Hydraulic fluid amount

[4JJJJ]

I have a rookie question. I have a L3800 with a LA524 front end loader. I recently serviced the hydraulic fluid and installed 7.25 gallons of hydraulic fluid (per the manual) in the system. When looking through the fluid level window I could never see any fluid. IÂ’m afraid to add additional fluid. Should I be adding additional fluid to account for the front end loader? And if so how much more? Thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Roadworthy]

Check fluid level with the FEL down and the bucket curled up. This way fluid is forced out of the cylinders. The three point should be down. This should put the maximum fluid back into your reservoir. Check it under these conditions.

 

[Gillie Dog]

The three point should be down.

And, on our model tractor I found you should not have an implement on the 3 point which keeps it from going all the way down or all the fluid will not be back in reservoir and reading is erroneous in that instance.

GD

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Neither the three point or the FEL will make enough of a difference in the fluid levels to make an issue.

The manuals are 90% of the time wrong about the fills, too many variables.

Always go by the dipstick or the window with the tractor on level ground.

 

[mickeyd]

Good point NIW, the only difference I could ever find was if the fluid was hot or cold and even then it wasn't enough to matter.

I always had to add more than called for to get it into the window,

 

[4JJJJ]

Many thanks for the advice. I will cautiously add more hydraulic fluid and hopefully see the fluid register on the window.

 

[Gillie Dog]

So I finally had time to test our L2501 HST for hydraulic fluid level in sight glass with 3 point hitch (3ph) and no implement on it so I got full down travel and 525 front end loader (FEL) up and down and this is the results at operating temperature:

1. FEL down, bucket curled in; 3ph down = full right to top of sight glass
2. FEL down, bucket curled in; 3ph up = 1/3 sight glass
3. FEL up to 60”, bucket curled in; 3ph down = 1/2 sight glass
4. FEL full up, bucket curled in; 3ph down = 1/4 sight glass
5. FEL full up, bucket curled in to 50%; 3ph down = very bottom of sight glass
6. FEL full up, bucket curled out; 3ph down = empty sight glass

Might not matter a tinker’s dam but curiosity go to me (maybe OCD).

GD

 

[200mph]

FYI... Dye can be added to make it easier to see the fluid levels.

Here is an example, not an endorsement: https://greenfarmparts.com/shop/john-deere-oil-mt3668/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_Iu13vPp5QIVGJSzCh13NQkdEAQYASABEgKxkvD_BwE