Oliver 550 - 3 pth Problem

I had it working when I looked at the tractor couple of weeks ago but know it didn't want to work. Since then we've had some mild weather and some rain and now back to freezing so I'm kinda thinking that my problem could be moisture and ice in the hydraulic/transmission.

I think I'm missing the dip stick for the trans. Is it supposed to be on the right side under the seat?

I'll take a picture of the spot where I think the dipstick should be.

There is 2 pipe plugs (1/4") on the right side. One is more towards the rear and right in the casting the other is closer to the front and is in a cap that has 3 bolts holding it on. I am assuming that the one towards the front in the cap is the one I should use. Am I right?

The 10W-30 surprises me. Good thing I asked first cause I was going to buy Trans-Hydraulic fluid!

I have ordered a service manual and an operator's manual but they aren't here yet.

Thanks again

I know that oil is always a heated conversation. Thanks for cutting through it and helping me make my own decision. I think I'll try the 10W-30 as I'm in a cold cliamate as well so the SAE 30 would be too heavy.

Thanks again.

right now I'm concentrating on the hydraulics to try and get them to work but in the spring I'll do the rearend oil.

Thanks

Thanks guys I think I have enough info to give it a try.

Like I mentioned below, I think I might try pulling the filter out before I try the pumping thing as I'm afraid that things might not be working due to starving for oil. Then I'll clean the filter and pump out the oil then clean the filter again or replace it.

I guess I'll have to try and source a Hyd dipstick/cap.

I just stuck a small threaded rod into that hole under the seat and it was nothing but creamy foam so it definetly has water in there and needs to be drained and changed.

Does it just take hydraulic/treans oil? or something else?

Thanks

No, I don't have a remote or any kind of remote valve (I think). I read something about a pipe plug but I didn't notice one that was obvious.

Do you have a picture or can I go take one that will help you discribe what I need to do?

Also what kind of hydraulic oil should I have on hand and how much?

Now to answer your questions:
if you have (or had) a working front blade with hydraulics then you must have an external hydraulic valve (or a front-mounted pump is possible). Therefore you can pump out your hyd reservoir through that valve. You just pull the level up (by your right hip) as if you were raising the blade and it will pump it all out (-of the front valve plug if my memory serves me right). Have a big bucket ready!! It can be messy. Or you can leave the hoses in and collect it at the end of the hose that sends the oil to the blade...
I also made the mistake when I first got my 550 of thinking the trans reservoir and the trans filler were one and the same thing. IT IS NOT. In fact I kept adding oil to the tranny and wondering why the hyd. dipstick (back right, next to seat) was not showing any change! Soon figured it out, however and had to drain quite a bit out of tranny. So, to repeat, the hyd. reservoir fills from the same place as the dipstick (dipstick sits on top of cap). The tranny fills in the cap beneath the dash. The tranny level is to the square bolt in the rear, right mainframe.
I put the same hyd.trans fluid in both. Good luck.

My external valve looks like this. The forward running lines supply my loader (notice they are only one-way cylinders=one line for each side), the rear lines can be hooked up to a wood splitter etc. Looks like the REAR of the two valve plugs is the supply line, the front is the return line. Hope it makes sense now.
If you do not have this set up, then I guess your blade was run from a front-mounted pump.
If you have the valve, you will need to bleed the air out of the system after you refill.

Thanks for the picture.

I assume that the cone shaped thing with the hex end on it is the filter. From what I have read I'm guessing that it is a brass screen or something. I think I'll pull it and clean it before I try the pumping thing and then do it again after I empty it.