I did something really stupid!

[Yotekiller]

So over the weekend I was doing maintenance on my 2502 and also topped off the hydro fluid. Then, I pulled the tractor outside and proceeded to wash it. All of a sudden I happen to see the funnel still sticking out of the hydro fill hole with some water droplets inside of it. I know not much water got in there but obviously some did. How much will new oil set me back? And do I have to stay with Kubota oil? I might as well change the engine oil while I'm at it...

 

[GeoHorn]

OIl is lighter than water. IF…. IF….you did not start-and-run the tractor…. DRAIN all the hydro-oil into a clean container (new, large 20 gal muck-bucket from TSC is $10) … let it settle overnight without “jostling” the bucket…. then pour the oil, off into another muck-bucket (TSC sells them in pairs for $20)…. leaving the water in the bottom of the first bucket. Re-install the oil.

On the other-hand… if you DID start/run the tractor…. Drain a sample. Is it milky..?
You are in for a multiple oil-change (use cheap oil) and when it gets clear again use Kubota SUDT2.

Have I ever done this..? Yes!… I”ve bought the Twin-Set of Muck-Buckets from TSC for $20.

Have I done the water-in-the-hyd-system thing…? No. I’m only guessing how I’d do it.

 

[85Hokie]

Well, the true problem here IS the amount of water in there! You will never know how much went in there.

AS for how much oil you need to buy - that should be in you user manual - Is this the geared or HST version of the L2501? ( you should with you picture you own a L2502) so which one we talking about?

 

[TheOldHokie]

So over the weekend, I was doing maintenance on my 2501 and also topped off the hydro fluid. Then, I pulled the tractor outside and proceeded to wash it. All of a sudden I happen to see the funnel still sticking out of the hydro fill hole with some water droplets inside of it. I know not much water got in there but obviously some did. How much will new oil set me back? And do I have to stay with Kubota oil? I might as well change the engine oil while I'm at it...

Oil change is 6+ gallons at $30 per gallon for SUDT2. If I thought enough water got in to be a concern I would spend the money.

Dan

 

[mikester]

 

[Yotekiller]

Well, the true problem here IS the amount of water in there! You will never know how much went in there.

AS for how much oil you need to buy - that should be in you user manual - Is this the geared or HST version of the L2501? ( you should with you picture you own a L2502) so which one we talking about?

Good catch, Dan! Yes, it's the 2502 and it is an HST. I must have just read a post about a 2501 and had that number on the brain! I know it's in the manual but I didn't think to grab the manual when I left the house this morning and was planning to run by the Kubota dealer today. I can find the information online somewhere probably..

 

[mcmxi]

So over the weekend I was doing maintenance on my 2502 and also topped off the hydro fluid. Then, I pulled the tractor outside and proceeded to wash it. All of a sudden I happen to see the funnel still sticking out of the hydro fill hole with some water droplets inside of it. I know not much water got in there but obviously some did. How much will new oil set me back? And do I have to stay with Kubota oil? I might as well change the engine oil while I'm at it...

Don't you hate it when we do things that cost us time, or worse yet, money to fix! I screwed something up royally last year and have and am paying the piper.

 

[mcmxi]

Good catch, Dan! Yes, it's the 2502 and it is an HST. I must have just read a post about a 2501 and had that number on the brain! I know it's in the manual but I didn't think to grab the manual when I left the house this morning and was planning to run by the Kubota dealer today. I can find the information online somewhere probably..

6.2 gallons for transmission and hydraulics according to Kubota's website.

 

[Yotekiller]

Don't you hate it when we do things that cost us time, or worse yet, money to fix!

Yeah it was such a dumb mistake and couldn't happen at a worse time with the work load I have on my plate right now and the $ I'm vomiting out trying to get my new business off the ground. Didn't need an extra helping at this point in time...

