Does anybody just take the top cap off the drive..open the drain plug and just pour the oil in? Seems like it would be eaiser then pumping it up from the bottom on a empty drive. Same theory. The oil will push the air out the bottom hole just as easy as the top???
My cap is off anyway..so I figured I'd do it from there.
Thanks
Dan

I can't see how you will be able to get all the air out if you try it this way. It takes only a few minutes to do it the right way with a pump through the bottom hole. Why take the chance of trashing a drive?

Nah there has to be a reason why we can't and shouldn't fill that way

I would think that most of the air would come out, but why chance it. You wouldn't want to take the top off evey time you changed oil, because you would end up stipping out the bolt holes in the upper drive housing.

The reason you pump from the bottom is to eliminate air pockets.

Heck the drive is only $3400 give it a try!

Your call,

Ron

It is a pain filling from the bottom plug, but does eliminate all air bubbles. The damn stuff does smell terrible and when you get it on you seems to stay with you for days.
I have a couple of things I do to minimize the effort.
Do the job on a warm day everything will flow better.
If it is at all cold fill a large basin with Hot Hot water and put the hydraulic oil in there until it gets warm. Or put the oil somewhere where it will get to at least room temperature. Pumping will take you much less time. There are several pumps available that will reduce pumping time. The best one is the pressure pump type.
Also they make a nice connector that threads into the tapped hole in the drive which will minimise the mess.
Good Luck
Brian