L2800hst

[Sparky2k]

I have recently changed the lubricant and all filters. I filled the hydraulic reservoir to the top of the sight glass with the tractor level. I noted recently with the loader extended and the bucked curled fully out, the level drops considerably almost exposing the entire white disc.
I know where the oil is going, but am wondering if this is ok or should I be adding more SUDT?
Thanks in advance.
Sparx

 

[gpreuss]

I'm sure others will correct me if I'm wrong, but I would add enough oil to at least get a visible indication in the window. I don't reckon it hurts to have a little extra - the window tells you that you have enough. I bit more won't hurt.

I have some fairly steep banks on my property. A couple of months ago I was digging away at the worst of them with the loader, up from the bottom and down from the top. As I was going down I was pushing a bucket full of dirt; I wasn't concerned with the tractor toppling over or anything bad. I found the hydraulic pump was sucking air - I couldn't pick up on the loader arms. With HST that would be a bad thing... I had to add a gallon or so of oil to get things to work OK on the downhill.

 

[85Hokie]

I have recently changed the lubricant and all filters. I filled the hydraulic reservoir to the top of the sight glass with the tractor level. I noted recently with the loader extended and the bucked curled fully out, the level drops considerably almost exposing the entire white disc.
I know where the oil is going, but am wondering if this is ok or should I be adding more SUDT?
Thanks in advance.
Sparx

Somewhere back in the olden days, i heard "always check levels with hydraulics extended" - makes sense too. If all cylinders are full the level in the pump should be at it's lowest!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Somewhere back in the olden days, i heard "always check levels with hydraulics extended" - makes sense too. If all cylinders are full the level in the pump should be at it's lowest!

Back in the Olden days Hydraulic cylinders were single action cylinders, so extended they were full of fluid, retracted they were emptied.
Dual Action cylinders hold fluid on both sides, so they only hold a slight amount more on the extended side of things.

 

[aquaforce]

I have recently changed the lubricant and all filters. I filled the hydraulic reservoir to the top of the sight glass with the tractor level. I noted recently with the loader extended and the bucked curled fully out, the level drops considerably almost exposing the entire white disc.
I know where the oil is going, but am wondering if this is ok or should I be adding more SUDT?
Thanks in advance.
Sparx

Well I had a big long write up and it was lost due to some "error" garbage here on the site.

Do NOT fill the fluid with everything extended out! That is not the proper procedure for ANY hydraulic system. Over filling can result and at the very least one can get a hydraulic fluid bath when retracting everything in and the fluid comes out. The fluid would probably not come out with a Kubota but on the hydraulic systems I work on it would. The extra space in a system is needed for expansion with system capacities as well as temps rising and falling.

The level will fluctuate normally and as long as the system has enough for cooling and functions you are good to go. If the fluid can't reach a pick up point then fluid can be added to accommodate the situation but that is more the exception and not the rule.

The procedure to fill any hydraulic machine is to have all the equipment retracted in, or sucked in fully, and fill to the proper level cold or without the system heated from running.

 

[Bulldog]

What the Captain said...