Hydro Filter Change

[BotaLoda]

After replacing the hydro filter (50 hours) I sometimes open it up to see how much metal is in it. This was shocking, and this wasn't nearly all the metal, just some in the oil I shook out of the filter. In the drain pan it looked like very metallic paint. Lots of *glitter*. Note the size of the two larger pieces.
Is this normal??

 

[85Hokie]

After replacing the hydro filter (50 hours) I sometimes open it up to see how much metal is in it. This was shocking, and this wasn't nearly all the metal, just some in the oil I shook out of the filter. In the drain pan it looked like very metallic paint. Lots of *glitter*. Note the size of the two larger pieces.
Is this normal??

I would say that would be "normal" for the first oil change. Did you clean the HST screen too?

 

[BotaLoda]

I would say that would be "normal" for the first oil change. Did you clean the HST screen too?

No, actually it was just a filter change. I may have confused that fact when I mentioned the fluid in the pan, that was fluid from the filter. Everything that dribbled from the transmission looked clean.
I was wondering about changing it all? Don't have the fluid and don't know where else to buy it but from the dealer.

 

[lugbolt]

That is normal manufacturing debris. This is exactly why Kubota recommends changing the filter at 50 hours. Seems like it'd be too quick at just 50 hrs but now you see why. Clean the screen too if you think about it. There'll be some bigger stuff stuck to it as well.

 

[BotaLoda]

That is normal manufacturing debris. This is exactly why Kubota recommends changing the filter at 50 hours. Seems like it'd be too quick at just 50 hrs but now you see why. Clean the screen too if you think about it. There'll be some bigger stuff stuck to it as well.

Aren't I going to loose all (if I take my time) the fluid? Or I suppose I could catch it and reuse it since I don't have anywhere to buy it now. I guess if I'm clean I can do it. I do have paint strainers for auto paint that would catch anything not too small, and the filter will catch the rest.

 

[Technical Ted]

Aren't I going to loose all (if I take my time) the fluid? Or I suppose I could catch it and reuse it since I don't have anywhere to buy it now. I guess if I'm clean I can do it. I do have paint strainers for auto paint that would catch anything not too small, and the filter will catch the rest.

That's what I did when I changed mine at 50 hours. I just made sure that everything was clean under my tractor in the area and that the buckets were clean (thoroughly washed). This worked well for me and I didn't dump oil all over the place.

Ted

 

[cerlawson]

To simplify: Assuming you want to only clean the screen, the book say at 50 hours. Then the book says change transmission fluid at 400 hours. You are right, if you can catch the fluid and not contaminate it while cleaning the screen, I suppose you can dump it back in. Those that write manuals sometimes aren't mechanics I see. I'll bet most of us dump that oil as waste and add enuff new to get it back up too proper level.

 

[BotaLoda]

That's what I did when I changed mine at 50 hours. I just made sure that everything was clean under my tractor in the area and that the buckets were clean (thoroughly washed). This worked well for me and I didn't dump oil all over the place.

Ted

After I posted that I thought I'd hear it for being really cheap! Well I'm sure to some it is, but according to my manual, the fluid isn't due for a change until 400 hours. Thanks.

 

[BotaLoda]

To simplify: Assuming you want to only clean the screen, the book say at 50 hours. Then the book says change transmission fluid at 400 hours. You are right, if you can catch the fluid and not contaminate it while cleaning the screen, I suppose you can dump it back in. Those that write manuals sometimes aren't mechanics I see. I'll bet most of us dump that oil as waste and add enuff new to get it back up too proper level.

Actually my manual says to clean the screen when changing the fluid, and that is at 400 hours. I think I'll go ahead and be extra clean and re-use the fluid. I still have 3 quarts of new left to make up for any loss.

 

[Technical Ted]

After I posted that I thought I'd hear it for being really cheap! Well I'm sure to some it is, but according to my manual, the fluid isn't due for a change until 400 hours. Thanks.

Just to be more clear, I drained the oil using the oil drain plug. I thought about just catching the oil that came out when I removed the filters, but I wasn't comfortable that I would be able to get everything thoroughly clean around the filters, etc. before removing them. I was comfortable with being able to clean around the drain plug though. Easy peasy. Just make sure you have enough buckets lined up and cleaned to catch all the oil.

Ted

 

[BotaLoda]

Just to be more clear, I drained the oil using the oil drain plug. I thought about just catching the oil that came out when I removed the filters, but I wasn't comfortable that I would be able to get everything thoroughly clean around the filters, etc. before removing them. I was comfortable with being able to clean around the drain plug though. Easy peasy. Just make sure you have enough buckets lined up and cleaned to catch all the oil.

Ted

Thanks, yes that is what I intended to do but I still haven't gotten to do it. Did you get a lot of metal off the screen? Just wondering if it is worth the time?

 

[Technical Ted]

Thanks, yes that is what I intended to do but I still haven't gotten to do it. Did you get a lot of metal off the screen? Just wondering if it is worth the time?

The L3560 doesn't have a screen, at least that I know of.... If I'm wrong, please someone point that out and tell me where it is!

The magnet on the filter did have some grit on it.

Ted

 

[BotaLoda]

The L3560 doesn't have a screen, at least that I know of.... If I'm wrong, please someone point that out and tell me where it is!

The magnet on the filter did have some grit on it.

Ted

Oops, I didn't read what you own and assumed you were talking about the same or similar tractor as mine.

I did drain it and clean the screen last night. There wasn't much metal on the screen but some of it was small enough that it could have eventually made it into the pump. The fluid, I wish I could have left it sit overnight, but even in just 1/2 hour it was getting darker at the bottom so I didn't pour it all back in. Topped it off with new. I wonder if they make a drain plug with a magnet on it for mine, my filter doesn't have a magnet. I am going to put a magnet in the bucket of bottom of the barrel fluid to see if that "darkness" is all metal.

 

[200mph]

I usually modify the existing drain plugs to accept a rare earth magnet (many times stronger than regular magnet).

The one in the picture is for my JD Gator, but I've done the same for the Kubota.