Ok, I have put a new filter on after I drained my hydraulic fluid, and added 6 gallons and 3 quarts of new super udt and still don't see fluid in my sight glass, either running or shut off! My tractor is an L2800. Are the specs wrong in the owners manual? And, I did lower the bucket and 3 point hitch as I learned on here.
Hydraulic fluid
- Thread starter Gary S
- Start date
Super UDT is extremely clear and hard to see in the site glass. If it's over full it will look like an empty site glass.
I too have an L2800 and have the same issue...I check the fluid level every week or so...and can never tell whether I have it overfull or low. If I have problems with lack of hydraulic power...I add half a quart and it always seems to fix the problem...and the glass "color" never changes.
Does anybody have a trick to tell if there is enough fluid in...and is there any problem with having it to full vs. to low?
Does anybody have a trick to tell if there is enough fluid in...and is there any problem with having it to full vs. to low?
Holleyman
New member
Equipment
Kubota B6001, Caterpillar 252B, AM General M813A1, Ford 8N, Komatsu PC30
Clean dipstick with non-oily acetone nail polish remover and completely dry then warm slightly with hair dryer.
Apply spray paint using flat black spray paint form a can.
Allow to dry completely overnight.
Now you can see fluid on dipstick without doubt.
Have painted all dipsticks on everything for years; works like a charm.
Every few years the paint wears off from being pulled out, never a worry about flaking paint if applied correctly.
Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.
Apply spray paint using flat black spray paint form a can.
Allow to dry completely overnight.
Now you can see fluid on dipstick without doubt.
Have painted all dipsticks on everything for years; works like a charm.
Every few years the paint wears off from being pulled out, never a worry about flaking paint if applied correctly.
Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.
I would be curious to know what the effects of not enough (I assume not enough would cause weak hydraulics) and over full would be........I know some of you experts can answer that one for me/us. Thanks!
As far as I can tell, the L2800 has no dipstick. It would be much better than a sight glass! Bad design if you ask me
The background of the sight glass it BRIGHT white. If it is off white then that is likely hydraulic fluid.
Park the tractor on the side of steep slope with the sight glass uphill. See the background changes shade to bright white.
You could really be radical and drain some hydraulic fluid into a large clean bucket. Then add the oil back in once you are satisfied on the reading. This is a messy alternative.
Slight underfilling or overfilling is not going to cause any problems.
Park the tractor on the side of steep slope with the sight glass uphill. See the background changes shade to bright white.
You could really be radical and drain some hydraulic fluid into a large clean bucket. Then add the oil back in once you are satisfied on the reading. This is a messy alternative.
Slight underfilling or overfilling is not going to cause any problems.
I have tries the "park on side of hill" trick...and it didn't work. Also, the L2800 does not have a dip stick...which may be something I try to fabricate to solve this ongoing issue. The way I did (at least one time) find out if I had too much fluid...is I changed the hydraulic filter and "bled" out a gallon or so until I found the fluid line in the site glass.
I tried to maintain the level as best I could (so I could keep it at the site glass level)...and eventually lost track due to the clarity of the fluid and the fact that the damn background color is essentially the same as the fluid.
I may try to buy a second filler cap and machine a dipstick for it...as this is a hassle to always worry about.
The symptom of too little fluid is that the hydraulics become weak...and putting in some always seems to solve the problem. Anyone with a good solution to solve this design flaw would be great.
I tried to maintain the level as best I could (so I could keep it at the site glass level)...and eventually lost track due to the clarity of the fluid and the fact that the damn background color is essentially the same as the fluid.
I may try to buy a second filler cap and machine a dipstick for it...as this is a hassle to always worry about.
The symptom of too little fluid is that the hydraulics become weak...and putting in some always seems to solve the problem. Anyone with a good solution to solve this design flaw would be great.
Easy cheap fix for your problems
Go to your local Caterpillar dealer and get some hydraulic fluid dye
A small amount in your fluid and it turns red
You will be able to see it then
Go to your local Caterpillar dealer and get some hydraulic fluid dye
A small amount in your fluid and it turns red
You will be able to see it then