what hydraulic fluid to use. B6000 FEL

[sandiegomark]

Help me Obwan, I am rebuilding my lift and tilt cylinders and noticed the owner manual says use 10w-30 ms engine oil or type "F" auto trans fluid. I've been using tractor hydraulic fluid off the shelf at auto store. Should I flush and change? Any tips on cleaning the B6000 reservoir? Thanks, San Diego Mark

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Help me Obwan, I am rebuilding my lift and tilt cylinders and noticed the owner manual says use 10w-30 ms engine oil or type "F" auto trans fluid. I've been using tractor hydraulic fluid off the shelf at auto store. Should I flush and change? Any tips on cleaning the B6000 reservoir? Thanks, San Diego Mark

Nope, no change or flush needed, stay with what your using it will work fine and dandy.

 

[Lil Foot]

Don't want to sound like I'm contradicting "THE MAN" (NIW) but here's another opinion. My B670 Backhoe and B219 FEL manuals both said to use 30w engine oil or ATF just like yours. When I rebuilt each, I asked the resident hydraulics expert from the plant maintenance department, and he said they will work, but recommended I switch to a quality hydraulic fluid. He said modern hydraulic fluids have better wear resistance, seal life, and anti-corrosion properties than the older recommended fluids. Because I was cleaning and flushing anyway, seemed like a good time to switch over. I have never had any trouble since.
Besides, I now can use the same hydraulic fluid in the tractor, FEL, and Backhoe. Simpler and less to remember, and the last thing I need in my life is more complication.

 

[Lil Foot]

Here's a thread on flushing the FEL tank out. I'm assuming yours might be similar?
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=27042&highlight=B219+screen

 

[Lil Foot]

Another:
http://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17759&highlight=B219+screen

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Don't want to sound like I'm contradicting "THE MAN" (NIW) but here's another opinion. My B670 Backhoe and B219 FEL manuals both said to use 30w engine oil or ATF just like yours. When I rebuilt each, I asked the resident hydraulics expert from the plant maintenance department, and he said they will work, but recommended I switch to a quality hydraulic fluid. He said modern hydraulic fluids have better wear resistance, seal life, and anti-corrosion properties than the older recommended fluids. Because I was cleaning and flushing anyway, seemed like a good time to switch over. I have never had any trouble since.
Besides, I now can use the same hydraulic fluid in the tractor, FEL, and Backhoe. Simpler and less to remember, and the last thing I need in my life is more complication.

He said he's already using hydraulic fluid, that's why I told him not to change it.
Was I wrong?

 

[Lil Foot]

Nope, I was.
With all that's going on these days, I have to do & read everything at high speed, and I just missed that he said that.
My bad.

 

[torch]

He said he's already using hydraulic fluid, that's why I told him not to change it.
Was I wrong?

Nope.

You are both saying the same thing. One of you realizes it.

 

[WCR]

I've been using tractor hydraulic fluid off the shelf at auto store. Should I flush and change?

I'm curious about the off the shelf comment .. like 303? I'm about due on the L4701 for 50 hour change ... I figure Kubota hydraulic fluid & filters was the only way to go??

 

[D2Cat]

WCR, the original tractor in this discussion is a B6000...a much different era tractor than an L4701. His is about a 1975 version, no HST, simple gear box.

If I were you I'd stick with modern Kubota fluids and filters.

 

[sandiegomark]

Thanks to all, you guys help us rookies gain knowledge that isn't around much anymore. I am going to put the extra drain in, that should make it a lot easier.

 

[nickelplated5s]

I'm curious about the off the shelf comment .. like 303? I'm about due on the L4701 for 50 hour change ... I figure Kubota hydraulic fluid & filters was the only way to go??

Oy vey. Kubota doesn't make (refine) any oil, they just brand theirs. I run Delo, a semi syn, but a lot of folks use full synthetic.

 

[shootem604]

TSC sells several brands of tractor fluid for combined gear/hydraulic/wet brake applications. Most are marked for "pre-1990 tractors" and all are probably superior to running 30w oil as suggested in the original manuals for the tractor (in my case for the 3 different manuals from 3 different manufacturers for my L245DT, Arps built loader, and Woods built backhoe). They have their house brand, VP racing fuels brand, etc - probably same stuff in each, different logo.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I'm curious about the off the shelf comment .. like 303? I'm about due on the L4701 for 50 hour change ... I figure Kubota hydraulic fluid & filters was the only way to go??

Like D2Cat said, The L4701 and other newer tractors are greatly affected by different fluid types.

Just a note: 303 fluid will cause you some crazy and bad things.

 

[ipz2222]

While we are on the subject,, Many of the new HD , allison, ford and dodge trucks are useing full synthetic transmission fluids. Wonder if any of them could be used for hydro units in tractors? I use Valvoline Max Life in all the ones I build.

 

[Zoltan]

Two questions. The hydraulic lift of the 3-point hitch on the back of my B6000 does not hold. I've got a Howard Tiller on the back, and when I lift it, it immediately starts to drop, and is back down within a few seconds. What is involved to replace a seal or what ever it is that is not holding pressure. Also, I'd love to get a front loader. Where would I look to find a used one?