strum456
Platinum Member
We recently bought a John Deere 1600 mower conditioner. It is a center pull hydrostatic drive machine. After about 30 minutes of use, the hydrostatic drive gives out intermittently.
Symptoms:
1. It always seems to stop working when the load is low. If I lift the mower at the end of a pass, it will quit just as I start to mow again. It has never stopped under a hard pull in heavy hay.
2. Sometimes all I need to do is stop the PTO and restart it and it will work again. It seems to be all or nothing. When it stops working it will barely even turn over the machine if it out of the hay, then suddenly it kicks in hard and I can mow for a while.
Checked Already:
Fluid level is correct according to manual
Cracked drain plug, no water in reservoir
Changed filter and dissected old one. Old filter looks fine.
Checked for leaks, there isn't a damp hose, fitting or seal on the system.
Checked for kinks in hoses
The system has a pressure relief valve, as a safety I assume. I am wondering if these symptoms are typical of a malfunctioning pressure relief and if so, how would I tell if the valve is bad upon inspection. I pulled it out, all the o-rings, seats, etc. seem to be normal looking.
Symptoms:
1. It always seems to stop working when the load is low. If I lift the mower at the end of a pass, it will quit just as I start to mow again. It has never stopped under a hard pull in heavy hay.
2. Sometimes all I need to do is stop the PTO and restart it and it will work again. It seems to be all or nothing. When it stops working it will barely even turn over the machine if it out of the hay, then suddenly it kicks in hard and I can mow for a while.
Checked Already:
Fluid level is correct according to manual
Cracked drain plug, no water in reservoir
Changed filter and dissected old one. Old filter looks fine.
Checked for leaks, there isn't a damp hose, fitting or seal on the system.
Checked for kinks in hoses
The system has a pressure relief valve, as a safety I assume. I am wondering if these symptoms are typical of a malfunctioning pressure relief and if so, how would I tell if the valve is bad upon inspection. I pulled it out, all the o-rings, seats, etc. seem to be normal looking.