Hydraulic fluid change?

majog

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Apr 16, 2016
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potsdam ny
I have a L4600. It is 15 years old and has about 200 hours on it. I did a hydraulic fluid change at 5 months, 10 years (about 100 hours), and 2 yrs ago. Even though it is not called for until the 400 hour mark should I change it again. The tractor does not see much usage but is in AZ where it gets over 100 in the summer for months at a time.
 

fried1765

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Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
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Eastham, Ma
I have a L4600. It is 15 years old and has about 200 hours on it. I did a hydraulic fluid change at 5 months, 10 years (about 100 hours), and 2 yrs ago. Even though it is not called for until the 400 hour mark should I change it again. The tractor does not see much usage but is in AZ where it gets over 100 in the summer for months at a time.
I don't think the 100 degree (Outside) heat will have any effect.
I say change it, when the operators manual says to do so.
 
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MapleLeafFarmer

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my concern is only guessing if we do not know the moisture content of the fluid.

lets say 100 hours of use if all 1 minute in duration is 6,000 starts/stops so no chance of building adequate temp to "burn off" the moisture. Without a moisture test I would be afraid to make a guess whether a change is required or not. For me not a time issue its a moisture issue.
 
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fried1765

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Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
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Eastham, Ma
my concern is only guessing if we do not know the moisture content of the fluid.

lets say 100 hours of use if all 1 minute in duration is 6,000 starts/stops so no chance of building adequate temp to "burn off" the moisture. Without a moisture test I would be afraid to make a guess whether a change is required or not. For me not a time issue its a moisture issue.
Why would anyone do 6,000 starts in 100 hours?
A massive exaggeration,.....me thinks.
 

PaulL

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B2601
Jul 17, 2017
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A lot of machines will say "every 200 hours, or every 2 years" or some such. You're quite a lot of years even though low hours. I don't think fluids age as such, but yes they could get moisture into them.

It can't hurt to change it. It probably won't hurt to leave it. It's probably a few hundred dollars to do a full service, so it depends whether the time and $$ matter to you.
 

mikester

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M59 TLB
Oct 21, 2017
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www.divergentstuff.ca
No hardly any rain. We even have negative humidity in the summer
If its a geared tractor (not HST) and if the machine isn't that important to me (i.e. I don't use it often) and stored outside in your climate I probably wouldn't worry about changing the oil based on time.
 

D2Cat

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I'd change it just so I could use a magic maker and put the current date on it. That alone would increase the value to the next owner!
 

MapleLeafFarmer

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Lots incl. B and L kubotas
Dec 2, 2019
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Why would anyone do 6,000 starts in 100 hours?
A massive exaggeration,.....me thinks.
don't know... goes to the OP statement that 15 year old tractor only has 200 hours of use on it.
thats less than 2 weeks use during seeding season or ?? we don't know..
was the 200 for 1 project or from shuttling groceries from the car to the house weekly??
we don't know so thats the point.
 

fried1765

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Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
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Eastham, Ma
don't know... goes to the OP statement that 15 year old tractor only has 200 hours of use on it.
thats less than 2 weeks use during seeding season or ?? we don't know..
was the 200 for 1 project or from shuttling groceries from the car to the house weekly??
we don't know so thats the point.
My L48 TLB was 13 years old when I bought it.
Had 251 total hours.
I was VERY HAPPY about that!
 
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fried1765

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Kubota L48 TLB, Ford 1920 FEL, Ford 8N, SCAG Liberty Z, Gravely Pro.
Nov 14, 2019
7,843
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Eastham, Ma
Those low hours are impressive. My M4-071 is just under 100 in two years!
Owner condition is a factor!
Previous owner had Parkinson's disease, so needed to sell.
I simply have.... TOO much age!
 

Soopitup

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BX23S
Oct 25, 2018
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New England
I don't think moisture will be much of a factor if it's been sitting in Arizona....

I don't think I've owned mine 8 full months yet and I've already got 160+ hours on it.
Garage kept and all of course.
It's no fun if you don't get to use it!