Grapple OCD - how bad do I have it?

[trikepilot]

So I lucked into a screaming good deal on a mint condition LandPride SG0660. It is only a few years old and has had limited use and has been sitting around for maybe a year with no use.

I am thinking about rigging up a way to purge all the old unknown hydraulic fluid from the grapple lines and pistons and refill it with clean SUDT2. I just did a full fluid swap with filters on my machine and I know that the fluid that is in there is very fresh, very clean, and the exact correct fluid that Kubota wants in there. I have no idea of what fluid is in the grapple nor its condition.

Am I being overly OCD and micro-managing this too much?

Should I just roll with it and not worry about the comparatively minute volume of unknown hydraulic fluid that will get mixed into the fluid in my machine?

Or is this exercise in over-control healthy and a worthwhile endeavor?



What says the conventional wisdom here at OTT?

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

Congrats on the find. I have that same grapple and have had it for well over 10yrs and never purged. That doesn’t make it right or wrong. What’s the owners manual suggest in fluid changing?

I would offer to take care to flip the kickstands up anytime connect to the machine. It only takes onetime ‘I just need to pick that one log up’ and if you scrape or bump something the thru bolt on it pivots (of the kick stands)on will be deformed pretty easily with a tractor behind it🫣. Just sayin’

 

[trikepilot]

Congrats on the find. I have that same grapple and have had it for well over 10yrs and never purged. That doesn’t make it right or wrong. What’s the owners manual suggest in fluid changing?

I will download the manual at some point but I doubt it will address the core of my question. If you got your grapple new it either had factory or dealer fluid instilled in it that we can safely assume is the "correct" fluid.

My question - specifically - is my concern about the minimal fluid of unknown type/condition that is currently in the lines/cylinders tainting my fresh SUDT2 a worthwhile worry? Or should I just roll with it?

 

[GrumpyFarmer]

I will download the manual at some point but I doubt it will address the core of my question. If you got your grapple new it either had factory or dealer fluid instilled in it that we can safely assume is the "correct" fluid.

My question - specifically - is my concern about the minimal fluid of unknown type/condition that is currently in the lines/cylinders tainting my fresh SUDT2 a worthwhile worry? Or should I just roll with it?

Personally I am a believer of changing fluids early and often. I don’t think there is any harm in swap out a then you know what starting with. To me it’s an ounce of prevention.

 

[Kennyd4110]

Not a bad idea...just messy.

->T ake the hoses off the cylinder and hang them to drain, pushing in the poppet will help them drain faster (think of your finger over the end of a straw).

-> Cycle the cylinder manually with the grapple lid to push old fluid out.

 

[trikepilot]

Not a bad idea...just messy.

->T ake the hoses off the cylinder and hang them to drain, pushing in the poppet will help them drain faster (think of your finger over the end of a straw).

-> Cycle the cylinder manually with the grapple lid to push old fluid out.

That would be how I do it and I can do it where the mess is not an issue.

Actually it will be even easier since I have to take off the existing push-connect fittings to replace them for ones that will work on my front third function.

 

[JailBreak Your Tractor]

Congrats on the deal — that's a nice grapple.

Your worry about a little unknown oil in the cylinders mixing into fresh SUDT2 is reasonable but usually not catastrophic if the old oil isn't milky/burnt. Still, since you're already swapping the push-connect fittings for your 3rd function, it's a good time to purge:

1) Crack/remove the hoses at the cylinders, push the coupler poppets open, and hang them to drain.
2) Manually open/close the grapple lid a few times to push the old oil out of the cylinders (catch it in a pan — messy but effective).
3) Hook up your new fittings/hoses, then cycle the grapple slowly on the tractor several times with the loader up and a catch pan under any connections. Top off SUDT2 when you're done.

If what drains looks watery, milky, or full of grit, I'd also flush the hoses before the final hookup. Otherwise you're fine to roll.

Jailbreak Your Tractor

 

[TheOldHokie]

So I lucked into a screaming good deal on a mint condition LandPride SG0660. It is only a few years old and has had limited use and has been sitting around for maybe a year with no use.

I am thinking about rigging up a way to purge all the old unknown hydraulic fluid from the grapple lines and pistons and refill it with clean SUDT2. I just did a full fluid swap with filters on my machine and I know that the fluid that is in there is very fresh, very clean, and the exact correct fluid that Kubota wants in there. I have no idea of what fluid is in the grapple nor its condition.

Am I being overly OCD and micro-managing this too much?

Should I just roll with it and not worry about the comparatively minute volume of unknown hydraulic fluid that will get mixed into the fluid in my machine?

Or is this exercise in over-control healthy and a worthwhile endeavor?



What says the conventional wisdom here at OTT?

Hook it up but do not operate it. Remove one quick coupler and put hose in a bucket. Operate cylinder. Reconnect that hose and repeat with other side. Done.

Dan