Dumb question to start off the week! When you buy a new implement with hydraulics, is there oil in the cylinders and hoses?

[mcmxi]

Working on the EA grapple today got me wondering whether or not an implement with hydraulics will show up with hydraulic fluid in the cylinders and hoses. The reason I ask is that Kubota is quite adamant about the type of hydraulic fluid to run in our tractors with UDT-2 being the recommend fluid. So it's possible that Land Pride would have UDT-2 in the cylinders and hoses, but if buying from EA or any other manufacturer, it's highly unlikely that the system would contain the proper fluid. Maybe I'm over thinking this but perhaps I should drain the EA grapple hydraulics before hooking it up for the first time, assuming there's oil in the lines at all.

If this is a really dumb question feel free to ridicule me accordingly.

 

[RCW]

It’s a question that comes up in various forms often. Typical is should I remove the fluid from the used xx implement I bought.

Manufacturers may well test each to ensure no leaks and proper function. I’m guessing.

If so, the amount of fluid in the implement would be inconsequential compared to the amount of fluid in the tractor it hooks to.

 

[mcmxi]

It’s a question that comes up in various forms often. Typical is should I remove the fluid from the used xx implement I bought.

Manufacturers may well test each to ensure no leaks and proper function. I’m guessing.

If so, the amount of fluid in the implement would be inconsequential compared to the amount of fluid in the tractor it hooks to.

Inconsequential for one or two implements but as the implement list grows could it become more of an issue? Oils can typically be mixed but additive packages might not play well together.

I'll need to disconnect the hoses from the rams to slip jackets over them so I'll do my best to drain out all of the oil that EA added, assuming there is any.

 

[Nicfin36]

Yeah, I thought about the oil in the implements as well. I bought my EA grapple early on, as well as a tree/post puller. I have not bought any hydraulic implement since, but may look into hydraulic for the 3 point at some point later. I did not worry about it too much and have since changed the hydro oil at 50 hours because I wanted Super UDT in it.

Is there an easy way to drain the oil from an implement cylinder/line? I toyed with the idea of buying a 3 point hitch adapter and using it on the back of my 68 hp tractor for bigger trees, but decided no to as I don't want to mix the oils.

 

[RCW]

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about it. There's a lot of more important things to fret over....(e.g., diesel fuel treatment/handling, proper service intervals/fluids, etc.)

That's coming from a guy that's considering a 4th (?) hydraulic fluid change in less than 500 hours. Another filter has a dent in it, and a little more HST whine.

As it's a little BX, only about a $100 service for ~ 3 years of use.

mcmxi - - - your MX likely carries 15 gallons +/- of fluid.
Nicfin - - your L is almost 10 gallons.

I doubt an implement would have but a quart or two onboard.

 

[hedgerow]

I normally take the ends off the hoses and use a FEL or engine hoist to cycle the cylinders to drain out the hyd fluid on used or new implements. I don't like mixing hyd oils. I do run all the same in my tractors and skid loader. I will probably keep using Kubota hyd oil in my new MX-6000. Probably won't hook any hyd implements to the Kubota. Don't have any hyd outlets on it at this point in time.

 

[SDT]

I normally take the ends off the hoses and use a FEL or engine hoist to cycle the cylinders to drain out the hyd fluid on used or new implements. I don't like mixing hyd oils. I do run all the same in my tractors and skid loader. I will probably keep using Kubota hyd oil in my new MX-6000. Probably won't hook any hyd implements to the Kubota. Don't have any hyd outlets on it at this point in time.

Bingo.

I thought that I was the only one to do that.

SDT

 

[Njtool]

I just got my grapple from EA. I put protective sleeves on the hoses. There was no fluid in the system.
I hope this helps

 

[D2Cat]

And be sure to not borrow implements with hyd. cylinders from other!

 

[GeoHorn]

When I worked for a mfr’r of hydraulic equipment for aircraft…. it was important ONE: to Test the equipment with the correct fluid prior to shipment, and TWO: to DRAIN the system prior to shipment.… Not only to avoid hazardous-materials in the shipment (flammable (Mil-5606) or corrosive fluids (SkyDrol) in some cases)… but to avoid introducing contamination to the customers’ aircraft. We did this by using Nitrogen to purge the system prior to shipment….. so the equipment arrived at destination empty of fluids.

Don’t know about tractor stuff tho’…. When I bought the TopLink cylinder for my tractor it was completely EMPTY.… as was the steering cylinder and hoses for my compactor.

 

[BAP]

A lot of new implements will come with no oil in them unless a dealer has already hooked it up and tested it out.

 

[SDT]

A lot of new implements will come with no oil in them unless a dealer has already hooked it up and tested it out.

Cannot speak for most dealers but any dealer should install compatible connectors and test operation of such equipment before delivery.

Of course, the oil now in the cylinder(s) will now depend upon what convenient tractor they connected it to for testing.

SDT

 

[mcmxi]

I'll disconnect the hoses today to slip on the protective nylon jackets so will know soon enough if there's oil in the system. EA uses Kubota tractors for testing so if there is oil it could be UDT2.

 

[BAP]

Cannot speak for most dealers but any dealer should install compatible connectors and test operation of such equipment before delivery.

Of course, the oil now in the cylinder(s) will now depend upon what convenient tractor they connected it to for testing.

SDT

If you are buying direct from the manufacturer, which there are many implement companies that sell directly, then there is a good possibility that they have not hooked them up to any source of hydraulics to test them out.

 

[GeoHorn]

This discussion should also cause one to pause and think about rental implements and whether or not you want the fluids that have circulated in them from unknown operators inside YOUR tractor.

 

[mcmxi]

If you are buying direct from the manufacturer, which there are many implement companies that sell directly, then there is a good possibility that they have not hooked them up to any source of hydraulics to test them out.

I disconnected fittings at the ends of the six hoses on the new EA grapple this morning in order to slide nylon sleeves over them and there was absolutely no oil in the system at all which was a good thing as far as I'm concerned.