Using vacuum to not lose hydrostatic fluid?

[jimh406]

If you've used a vacuum to prevent losing hydrostatic fluid on a filter change, how did you do it? Is it as simple as putting the vacuum hose over the fill opening?

 

[jyoutz]

If you've used a vacuum to prevent losing hydrostatic fluid on a filter change, how did you do it? Is it as simple as putting the vacuum hose over the fill opening?

That’s how it was described to me by the dealer. I didn’t do it because I didn’t have an extra hand when I changed my filters. I lost about 1/2 quart and made a small mess.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yep most have raved about it, I'm a spin and replace quick kind of guy!

 

[OntheRidge]

I made this adapter, duct taped shop vac hose to it. Threads right in, no fluid lost.

 

[85Hokie]

I think the vacuum idea is a very crafty one - pure genius.

But For the cost of the PVC and fittings and glue etc.......... the loss of 4-6 oz of fluid will be cheaper!

Have you seen the @#$%@#$$%@# cost of PVC?

Eggs are cheaper per foot!

 

[jyoutz]

I think the vacuum idea is a very crafty one - pure genius.

But For the cost of the PVC and fittings and glue etc.......... the lost of 4-6 oz of fluid will be cheaper!

Have you seen the @#$%@#$$%@# cost of PVC?

Eggs are cheaper per foot!

I’d prefer to avoid the mess.

 

[ruger1980]

The concept has been around a long while. I have one of these but you can find cheaper generic versions if you look.

OEM Genuine Caterpillar CAT 5P-0306 Transducer | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for OEM Genuine Caterpillar CAT 5P-0306 Transducer at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Connect it to any reservoir and connect an air hose to it and the venturi inside creates the vacuum. It can even collapse a weak reservoir. You can change hyd. hoses or components without losing more than a drop or two. It also works on cooling systems. You can open the system to change a hoses or install a block heater with loosing much if any coolant.

 

[Roadworthy]

Some of us have extra irrigation fittings around. The thread on my L2501 is one inch NPT. Since leaking isn't an issue I didn't bother gluing things together, the vacuum holds things. If worried one may use duct tape.

 

[The Evil Twin]

Eh, swab some oil on the filter and be quick.

 

[wsurff]

If you've used a vacuum to prevent losing hydrostatic fluid on a filter change, how did you do it? Is it as simple as putting the vacuum hose over the fill opening?

Yup, I have a small sized shop-vac (I think from Lowes). The fittings are smaller than full-size shop vacs. I just place the end right on the fill opening, turn on the vac, does the job.

 

[trueg50]

Vacuum trick worked beautifully. It's also an easy/clean job and I managed to get my wife to help hold it while I changed the filters.

 

[William1]

I parked my tractor on a steep incline. Back wheels on the flat, fronts on the hill. When I took off the old filter, no fluid came out.

 

[beckmurph]

I used a shop vac hose adapter/reducer from Lowes.
Put the end in the filler opening, turned the vacuum on and changed both filters.
I lost very little hydraulic fluid.

 

[fried1765]

I’d prefer to avoid the mess.

I think you missed the point!
There is no "mess" to "avoid"...... when using a vacuum!

 

[jyoutz]

I think you missed the point!
There is no "mess" to "avoid"...... when using a vacuum!

Read the comment that I responded to again.

 

[John T]

I always remember to use the vacuum trick....

Right AFTER I change the filter...

 

[In Utopia]

Here's a good video showing how it works, there are plenty of others out there.

 

[mikester]

I tried it on my M59 and ended up taking a bath in hydraulic fluid. Might work on smaller capacity tractors I'll never do it again.

 

[GibbyESS9]

I used my small rigid shop vac when I did mine, and was surprised that I actually sucked some Hyd fluid into the vacuum. Not much but had to clean the vacuum. I didnt have an extra hand, so I probably taped it too tight to the fill spout.

 

[old and tired]

For sure if you have the vacuum set to blow air out instead of sucking air, you will loss a lot of oil and make a mess of the shop floor. The shop vac also sounds the same, blow or suck...