L285 - How critical is Hyd fluid level ?

MrPeabody

New member

Equipment
L285
Apr 17, 2017
13
1
3
Pleasant Plain
Hi all,

Last year I bought a L285 and I've been sprucing it up as I find time. Recently I drained the gearbox and refilled it with some Universal Transmission/Hydraulic fluid from Walmart.

My manual said the capacity was 7.3 gallons so I bought 7 gallons figuring all the old oil wouldn't drain out anyway so 7 would be fine.

When I refilled with the new 7 gallons nothing came out of the full level hole on the side of the transmission.

Walmart only sells the oil in 5 and 2 gallon containers. I doubt that my tractor is 2 gallons low, so if I buy 2 gallons and only have to put a little bit in to fill it I will be left with a gallon or so of oil that I have no use for.

I could either leave the oil level as it as it is and figure it's good enough, or I could dump 2 gallons in and over fill it a little.

Would over filling the tranny harm anything ?

Thanks !!
 

85Hokie

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
10,271
2,104
113
Bedford - VA
typically best to be slightly UNDER filled than over filled.

Take a piece of "wire" and bend it - so that it can go down into the overflow hole - use it as a mini dipstick - to see where you are relative to the overflow hole.
 

MrPeabody

New member

Equipment
L285
Apr 17, 2017
13
1
3
Pleasant Plain
typically best to be slightly UNDER filled than over filled.

Take a piece of "wire" and bend it - so that it can go down into the overflow hole - use it as a mini dipstick - to see where you are relative to the overflow hole.
Great idea, thanks so much !!
 

mickeyd

Active member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
2014 L3200 DT w/LA524 FEL, 2019 Kubota Z121S w/ 48" Pro Dec, TG1860G w/RCK54TG
Mar 21, 2014
1,192
17
38
Guin, AL
So Mr. Peabody, are you one like he was??? :D
 

Chris f

New member
Oct 1, 2018
5
0
1
West bend Wisconsin
Questions on this subject so this level does transmission and the 3 pt hydrolics off one lubricant? Next question can I add a remote coupler to operate a single hose ram since it doesn't appear to have down draft mine is also aL285 thanks fellas
 

Russell King

Well-known member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
4,603
975
113
Austin, Texas
Questions on this subject so this level does transmission and the 3 pt hydrolics off one lubricant? Next question can I add a remote coupler to operate a single hose ram since it doesn't appear to have down draft mine is also aL285 thanks fellas
Yes there is only one fluid for hydraulics and gears in the transmission.

Next question I have no idea about that.
 

kubotafreak

Well-known member

Equipment
GRAND l6060, L3560, B6100, gr2100, tg 1860, g1800, g1900, g2160
Sep 20, 2018
1,019
372
83
Arkansas, US
Check with all implements lowered. Levels change considerably with loader or hydraulics in the air. My l60 will go to mid on the dipstick if the loader is mid way up.