StoneOK
New member
A similar thread was posted in Buying & Pricing forum, but I thought I should post in the owning/operating. Sorry, if i should have continued with that same thread.
Anyway, I purchased a JD 3038E in Dec '08 (my first EVER tractor). I currently have less than 100 hours on it, but I've recently been experiencing reduced lifting capacity. I have to dig my loader in less than half way into a dirt pile or it just stops and won't lift. My 3pt hitch is either all the way up or all the way down. I can no longer "tether" my brush hog when cutting (I used to drive with it on the "8-9" setting and cut at say the "2-3" setting, but now "9" is all the way up and "7-8" is on the ground).
I went to the local dealer to talk to them about by problem, and they said that I may have pump issues, or a valve bypassing fluid and dumping it straight back into the "sump". They pulled up my info and said that since I've had it for more than two years that the corresponding warranty had expired and that the repairs could cost up to $5K.
Needless to say I was very frustrated since I have less than 100 hrs on this unit (where is the JD quality?).
I have a friend who has owned JD tractors for quite awhile, and he knows a JD Dealer in Iowa. This dealer mentioned that he's seen this similar problem with 3038E tractors at his dealership and has repaired several pumps. This dealer sent me printouts that mention known issues with the loader and rockshaft hydraulics; which I took my local dealer and asked what they could do about the problem. My local dealer said that he recommends changing the hydraulic "suction" filter first and seeing if this corrects the problem.
I purchased a filter and was able to change it. However, (I'm sure you know where I'm going with this) I had no hydraulics when I started the tractor. I felt that maybe I need to fill the filter with fluid before putting it back on, but it empties every time. Why would they put a filter sideways if it needs to be full when you put it on?
Long story short...my problem at hand is how do I either bleed the air out of the system or keep the filter full when installing it?
Thanks for any help you can give.
Anyway, I purchased a JD 3038E in Dec '08 (my first EVER tractor). I currently have less than 100 hours on it, but I've recently been experiencing reduced lifting capacity. I have to dig my loader in less than half way into a dirt pile or it just stops and won't lift. My 3pt hitch is either all the way up or all the way down. I can no longer "tether" my brush hog when cutting (I used to drive with it on the "8-9" setting and cut at say the "2-3" setting, but now "9" is all the way up and "7-8" is on the ground).
I went to the local dealer to talk to them about by problem, and they said that I may have pump issues, or a valve bypassing fluid and dumping it straight back into the "sump". They pulled up my info and said that since I've had it for more than two years that the corresponding warranty had expired and that the repairs could cost up to $5K.
Needless to say I was very frustrated since I have less than 100 hrs on this unit (where is the JD quality?).
I have a friend who has owned JD tractors for quite awhile, and he knows a JD Dealer in Iowa. This dealer mentioned that he's seen this similar problem with 3038E tractors at his dealership and has repaired several pumps. This dealer sent me printouts that mention known issues with the loader and rockshaft hydraulics; which I took my local dealer and asked what they could do about the problem. My local dealer said that he recommends changing the hydraulic "suction" filter first and seeing if this corrects the problem.
I purchased a filter and was able to change it. However, (I'm sure you know where I'm going with this) I had no hydraulics when I started the tractor. I felt that maybe I need to fill the filter with fluid before putting it back on, but it empties every time. Why would they put a filter sideways if it needs to be full when you put it on?
Long story short...my problem at hand is how do I either bleed the air out of the system or keep the filter full when installing it?
Thanks for any help you can give.