my 3 point lift has gotten sluggish on my B8200 and I decided to pull the filter strainer and clean it as I have read here on the forum. So I gathered up the tools and pulled it out tonight. Sure enough I cant even see any light through it, I tried spraying it off with some carb cleaner but no luck. So I am soaking it overnight in my parts cleaner. My real question is this, can I reuse my hydraulic fluid? I have a huge container full that I caught and was curious what opinions I will get about reuse. I was thinking of straining it someway and putting it back in.. I know some of you will think - I am a cheap Bas*** and in a lot of ways I represent that, but I would rather think frugal. anyway share with me some ideas about how to strain it or reuse, also I will throw it out and buy new if enough of you say no way .. Thanks
Cleaning my screen - question of fluids
- Thread starter drthomas60
- Start date
If I were as frugal as you want to be I'd buy a couple of bag filters for oil and strain the fluid for any debris. I'd not go this route if there was any evidence of moisture or other contamination. Places that cater to waste motor oil, vegetable oil, biodiesel folks sell them.
Or go down to Walmart and buy a bucket of fluid.
A new Kubota screen was about $15 for my tractor a couple years ago, have you priced a new one?
Or go down to Walmart and buy a bucket of fluid.
A new Kubota screen was about $15 for my tractor a couple years ago, have you priced a new one?
Go to a autobody supplie store and get some paint filter cones, there made of paper with a fine screen and will filter out any particals. If you can, let your fluid sit and pump it rather than pour it back into the tractor that way most of the junk will settle out.
I had no luck washing my screen, a new one was needed.
I had no luck washing my screen, a new one was needed.
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I'll go with the "change the oil AND FILTER now that it is out of the tractor" side of the discussion. You don't say how long the old stuff was in but consider this:
There was so much debris in the oil that it plugged the filter screen. The filter screen only gets the relatively huge particles that are floating around in the oil. That likely means that the oil has quite a bit of other smaller debris in it. The hydraulic filter will get most of it but not all.
An example: If you make your own coffee you use a filter. It catches the big stuff but the little stuff gets through to make the coffee dark and tasty. Same with oil.
Plus, it will take hours and hours to strain all that oil through a filter fine enough to take out the little chunks of metal. If it was a good idea then most of us would be doing it.
And use decent quality oil - something tractor branded like Kubota, Case, New Holland, Deere, Chevron, Shell, or the like.
I hate to say it but the tractor's problems may be "CHEAP" related. Do it right, do it once, and you'll have a well-functioning tractor that will not need to be serviced for many hours.
There was so much debris in the oil that it plugged the filter screen. The filter screen only gets the relatively huge particles that are floating around in the oil. That likely means that the oil has quite a bit of other smaller debris in it. The hydraulic filter will get most of it but not all.
An example: If you make your own coffee you use a filter. It catches the big stuff but the little stuff gets through to make the coffee dark and tasty. Same with oil.
Plus, it will take hours and hours to strain all that oil through a filter fine enough to take out the little chunks of metal. If it was a good idea then most of us would be doing it.
And use decent quality oil - something tractor branded like Kubota, Case, New Holland, Deere, Chevron, Shell, or the like.
I hate to say it but the tractor's problems may be "CHEAP" related. Do it right, do it once, and you'll have a well-functioning tractor that will not need to be serviced for many hours.
Thanks guys, I think I will get a bucket of oil. The screen cleaned up real good, actually the owners manual says to clean it up in kerosene, my parts cleaner worked really well and I blew it out with compressed air.. I do like to take care of things, but also find myself trying to cut corners to save a buck here or there. The whole reason I asked was I really have never reused any fluid but the previous owner said he had just changed it, but the screen clogged on my watch as the lift worked fine when I bought it.
I really have only had this little thing for a year and most of it was this past winter when it sat.. so as far as its previous life it would be hard to tell, but I think it seems like the filter screen is a common maintenance job. otherwise most of the rest of it seems in decent shape for a thirty something year old. I did put a dynamo on it as the original locked up on me. Still need to replace the bearings for a back up. Thanks - plan on some paint here soon, maybe get around to some pictures.
I really have only had this little thing for a year and most of it was this past winter when it sat.. so as far as its previous life it would be hard to tell, but I think it seems like the filter screen is a common maintenance job. otherwise most of the rest of it seems in decent shape for a thirty something year old. I did put a dynamo on it as the original locked up on me. Still need to replace the bearings for a back up. Thanks - plan on some paint here soon, maybe get around to some pictures.