch or so of the ceiling of the barn now I can't get get within 3 feet of it.

 

[JimRB]

What does the dipstick read if your tractor has one? Might as well start with getting the fluid level up to full.

 

[BrianinMichigan]

It has a site glass. It appears to be almost to top with fluid. There is a small what looks to be air bubble at the top of the glass.

 

[gwdixon]

It has a site glass. It appears to be almost to top with fluid. There is a small what looks to be air bubble at the top of the glass.

If you can see the oil in the sight glass (there should be two horizontal lines that the fluid shows up between) then it is plenty full. Slightly overfilling won't cause the symptoms you are having. The air bubble (void) at the top of the glass is fine.

Another thing to check is to make sure all of the connectors are working properly and are fully hooked up. Take them all apart and hook them up again.

To make it easier, first put the bucket on the ground, shut off the tractor, and rotate the joystick to all positions a couple of times to relieve the pressure in the lines.

Additionally, do the hydraulics seem to react more slowly?

 

[pdowling1]

Reconnect all the disconnects, it sounds like one isn't quite right.

 

[BrianinMichigan]

I was looking at the site glass tonight, It just don't look right as far as the fluid. The glass is somewhat white looking but there doesn't seem to be fluid there even though there's that... air bubble I think tomorrow I will put some fluid in it to see what happens. The book says super udt, do I need to use only this?

 

[gwdixon]

I was looking at the site glass tonight, It just don't look right as far as the fluid. The glass is somewhat white looking but there doesn't seem to be fluid there even though there's that... air bubble I think tomorrow I will put some fluid in it to see what happens. The book says super udt, do I need to use only this?

The background of the sight glass is bright white. If it is somewhat off color (brownish yellow) then that is the oil is filling the glass.

Try this first:
Park the tractor on a pretty good side slope with the sight glass on the upper side. It should show very white. It should be all "bubble".

Then turn it around with the sight glass on the low side and see if there is a difference.

Pretty much any quality tractor hydraulic fluid will work if it needs filled. From your description it sounds fine.

Have you tried checking the connections yet?

 

[don white]

I hate site glasses you just can't tell what is in there. Sometimes if you use a flashlight it helps. Or take the site glass apart and clean it.

 

[Oldtractorfixer]

My dealer told me I could use a good quality Hy-trans product in place of UDT. Don't use straight hydraulic fluid.

 

[Deano]

If you can see the oil in the sight glass (there should be two horizontal lines that the fluid shows up between) then it is plenty full. Slightly overfilling won't cause the symptoms you are having. The air bubble (void) at the top of the glass is fine.

Another thing to check is to make sure all of the connectors are working properly and are fully hooked up. Take them all apart and hook them up again.

To make it easier, first put the bucket on the ground, shut off the tractor, and rotate the joystick to all positions a couple of times to relieve the pressure in the lines.

Additionally, do the hydraulics seem to react more slowly?

Great place to start!