 

[mcmxi]

Yeah it was such a dumb mistake and couldn't happen at a worse time with the work load I have on my plate right now and the $ I'm vomiting out trying to get my new business off the ground. Didn't need an extra helping at this point in time...

I feel your pain. I added another sentence to my post above re a huge screw up last year that has cost me dearly. I broke something because I'm an inveterate tinkerer and didn't think it through. Not tractor related but engine related. Bill Burr (the comedian) talks about having to shout thoughts or memories out of his head, which is so true.

 

[85Hokie]

Don't beat yourself up too bad - if there was forum for stupid mistakes - this post would be in the upper thousands !

I am with Dan - just bite the bullet and change filters and oil. Saving the old oil is fine but can be more problematic if not done 100% correctly.

How many hours on machine?

 

[mcmxi]

Don't beat yourself up too bad - if there was forum for stupid mistakes - this post would be in the upper thousands !

I am with Dan - just bite the bullet and change filters and oil. Saving the old oil is fine but can be more problematic if not done 100% correctly.

How many hours on machine?

The good news is that he can dump the old oil by the creek on @The Evil Twin's property!

How NOT to do a hydraulic oil change...

We find the random tire or TV along the back side of our property. This takes the cake! Roughly 20 gallons of hydro oil. About 50' from a creek. Fortunately, none of them were leaking. They were all on their side and I righted them to check. I hope those ^#$holes fall on rebar.

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[Yotekiller]

Thanks guys! Yeah, changing out the oil is a no brainer, no reason in chancing it trying to filter out the water. Lesson learned hopefully to pay closer attention....

MCMXI, you gotta share your story!

 

[D2Cat]

Draining the oil isn't a total loss. I would drain into a tote that would hold all the fluid, cover it with a heavy cardboard, let it stand for a few days, then take the top of the oil and pour into the new 5 gal bucket and use for a lesser quality situation (tractor). Just leave the last bit for disposal. It's easy to scoop out with one of those red plastic Folgers's 3# coffee container, even has finger grips.

I actually have a couple of tractors that would think they were being treated special!!

 

[Vlach7]

I did a jerk job also, at the end of my HST fluid change I noticed I forgot to put the filter magnets in the new filters and lost over 5 gallons of new fluid onto the workshop floor while getting the magnets in the new filters. Won't do that again.

 

[Yotekiller]

I did a jerk job also, at the end of my HST fluid change I noticed I forgot to put the filter magnets in the new filters and lost over 5 gallons of new fluid onto the workshop floor while getting the magnets in the new filters. Won't do that again.

Oh man, that sucks! thanks for the heads up!

 

[Flintknapper]

OIl is lighter than water. IF…. IF….you did not start-and-run the tractor…. DRAIN all the hydro-oil into a clean container (new, large 20 gal muck-bucket from TSC is $10) … let it settle overnight without “jostling” the bucket…. then pour the oil, off into another muck-bucket (TSC sells them in pairs for $20)…. leaving the water in the bottom of the first bucket. Re-install the oil.

If the tractor wasn't run such that the water emulsified in the oil, then what you propose would indeed work (to separate the two).

However....I would let the oil sit a couple of days. Then instead of 'pouring' anything, just drill a small hole in the very bottom of the side of the bucket and let the weight of the oil push the water out.

Once you see pure oil coming out....plug the hole and pour the oil into usable containers. Bucket can be plugged for later liquid use or just use as a dry tote. Cost you all of $10.00

 

[The Evil Twin]

The good news is that he can dump the old oil by the creek on @The Evil Twin's property!

How NOT to do a hydraulic oil change...

We find the random tire or TV along the back side of our property. This takes the cake! Roughly 20 gallons of hydro oil. About 50' from a creek. Fortunately, none of them were leaking. They were all on their side and I righted them to check. I hope those ^#$holes fall on rebar.

www.orangetractortalks.com

Why not? There are 4 buckets I already have to take to the recycling center. May as well fill the truck bed. The buckets are a waste. Just dump the oil in the bed