Hydraulic tank / air lock.

[Whitecab jockey]

Hi everyone.
On the point of draining the hydraulic tank on my 1982 JCB 3cx white cab. When draining the tank will it create an airlock in the system if so is there a bleed screw somewhere to vent the hydraulics?

[agrimax]

Prop the bucket/loader securely that it can't drop on you and high enough to give access to the round sideplates. Drain the tank and then,if you're cleaning the filters,remove the right hand plate to reveal a suction strainer held on with a bolt and a steering strainer screwed on,which is down in the bottom towards the rear/engine side of the tank. No need to bleed anything after refilling with oil. Both filters are washable and reusable...if they are still in one piece or still present.
The large return filter beside the battery is a paper cartridge type,if you're going to do it as well...
Don't forget you'll only be changing the oil that's in the tank but the rams and hoses will still contain the old stuff...

[gecko.cx]

Check the manual, but I didn't have any issues with my P8
(mine is a tandem pump while your is a single, but I doubt that makes a difference).

There are instructions where to put the cylinders when draining the oil

JCB 3CX/4CX Backhoe Loader workshop manual

[Whitecab jockey]

Thanks for all your information. Looking forward to crack on with it .

[Whitecab jockey]

Started to drain the hydraulic tank . After positioning the 4in1 to gain acces to the inspection covers. Drained the the oil after running to warm up the oil came rushing out. Not sure a ring came away with drain plug. When the inspection plate came away I found a deflection plate welded to inspection plate . On inspection I found the filter was lying on the floor of the tank . Checked the filter seems ok what's the best thing to clean the filter ?

[agrimax]

There should be an aluminium sealing washer on the drain plug.
Don't forget there should be two filters in there... and the main suction filter should have a seal between it and where it bolts on. It may still be attached to the filter. Kerosene or petrol and a good blow through with an airline should be adequate for cleaning them. If washing them isn't satisfactory,around £35 should replace them...

[Whitecab jockey]

I've got an idea that the ring went flying into the spent oil. I've found the one filter ,I'll be looking for the other filter. I'm taking off the other inspection plate in the other side of the tank anything to look for as I take it off. I was a bit enthusiastic getting the oil plug undone should have let it drain slower . Lol lesson learnt . I'm marking off position of plates as well know . Thanks for help .

[agrimax]

There's nothing to be found in the other side of the tank.

The two filters you should find in the RHS tank...hyd suction and steering.