Mf275 sudden hydraulic oil increase

   / Mf275 sudden hydraulic oil increase #1  

cnall12

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May 10, 2025
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Tractor
Tc55da
I bought a 1978 Massey ferguson 275 with 1700 hours on it. I also bought 8 attachments that went with it. I loaded the 7 other attachments with a boom pole and brought it home. I got to the last attachment unloading and now the 3pt will not lift if I try to put any weight on it. I pull the dipstick that is under the seat and oil bubbled out. The only other know issue that the tractor has is a power steering leaking under the steering wheel. Can someone help me with any ideas on what's going on? *edit to add: i just drained roughly 2 gallons from the rear end to get it in the normal range of the dipstick. I'm wondering if the previous owner overfilled the hydraulics on their last maintenance. Would that much cause major issues?
 
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   / Mf275 sudden hydraulic oil increase #2  
There is another thread currently relating a MF tractor (240?) which describes oil pan overflow/ way up on the dipstick, etc. Many comments on that one suggest that some other fluid in the tractor is leaking in to the crankcase...either hydraulic oil or even coolant, etc. Failed gaskets with fuel pumps, failed hydraulic pump barriers between engine and hydraulic sump, etc. Yours sounds a bit different yet similar. The huge thing with yours is the 2 gallon excess where there should be only hydraulic fluid. I suggest study that 2 gal you took out looking for OTHER fluids in it beside hyd oil. Coolant? More likely fuel ?

Given that you know there is a leak from the power steering (which should be hyd fluid shared with the rest of the tractor) makes it a lot more likely that the previous owner overfilled the hydraulic sump without paying much attention or even on purpose to make sure it was not low on fluid when trying to sell it. I am puzzled by the the 3 pt not lifting under conditions of too much hydraulic fluid -- might be an air pocket in the fluid ? Puzzling.

Does the power steering work? (If so you have hydraulic pump pressure.) Does it have a loader and does that work? Some MF (like my MF2660) have separate pumps for the 3pt and steering. Not sure about a 275. Being a 1978 and 45 years of unknown history it could be almost anything...the 1700 hours does not seem like a lot however.
 
   / Mf275 sudden hydraulic oil increase
  • Thread Starter
#3  
There is another thread currently relating a MF tractor (240?) which describes oil pan overflow/ way up on the dipstick, etc. Many comments on that one suggest that some other fluid in the tractor is leaking in to the crankcase...either hydraulic oil or even coolant, etc. Failed gaskets with fuel pumps, failed hydraulic pump barriers between engine and hydraulic sump, etc. Yours sounds a bit different yet similar. The huge thing with yours is the 2 gallon excess where there should be only hydraulic fluid. I suggest study that 2 gal you took out looking for OTHER fluids in it beside hyd oil. Coolant? More likely fuel ?

Given that you know there is a leak from the power steering (which should be hyd fluid shared with the rest of the tractor) makes it a lot more likely that the previous owner overfilled the hydraulic sump without paying much attention or even on purpose to make sure it was not low on fluid when trying to sell it. I am puzzled by the the 3 pt not lifting under conditions of too much hydraulic fluid -- might be an air pocket in the fluid ? Puzzling.

Does the power steering work? (If so you have hydraulic pump pressure.) Does it have a loader and does that work? Some MF (like my MF2660) have separate pumps for the 3pt and steering. Not sure about a 275. Being a 1978 and 45 years of unknown history it could be almost anything...the 1700 hours does not seem like a lot however.
Power steering is working. It has a separate reservoir on the front for the power steering. I've read that there is 2 drain plugs to completely drain the hydraulics. Makes me wonder if they only drained one before refilling. All of the other fluids and filters look brand new.
 
   / Mf275 sudden hydraulic oil increase #4  
No connection between steering and hydraulics on a 275. Typical reason for transmission overfilled is water added, usually through cracked or missing shifter boots. If the oil looks good drain it to level and see what happens. You might crack the front (transmission) drain plug, loosen it slowly until drips start coming and look for possible water/oil mix. Other than that just watch it for a while and see what happens.
 
   / Mf275 sudden hydraulic oil increase
  • Thread Starter
#5  
So update on the tractor and boy do i feel silly. In between lifting the last thing with the boom pole and getting setup to lift the rotary mower off the trailer I must have bumped the draft control lever down. I pulled it all the way back to the up position and now the 3pt lifts like it is supposed to. Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself...
 
   / Mf275 sudden hydraulic oil increase #6  
So update on the tractor and boy do i feel silly. In between lifting the last thing with the boom pole and getting setup to lift the rotary mower off the trailer I must have bumped the draft control lever down. I pulled it all the way back to the up position and now the 3pt lifts like it is supposed to. Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself...
You would not believe the % of tractor owners who do not understand the function of Draft Control, much less knowing that it might have been the culprit in your "won't lift" incident. You get a good grade figuring out the problem. No need to feel silly (though we all would.)
 

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