ametcalf
Silver Member
The statement you have from the service manual indicates a cartridge relief that is not adjustable and cannot be disassembled to clean and inspect, but you might be able to spot something unusual like a cracked part or piece of metal stuck in the valve. I'm a bit confused by the "overhaul" comment in the service manual. If it is a gear pump like I suspect, the solution is the one you mention - replace. That's what the major gear pump manufacturers I have worked with over the past 20 years, Bosch-Rexroth and Sauer-Danfoss have said. Pump output not up to specs, replace the pump.
After collecting metric sockets, 1/2" rachet and two big breaker bars I headed to the barn to attack the relief valve. The type of head on the cartridge took an 11/16 open end and when I got braced to put my weight into it I almost collapsed. It came out very easily because it uses an o-ring for sealing. I couldn't see any problems either with the cartridge or by looking in the hole so I put it back together.
I called one place to order a pump and they decided they must not stock it any more but by that time it was 5:00 pm. I am going to try another place in the morning and hopefully get one on order. The service manual actually gives pretty clear instructions on how to overhaul the existing pump but I think that would be a mistake for me to try.
Thanks again for your interest in my problem. The reason I am anxious to get this fixed now is that I am digging some post holes for a friend and in order to lift the digger out of the ground I have to run the tractor wide open which means the digger is spinning much faster than I would like.