According to the service manual, a Kubota L3400 4WD Manual Transmission tractor, should hold 7.3 gallons of UDT fluid. I just drained the 4 ports as described in the service manual, changed the filter, and started refilling with new UDT. Problem is, as I was pouring in the 6th gallon, the oil sight window showed it to be full. I started the tractor and slowly drove it around the yard for a few minutes. I pulled it back in my shop and rechecked the fluid. I was able to finish pouring in the last of the 6th gallon. What am I missing? Why am I only able to get in 6 gallons when manual calls for 7.3 gallons? Any help is appreciated.
L3400 hydraulic oil quantity
- Thread starter 1bigace
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The rated capacity is typical for new and dry from factory.
You can never drain 100% of the fluid.
Sounds like you paid attention to draining all the correct plugs?!?! Some folks don’t…..
As long as it’s full on the dipstick you’re golden!!
Even motor oil, my tractor is 3.3 quarts, but doing well if I can put 3 in it. Front axle is about a gallon; I can get 2-3 quarts and no more.
You can never drain 100% of the fluid.
Sounds like you paid attention to draining all the correct plugs?!?! Some folks don’t…..
As long as it’s full on the dipstick you’re golden!!
Even motor oil, my tractor is 3.3 quarts, but doing well if I can put 3 in it. Front axle is about a gallon; I can get 2-3 quarts and no more.
If you take your tractor completely apart and let it drain it will take 7.3 gallons. I think you will be happy will a little over 6 gallons in a transmission service. Also does the three point have to be all the way down to the ground to have that cylinder be empty?
That's a good question and I have no idea. I did cycle the 3 point up and down while I was moving the tractor around the yard. The only thing I didn't do, was activate the tpo while I was driving. I guess this
will reveal itself over time, as I will be constantly monitoring the sight glass. I want to thank everyone that has responded. 1bigace
If you want to get most of the old oil out, yes the 3ph needs to be at the bottom...
The FEL has power (fluid) to both sides so if it's "up" or "down" there is oil on both sides. What I would guess, if you want to drain the most oil. Have the FEL "up", turn off the tractor, drain... then lower the FEL with a chain hoist to control the drop rate, to force half the oil out.
I don't think this would have anything to do with a FEL, in my opinion. The service manual that I got the information out of, was for the L3400 tractor. It made no mention of x number of gallons for the tractor and x number of gallons for the tractor with FEL. I looked back through the manual and in my opinion (for what that's worth) they are talking about only the 4WD tractor with PTO. If all tractors came with the FEL, then I would tend to agree. I do have a separate manual for the FEL and I will look through it tonight and see if they mention any additional fluid that might be associated.
No it doesn't have anything to do with the total amount that you get out of the system. I was just thinking about the oil change (mine is coming up real soon). Just wondering about getting the most old oil out of the system...
For what it's worth, I've ran my HST 3 gallons low (hose on the cooler fell off) and drove it back to the house with out a problem. The early versions of the "Standard" L's actually had a Product Improvement Bulletin to address PTO CAM noise - where the tractor used an extra 1.5 gallons of Hydraulic oil. Sight glass was replaced with a dip stick.
I run with an extra gallon to be safe. The only problem is if you over fill to the point where hot oil expansion blows out somewhere. Someone on TBN had filled the oil right to the neck - he drained 3 gallons out to get it in the sight glass....
That wonderful little plastic sight glass is what caused the problem with my tractor to start with. As I was checking the trans oil level, I noticed it was leaking around the sight glass. I decided to take it out to clean up the gasket, and then it fell to pieces in my hand. I ended up replacing it with a stainless steel version. I wish I had known that you could replace the sight glass with a dip stick. I would definitely have done that.
Anyway, great conversation and I hope your trans service goes smoother than mine did.
I only know of one person that had the dipstick, funny thing it was because he posted here (or TBN) and was "worried" since he drain MORE oil out of his than he expected and was wondering why.... after a while, we figured out about the dip stick.
I don't think Kubota sells them anymore...
All those early models suffered the cracked sight glass, the new plastic replacement lenses are perfect (not prone to cracking anymore.)
The early models also, had hydraulic return hoses that would crack and allow air into the system causing jerk movement in the FEL and 3PH. Let not forget the HST models where the PTO cables all broke until Kubota re-engineered the on/off bracket to be larger.
I don't think Kubota sells them anymore...
All those early models suffered the cracked sight glass, the new plastic replacement lenses are perfect (not prone to cracking anymore.)
The early models also, had hydraulic return hoses that would crack and allow air into the system causing jerk movement in the FEL and 3PH. Let not forget the HST models where the PTO cables all broke until Kubota re-engineered the on/off bracket to be larger.