Well, this tractor is giving me a run for the money. I like to take up a challenge every once in a while but this thing is keeping on giving me a new one just too frequently
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Just quick excerpts.
Bought a 1979 Ford 1700 (First time owner, pretty green
)in good mechanical shape (anything that naked eye could confirm), No rust , kept inside , engine started right up, no oil burning, 3 point hitch worked ( went up and down as commanded and stayed where I told it to stay). I changed all the fluid but transmission/Hydraulics and lubed it good. Bought a carry all, put floor and side and took it to the field. It worked great for a while, .but then,?
First problem: 3 point started act squirrelly, would not go up or down as commanded, would decide on its own when to do it, I checked relief off the pump discharge and the lift piston and all checked out. Checked the inlet screen on pump intake and it was badly clogged with residue of old oil (20 years) and no metal shaving. I cleaned the screen , put all togetehr with new oil and she perked right up to the point I did my first project of making 3-point boom and went to the field. I ended up having all kind of power and started having fun. Pulling a six inch 40 yr old post was like pulling tooth pick our of butter.
Second problem: Unfortunately my elation was short lived. I had all the hydraulics power when the engine was running but as soon as I turned the engine off the 3 point would go limp on me quickly. I reckoned I had a leak of some sort internally in areas such as relief valve, spool valve or piston seal. First two checked out okay. I took the cylinder head off, removed the lift cylinder and piston and ç*ºoila piston seal had seen better days. I'm sure that is the original 20 year seal. Any how, changed the seal, put all together and start the tractor and 3 point promptly comes up and stays up with the engine shut. I turn the engine on again, and up and down we go and, she responds quickly. I go to the field and work for 6 Hours and keep hauling and skidding lumber. After lunch I lower it a tad bit to load something heavy, she comes down but when I tried to rise her back, she refused with no inclination to even try.
I did not like that a bit.
Refrained to lower 3 point any further as I needed to take the tractor back to the barn with the cargo.
The fact that hitch stays up when I ask it indicates to me that piston seal installation is done right, spool valve holds tight and piston relief is not prematurely opening up. I went to the barn a bit gloomy, checkd the relief valve for some restriction and itç—´ okay, open up the pressure relief port (on pistion head) by taking the valve body and all and then started the engine, dang no oil coming out with engine running. Then I took the relief assembly on pump discharge pumping out , put a bucket undeneeth and started the tractor. I do get some flow but can not quantify pump flow or pressure quality of the oil. At this point, I think the seal on the pump that is the same vintage of the lift cylinder has come to the same fate, and the reason I had some flow is just gears doing some pumping with no back pressure. I think the pump had to battle more of restriction and copuld not cope having seals probably sma shape of piston seal and for sure the same age.
I have ordered the pump seal kit and looking for some free time to get the pump overhauled. Can anyone chime in with some word of wisdom? I reckon I have done everything in a logical manner and nothing I have done could have caused the problem. I also think may be with new piston seal the pump had to content with more pressure and gave out but æ»´ow come I could lift the post out of the ground with the same pump without a peep?ç´�/QUOTE]
Found this. I'm not taking your bet on the seal - I bet you are right. But it looks too easy.
