JD 4300 hydraulic screen clogged over and over

[beenthere]

I looked at my CD tech manual, and reassembly indicated getting all the gears onto the cover, including the mid-PTO shaft (looks like you have that). Then removing the gear box of the mid-mount PTO before installing the cover (I am assuming because that front gear for the mid-mount PTO doesn't align easily with everything left in place.
(added a page from the manual)
If more detail from the tech manual is needed, I'll oblige.

 

[john_5657]

Is that rust I see on one of the larger gears? That is NOT a good
sign. I would take a bunch of water and sitting a long time for that to
happen. Maybe the 3-pt cylinder housing (top cover) is compromised
in a way to allow rain water to get in?

Yes it is rust...it is light you can almost remove it with your finger,,but I agree not a good sign. I may take the other cover off if there arent any surprises of falling gears...

 

[john_5657]

I looked at my CD tech manual, and reassembly indicated getting all the gears onto the cover, including the mid-PTO shaft (looks like you have that). Then removing the gear box of the mid-mount PTO before installing the cover (I am assuming because that front gear for the mid-mount PTO doesn't align easily with everything left in place.

If more detail from the tech manual is needed, I'll oblige.

Thanks a lot for the reply... I do not understand "removing the gear box of the mid mounted PTO",, is this just a cover?? Am actually going to take the whole thing apart now.. If possible please check if the shaft which I now assume is for the mid mounted PTO has any washers or anything.. It fell apart inside on me and i located the gear and got it back on. but just want to make sure nothing else fell apart...I looked at jdparts online but was not able to locate this.

ANy more info on this gear box of the mid mounted pto is apprecited.. I have rebuilt engines before and am mechanically inclined, but dont want to be messing with gears in a tranny or gear box...

 

[beenthere]

Here is the additional page regards re-assembling the front gear (don't think anything drops off that shaft other than the gear) into the mid-PTO gear box (note the use of a bent wire to hold up the shaft as it is brought forward.

 

[RoyJackson]

Happy to oblige, Roy. How many hours on your 4400? Isn't it getting
close to time to replace your hyd oil? I want to see what yours looks
like in there.

817 hours.
The dealer did a major service prior to delivery and the previous owner had changed the hydraulic fluids at 600 hours (got the maintenance records).
Since I put about 50-75 hours annually on tractors anymore, it would take me up to 4 years to get enough hours...so I go by time. Engine oil/filter annually, hydraulic and other fluids every three years (regardless of hours accumulated).
This is my third tractor. When I buy, I pay (or negotiate as part of the purchase price) for a major service before delivery. That did not include the 790 since it only had 24 hours on it when delivered.

 

[RoyJackson]

Yes it is rust...it is light you can almost remove it with your finger,,but I agree not a good sign. I may take the other cover off if there aren't any surprises of falling gears...

Light surface rust like that, especially if you can "rub" it off, probably started as soon as it was exposed to air (especially in these hot, humid days).
Another thing to consider is some folks' touch really promotes rust. I don't know what it is in their perspiration or body oils, but if they pick a steel item up and set it right down, you'll see light rusty fingerprints.

 

[kencunningham]

Sounds like you need to invest in a good tarp, or build something to keep it it. Go by any trucking company and ask if they have any tarps that are in bad shape. You only need about half of a full sized one and maybe you can get something at a reasonable cost that way. The type of tarp that they will have will last a long time and wont leak.

 

[Ford tractor]

Good idea on the trucking companies.

I was able to get a really thick tarp that was an advertizing banner at some large gathering. it's a beer promo on the one side and blank on the other. But it's like 5x thicker than the tarps sold in the box hardware stores. A 20' x 60' was like 40 bucks a few years back.


Hard to tell what's going on in the pictures as the ones I wanted to see clearly were fuzzy. But it looks like water contamination. Could be bacteria, but bacterial goo is typically black as the ones that eat hydrocarbons are anaerobic - living in the interface between water and the hydrocarbon.

I would flush it with cheap fluid from a local big ag store. Ours have 5 gal buckets for 30-50 bucks with sales getting it cheaper. You probably need the multi-vis fluid. If you really want to keep it all Deere, flush with the cheap and then run with the liquid gold --er, I mean Deere fluid. Like the big farmers, I buy cheap fluids and run the machines for decades. YMMV.

 

[john_5657]

With the help of the manual (thanks beenthere) I was able to get the tractor back together. It took two people because once you line up the shaft someone else has to push in the cover. I DO NOT reccomend taking the cover off during a regular oil change if you have the mid PTO shaft. This was not easy to do because there isnt much room in getting the wire in the PTO gearbox housing and you have to work behind the tire (unless you take it off). Tracor is working excellent. As I said before it has new JD oil, New filter, New screen, and new oil filler cap. I am looking into places to get the old oil checked. It runs good now and hopefully will stay that way. Thanls to all for your reccomendations and help.

 

[Craig B]

I have the exact issue with my 1981 JD 850. This tractor had lived all its life inside until recently. I have left it outside for about the last year unused (I dont know why I left it outside...it is nice and only has 750 hrs). When I attempted to put it to work the hydraulics quit within 10-15 minutes. I went through a couple of hyd. oil changes,carefully cleaning the screen each time. Each change helped some but did not completely cure the issue. After becoming frustrated I called the local JD dealer. I explained the situation and suggested I had algae growth in the hydraulic fluid. The service dept employee I spoke to said he was confident it was water. He told me it was ok to use 1/2 diesel and 1/2 hyd. oil to flush it and I may have to do it 3-4 times. I was advised not to run the tractor more than 10 minutes or so. I ran it only about 2-3 minutes with the mixture one time since I was concerned about damage. Also, I am cheap and didnt want to keep buying the oil. Well, I then drained, cleaned the screen, and refilled with fresh oil and she did great.....for about 15 minutes. It is much improved but I need to drain and clean again. AAARRRRGHHHH. I assume the fluid is not completely drained from the system and some of the contaminated oil is remaining in their somewhere.

Back to TSC I go to get more oil and do it all over again.