I had a filter on the right side, I took it off... woulndt it be full of fluid?????it was empty...I cranked the tractor while the filter was off and put my finger over the hole and it had suction but while I had my finger over the hole fluid came out from the plastic hyd lid under the seat where you fill it.. is the mesh screen hard tonget to and is that return line the same one going to that screw filter??
See figure 55 on this parts pdf for your canister filter location. See figure 39 for your screen. See figure 36, ref 19 for the strainer cover location. http://downloads.pfgaustralia.com.au/intranetwebcache/Parts/PARTS LISTINGS/Yanmar/YM186D.pdf