Takeuchi TL6 DIY Filter Change

How to Service Your Takeuchi TL6R

We are back in the service bay with Robert and Daniel, replacing used filters and changing the oil in a Takeuchi TL6R track loader. 

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Remove the bolts from the battery panel and disconnect the battery.
2. Remove the bolts from the panel. Use your oil drain pipe to drain the oil.
3. Swing out the radiator and find the old oil filter. Remove it and replace it with your new oil filter.
4. Find the fuel filter, remove it and screw in your new filter.
5. Take off the cap and replace the air filters.
6. Take the bolts off of the hydraulic tank and take out the old hydraulic filter. Slowly put in the new filter and reattach all of the bolts.
7. Lift the cab and remove the cap for the second hydraulic filter. Put the filter into the cap and reattach it to the machine.
8. Lower the cab back to where it belongs. Unscrew the drain tube from the oil valve and reattach the bolts on the panel.
9. Refill the oil tank.
10. Fasten the radiator and close it. Reconnect the battery and put the bolts back in the panel.

Prep Your Machine for Maintenance

Remove the bolts from the battery panel. you may find dirt and mud in the compartment, so make sure to clean this before starting.

After everything is clean, disconnect the negative line. It’s helpful to stick the bolts back into their designated holes once you’ve removed the panel. This will make it easier to keep track of them.

Next, open up the grill to reveal the radiator. From here, you can find the fuel filter and the oil filters. Before you remove any filters, however, you’ll need to drain the oil.

Drain the Oil from the Track Loader

You can find the oil valve on the undercarriage of the machine. Make sure to be aware of your surroundings, the TL6R has a particularly low carriage. If you would prefer, you can also access the oil valve by opening the radiator. There should be enough space at the bottom of the machine to reach the valve. You will also want to make sure you have a bucket to drain the oil into and plenty of towels. Keeping the machine (and you) clean will make finishing up much easier.

Remove the panel and unscrew the cap of the oil valve. You’ll notice the cap has the same threads as your oil drain tube. Before you attach the oil drain tube, check that the head fits with the valve. You might need a slightly smaller size for this skid steer.

Remove and Replace the Oil Filter

Using a 19 millimeter head on your impact driver, remove the bolt from the radiator. Remove the pin on the other side, as well. You will notice that the connecting hoses make it difficult to maneuver it, but you should be careful not to rip or damage any of the hoses.

Now, you can find your oil filter towards the undercarriage of the machine. You might be able to see the oil drain tube from this angle. Use a filter wrench to unscrew the oil filter, and be careful to avoid spilling any excess oil. Take a very small amount of leftover oil and lubricate the rim of the new filter. Then, you can screw the new filter to its place, using your filter wrench to make sure it’s secure.

Change the Fuel Filter

The TL6R’s fuel filter can be found close to the radiator. It is upside-down, so it might be tricky to properly unfasten it. If you’re having trouble, try changing the orientation of the filter wrench. Although it is an awkward angle, this should grant you more purchase on the filter.

Once it’s loose, very gently take it off, trying to spill as little fuel as possible. As with other filters, you’ll want to rub a small amount of diesel onto the rim of the new filter. If not, you may experience trouble starting the machine once your maintenance is complete.

To properly attach this new filter, first use your hand to make it hand-tight. After that, take your filter wrench and give it exactly half a turn. That should secure it in place.

Check Your Air Filters

The cap for the air filter compartment should not need to be screwed off. Inside, you will find two air filters: both of them should detach easily.

After that, you can replace them with your new air filters. Although these do not screw on, you should use enough force to secure the filters into place. Otherwise, you will have trouble getting the cap back on. After replacing the filters, you should put the cap back on.

Find and Replace Your First Hydraulic Filter

The first hydraulic filter is located under a panel on the left side of the skid steer. The first bolt to remove is on the side of this compartment, and it will require a 13 millimeter impact driver. After you open the lid, you’ll find a second panel with four bolts. Directly beneath this is hydraulic fluid, so be careful not to drop the bolts or the panel in fluid.

Once you’ve opened the panel, you will find a spring. This is meant to keep the filter in place, so take it out and set it aside for now. Below this is the actual filter. As with previous filters, be very gentle when removing it, as it will contain a lot of fluid.

Now, you can place your new filter. Add it to the compartment slowly, so that it fills up with fluid. You will also need to adjust the filter to make sure it properly fits into the grooves at the bottom of the compartment.

Now, add the spring back on top of the filter. There are grooves on the filter for the spring to slot into, so align the two parts and screw them in gently. The spring should only require a turn or two in order to properly fit. Finally, replace the panel at the top and screw in the bolts.

Locate the Second Hydraulic Filter

Before you can move on, you’ll need to lift the cab up, which can be done by removing the safety pin in the back. Once it’s lifted, make sure to put the safety pin back in. Even for a quick filter change, safety is extremely important, and this will prevent the cab from sliding back down during the service.

You can find the second hydraulic filter directly under the cab. This bolt is larger, so you will need a 27 millimeter wrench. Once you’ve removed the bolt, you can slide off the cap to reveal the filter. However, a large amount of fluid will also be released. If you want to avoid as much mess as possible, you should grab the filter, as well as the cap and remove them together.

To further prevent losing fluid, insert the new filter into the cap and take a second to check that it is correctly seated. Then, slide both the filter and the cap into its proper place. Finally, use your wrench to tighten the bolt again.

Reassemble the Track Loader

Now that you have replaced all the necessary filters, it’s time to put everything back together. Release the safety pin on the cab and pull it down, putting the pin back once the cab is in the correct position.

Next, remove the oil drain pipe from the valve and put the cap back on. If you decide to access the valve through the undercarriage, you will also need to reattach the panel and bolts. Once the oil valve is secure, check the belts and hoses around your radiator, then bolt it back into place.

Before reassembling the machine, replenish the oil in the tank. How much oil you need is entirely dependent upon your machine, so if you’re unsure, check your owner’s manual. You will want to check the oil after you’ve filled the tank.

Finally, return to the battery and reconnect the negative line. Reattach the panel and the bolts, and you’re ready to go!