1533 / 1550 Hydraulic Factory Defect

[HarryVanderpool]

I don't know if air somehow gets pressurized into the hydraulic fluid through use? If I need to bleed the system better? If there's some other problem beyond the noise that I haven't encountered yet but soon will?

Lets clear our head and look at the bigger picture.
Its not up to you or me or our dealerships or their mechanics to solve this problem.
It is the factory's job to roll 4 or 5 1533 / 1540s in to the R&D department and put their best staff on it and stay on it until it is positivly solved and a kit & procedure is made available to the dealerships.
My dealership has the best mechanic you could ever ask for.
Why is he, and your mechanic, and who knows how many others going through the same motions to try to make things right when it should be solved at the factory level?
Don't blame your dealership for this one!
Just got my 1540 back (3rd time) and I see that the entire common return circuit has been replaced.
No longer a spin on filter, now a LARGE in-line.
Sure am hopng that this is it. Aside from this one problem, the tractor is about as good as it gets!
I use my tractor for one thing; take a look at this picture and you will see why I cannot have a herky-jerky hydraulic system:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v202/Shallotman/DSC00431.jpg

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

I have a 2007 1540 Powershuttle with FEL. 30 hours, extensive loader work, no issues whatsoever.

Great tractor.

(fingers crossed)

 

[HarryVanderpool]

I agree wholeheartedly; the 1533 / 1540 is a great tractor.
The lift capacity front and rear, steering system, controls, etc... are the best.
I appreciate that the 1540 has a smaller displacemant than other brands and utilizes a turbo for high power.
This should translate into lower fuel usage for normal use.
Mine sips fuel beyond belief.

It appears that Agco FINALLY gave our local dealer the fix for the hydraulic factory defect after a number of visits to the shop.
I will know for sure in a few weeks through much more operation.

As for those that report no problem, I conclude 3 possible reasons:
1) Only certain versions of the 1533 / 1540 had the defect.
2) Only certain production lots were affected.
3) The happy owners don"t recognise the problem.

For many years I was a millwright and was amazed that people could run a machine and not notice the most glaring of noises that indicated a problem.
Some of them ran machines daily, year in and year out and then one day I would walk into their departmant and hear the most ungodly screeching, grinding noise you have ever heard.
They were clueless.
If you have a 1533 or 1540, LISTEN for unusuall noises and irratic hydraulic operation during those noises. LISTEN!!!!
Don' let your warranty period expire without the fix.

And then, enjoy a most certainly perfect tractor!

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Well, it "ain't" perfect, but if perfection is attainable, I suspect it would start with:

1. A little more loader performance overall. 1,300+lbs rating is Okay, but not stellar, and is far from a JD 4000 series.

2. Sloping the hood just a little bit more would increase visibility when using the loader, especially when you are using forks. Adding a seat that can be raised or lowered would help here, too.

3. Cutting down on vibrating noise from the ROPS and adding lights to it.

4. Switching from a rocker HST pedal to twin-touch pedals.

There you go. If MF made these improvements, this would transform a "great" tractor into a "perfect" one.

 

[CDsdad]

Well, it "ain't" perfect, but if perfection is attainable, I suspect it would start with:

1. A little more loader performance overall. 1,300+lbs rating is Okay, but not stellar, and is far from a JD 4000 series.

2. Sloping the hood just a little bit more would increase visibility when using the loader, especially when you are using forks. Adding a seat that can be raised or lowered would help here, too.

3. Cutting down on vibrating noise from the ROPS and adding lights to it.

4. Switching from a rocker HST pedal to twin-touch pedals.

There you go. If MF made these improvements, this would transform a "great" tractor into a "perfect" one.

Not having buyer's remorse already, are we?

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Not having buyer's remorse already, are we?

Perhaps you missed my last sentence.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

Well, it "ain't" perfect, but if perfection is attainable, I suspect it would start with:

1. A little more loader performance overall. 1,300+lbs rating is Okay, but not stellar, and is far from a JD 4000 series.

2. Sloping the hood just a little bit more would increase visibility when using the loader, especially when you are using forks. Adding a seat that can be raised or lowered would help here, too.

3. Cutting down on vibrating noise from the ROPS and adding lights to it.

4. Switching from a rocker HST pedal to twin-touch pedals.

There you go. If MF made these improvements, this would transform a "great" tractor into a "perfect" one.

Compared to the John Deere 990 and the Kubota that we compared with, the FEL and rear lift capacity of the 1540 is excellent.
In both Deere and Kubota, I would have had to upgrade (Pay even more dough) to a different Fel .

The seat is a common complaint although it doesn't bother me.

Here is one complaint that you didn't list:
Joystick location.

If you are longlegged like me and turn around in the seat to back up, your knee will hit the joystick and dump the load.

I haul bee hives on my tractor. Can you imagine the sick feeling you get with you have a pallet of bees on the front and swing around to look back and next thing you know you hear the sound of falling wooden boxes ( clunk, clukity clunk.....)and angry buzzing?
Jump off of the tractor and hightail it to the truck for the smoker!!!

Although this has only happened twice I am going to make a kneeguard for the joystick.

On the very positive side, the steering is the best steering of anything I have ever driven.

 

[Wobblin-Goblin]

Not really sure what a John Deere 990 is, all I know is when I was in the market for another tractor late last year, I compared the JD 4000 series with the Massey 1540 and 1552, and the JD's loader smoked the MF's 1525 and 1530 loaders.

In the end, I bought the Massey 1540 because its 1525 loader wasn't that far away from the 1530 in terms of performance and the 1540 was a more desirable tractor than the 1552 because of size, quietness, and price.

(and the MF dealer was closer to the farm and wasn't a jerk like the JD dealer)

All in all, I think the 1540 is a handsome tractor and MF clearly put a lot of thought into this tractor and just because I think some improvements could be made doesn't mean I have "buyer's remorse." In fact, after getting a survey from them not long ago, I told them the very same thing: If you make these few improvements, you will turn a fantastic tractor into a "perfect" one.

 

[CDsdad]

Perhaps you missed my last sentence.

I didn't miss any sentences. I saw you stated some opinions that you thought would make the tractor perfect, and I asked if you were remorseful because you seemed high on JDs. I agree with one of your opinions on making the tractor better. I kind of like my 1533 the way it is, though. Guess I should after 200 hours.

 

[mtg65]

If you have a 1533 or 1540, LISTEN for unusuall noises and irratic hydraulic operation during those noises. LISTEN!!!!
Don' let your warranty period expire without the fix.

And then, enjoy a most certainly perfect tractor!

HarryVanderpool: Has MF given you detailed info on the "fix". I have followed this thread with interest since I have a 1533 power shuttle and have experienced, what I thought to be, air in the system. This seemed to only occur within the first 10 - 15 mins of operation and has had only a minor effect to loader operations. However, I would like to compare what I have to what the final resolve is so I can avoid any future issues that may not be covered under warranty.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree, that it is a most certainly perfect tractor..... after they deploy this "fix" to tractors that are already in the marketplace.