When should you check Hydraulic fluid level?

[GP Outdoors]

Happy New Year all. I have a Kubota LX2610 and previously had a B2601. Hoping for some help. I have had differing opinions to date and hoping to hear your thoughts:
1) When is the right time to check your hydraulic fluid level? a) When the tractor and fluid is cold, or b) when it is hot/warm, or c) doesn't matter?
2) When you check the level, are you first supposed to a) drop your 3-point hitch to the ground and also drop your FEL to the ground/float, or b) raise them both up, or c) doesn't matter, before you check the fluid level?
Thanks!
GP

 

[Bmyers]

Hi GP!

In my manual checking fluids is listed under the daily check.

DAILY CHECK
For your own safety and maximum service life of the
machine, make a thorough daily inspection before
operating the machine to start the engine.

So, if you follow the manual, you would check the fluid before operating the engine.

As far as position goes, I asked my dealer and his recommendation was to have everything lowered, which gets back to checking the fluids before you operate. He also said it didn't really matter as long as you check it the same way every time.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[i7win7]

For those that don't know - GP Outdoors is a youtube site
GP enjoy your videos and welcome.

 

[mdhughes]

Welcome to OTT GP.

Like Bmyers said, it is a pre-check, so I would agree that you do it when it is cold. In the L3901 OPS, it says to park on a flat surface and engine stopped. Nothing about warm or cold.

 

[RCW]

GP - welcome to OTT!

As others say, cold and implements down.

Whatever you choose to do, consistency is good.

 

[Frankb]

Welcome to the site GP. You and I have conversed via email before. Love the Youtube channel.
I check my 2601 all the time before starting as suggested.
Frank

 

[je1279]

Hey GP and welcome to OTT. I saw one of your recent videos where you mentioned that a number of your fluids were low at the same time which I agree is odd. I have a LX2610 as well and I've only needed to add hydraulic fluid after I installed the third function kit. As others have said, the manual doesn't mention anything about hot or cold or the position of the loader and three point. To date I have checked mine cold with both the loader and the three point fully down. Hope you get to the bottom of the missing fluids and please keep us posted.

 

[armylifer]

Is this a real question or a plug for your YouTube channel?

 

[je1279]

Is this a real question or a plug for your YouTube channel?

I can attest to GP's willingness to help others. If you check out some of his YouTube content, I think you will agree that it is not a shameless plug but rather, someone trying to troubleshoot an issue as we all do.

 

[armylifer]

I will Google it.

 

[B737]

HEY IT'S GORD!!! wooohooo!!!! hey Gord!

 

[armylifer]

Hello all, It seems I have to make an apology to Gordon. I posted above that I thought he was making a plug for his YouTube channel. I have taken a look at his channel and I even subscribed to it. He obviously does not need to make a plug for such a well known channel.

I sincerely apologize for jumping to a conclusion and I would like to wholeheartedly welcome GP outdoors to the forum. I hope that you will forgive me for my too quick post.

This site is great and I am sure that you will find it to be the most authoritative place for all things Kubota.

 

[michigander]

B2601 book, level and implement down.
Gord a few videos past I remember you posting something about your dealer doesn't stock. The udt-2.

I'm wondering if some of your lX whine is related ?

Copy and paste from book below.


Transmission oil • KUBOTA Super UDT-2: For an enhanced ownership experience, we highly recommend Super UDT-2 to be used instead of standard hydraulic/transmission fluid. Super UDT-2 is a proprietary KUBOTA formulation that delivers superior performance and protection in all operating conditions. Regular UDT is also permitted for use in this machine

 

[GP Outdoors]

For those that don't know - GP Outdoors is a youtube site
GP enjoy your videos and welcome.

Thanks very much. This one I could not remember and hav had differing thoughts from folks, and Guy couldn't remember the answer either LOL. Cheers and all the best!

 

[GP Outdoors]

Hi GP!

In my manual checking fluids is listed under the daily check.

DAILY CHECK
For your own safety and maximum service life of the
machine, make a thorough daily inspection before
operating the machine to start the engine.

So, if you follow the manual, you would check the fluid before operating the engine.

As far as position goes, I asked my dealer and his recommendation was to have everything lowered, which gets back to checking the fluids before you operate. He also said it didn't really matter as long as you check it the same way every time.

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks !

 

[GP Outdoors]

Welcome to OTT GP.

Like Bmyers said, it is a pre-check, so I would agree that you do it when it is cold. In the L3901 OPS, it says to park on a flat surface and engine stopped. Nothing about warm or cold.

Thanks!

 

[GP Outdoors]

Welcome to the site GP. You and I have conversed via email before. Love the Youtube channel.
I check my 2601 all the time before starting as suggested.
Frank

Hi Frank! Thanks - appreciate the help from folks. Cheers!

 

[GP Outdoors]

HEY IT'S GORD!!! wooohooo!!!! hey Gord!

LOL! Good morning B737!

 

[GP Outdoors]

Good morning folks, and thanks very much armylifer, I got your other message - all good and please, not to worry. Thanks for your kind apology.
So here is what I think may have been the trouble. I did my 50 hour a few weeks ago and I did re-check my levels the next day, as I think we are supposed to, and had little top-ups to do. I had not used the tractor much and then mounted my new front mount blower, as well as the hydraulic angle kit on the rear blade. I am thinking that adding all those new hydraulic lines perhaps was why I needed to add so much hydraulic fluid. I only had to add a little engine oil however I did have to add a good amount of coolant. I have no visible leaks anywhere on the ground or on the couplings etc. The reason I was asking the q's was because I have had folks tell me different suggestions on when and how to check them, and my good neighbour Guy, had suggested that maybe I should not have checked the fluids cold, because they expand when warm. But I think I have some great advice from all of you above and feel better/ more confident on the correct answer. I did in fact drop the FEL and the 3 point to the ground, and I checked all the fluids before starting the tractor so I think I am good.
I'll keep an eye on it and if I find them getting low again, I'll let you good folks know. The reason i was concerned was because I virtually never had to add any fluids to the old B2601, so i was a bit surprised the other day.

Michigander, thanks for the help before, and above. I did talk to my dealer and he said they do not stock the Super UDT and that what I have is fine. (?) I did read that passage that you sent me and told them about it, but at least for now, he said they aren't stocking it. So I guess we will see in time.

Thanks again to everyone. I have been a member on this forum for 3 years but kind of got away from participating since shortly after I joined. But will try to keep a little more active on it when I can. It's the best place for good solid advice.
Happy New Years all!

 

[B737]

Unless I missed it, how much fluid did you end up adding after having added all those hoses?

Gord, your channel and this community have been the two greatest sources of knowledge and learning for all things tractor to me. Thanks for providing such an awesome channel, and just being an all around great person.