Hydraulic fluid question

[rorschachtested]

I just picked up my first skid steer, a one owner 2300 hour Bobcat 642B. The little looking glass on the reservoir is not sealed it is just sitting in there. The previous owner said he just kept the level to right below it any idea on a fix for this? Whatever it originally threaded into is missing. My other question is what to use for hydraulic fluid? I tried looking online and was confused by the hundred or so different answers. In the interim a put in a couple of quarts of non-detergent 30 weight, but they where not cheap. Thanks - Jeff

 

[OldMachinist]

You could try here for a replacement sight glass http://www.mcmaster.com/#liquid-level-sights/=7dgqob In the older hydrostatic machines Bobcat recommended you use their hydraulic/hydrostatic fluid or 10w30 engine oil. Now a days they say only to use their fluid. The question of which oil to use sometimes starts a debate here so I'll leave it at that.

 

[rorschachtested]

You could try here for a replacement sight glass http://www.mcmaster.com/#liquid-level-sights/=7dgqob In the older hydrostatic machines Bobcat recommended you use their hydraulic/hydrostatic fluid or 10w30 engine oil. Now a days they say only to use their fluid. The question of which oil to use sometimes starts a debate here so I'll leave it at that.

Does it matter what type of 10w30, Will the detergents harm the system?

 

[OldMachinist]

Does it matter what type of 10w30, Will the detergents harm the system?

Any quailty 10w30 engine oil should be fine. Hydraulic and hydrostatic fluids have detergent additives in them.

 

[Tazza]

Any quailty 10w30 engine oil should be fine. Hydraulic and hydrostatic fluids have detergent additives in them.

Yep, for the older machines 10w30/15w40/20w50 all work just fine. I got a pile of it when it was on sale, it was really cheap but a known brand.