1998 John Deere 4300 with 420 Loader problems help!!

[gracianoh]

Im new to tractors in general. Picked up 5 acres and figured I need a tractor to maintain it. I went to a local auction and picked up this beauty. 1998 john deere with only 508 hours with the loader and box scraper. Ive had a few issues already and need some help.

1) first issue is when I tested out the tractor at the auction the bucket worked fine. I take it home and use it for about an hour and bam, the bucket is super slow to rise up but drops fast down (gravity) with a load it will not rise up at all. I have to rev the piss out of it for the bucket to rise up empty. doing a complete fluid change today in hope that for some reason it will help. Any ideas of what my issue can be? no leaks anywhere.

2) I drove the tractor on the street for about a mile to go to another piece of land, and I was on high gear and was probably doing id say about 8 mph just cruising along when bam! I hear what I think something braking in the front axle and the front wheels locked up for a split second. I pulled off to the side and inspected and could not see anything out of the ordinary, I babied it (2mph) to the land but theres this weird noise coming from under the engine now while on drive. any ideas what that could have been? it was not on 4wd when I was on the road. 4wd works fine. tested it when I got to the land.

any help is appreciated. Thanks!

 

[CobyRupert]

:2cents:
Start with the cheap and easy checks:


Fluid and hyd. oil filter change would be a good first step.
Disconnect and reconnect loader hoses.
Is steering good? Hydrostatic drive good?

Can you hear hydraulics going into "relief" when loader refuses to lift?

At some point you might want a hydraulic pressure gauge to know how much hydraulic pressure tractor is producing and/or to know at what pressure system goes into "relief" (a relief valve opens) instead of lifting/stalling/breaking things. You can get a gauge with hydraulic fitting that plug into tractor's hydraulic port(s). Tractor should produce 2500 psi hydraulic presure.
It would be nice if problem was just a misadjusted (or broken) relief valve spring that causes system to bypass loader at too little pressure.
If tractor isn't producing pressure, pump may be the problem.

When you "tested" 4WD, did you only test that it goes "in' 4WD?
With tractor parked, in 4wd, and front wheels lifted off ground, can you hand turn front wheels?

 

[zzvyb6]

Ummmm, what are those extra extensions and tanks near the hydraulic coupler ports on the right side (left side in the picture)? Some type of redneck filters ? That's not normal.

 

[ptsg]

Ummmm, what are those extra extensions and tanks near the hydraulic coupler ports on the right side (left side in the picture)? Some type of redneck filters ? That's not normal.

Those are just the plugs for the quick connect couplers. So dirt and trash don't get in when the loader is off the tractor. If that is what you're talking about.

 

[pmsmechanic]

You need to adjust the part that clips over the front bumper when the loader is attached before the front end loader falls off. In the third picture it looks like it's just about ready to slip off.

 

[Zebrafive]

:2cents:
Start with the cheap and easy checks:


Fluid and hyd. oil filter change would be a good first step.
Disconnect and reconnect loader hoses.
Is steering good? Hydrostatic drive good?

Can you hear hydraulics going into "relief" when loader refuses to lift?

At some point you might want a hydraulic pressure gauge to know how much hydraulic pressure tractor is producing and/or to know at what pressure system goes into "relief" (a relief valve opens) instead of lifting/stalling/breaking things. You can get a gauge with hydraulic fitting that plug into tractor's hydraulic port(s). Tractor should produce 2500 psi hydraulic presure.
It would be nice if problem was just a misadjusted (or broken) relief valve spring that causes system to bypass loader at too little pressure.
If tractor isn't producing pressure, pump may be the problem.

When you "tested" 4WD, did you only test that it goes "in' 4WD?
With tractor parked, in 4wd, and front wheels lifted off ground, can you hand turn front wheels?

I agree, fluids and filter change, since it's a new to you tractor.

Also uncouple and recouple the loader quick couplers and retest the loader.


This tractor does not have hydrostatic drive. One picture shows collar shift sticker.


I agree check the front axle, I think the noise problem (2) in his post is from it.

Im new to tractors in general. Picked up 5 acres and figured I need a tractor to maintain it. I went to a local auction and picked up this beauty. 1998 john deere with only 508 hours with the loader and box scraper. Ive had a few issues already and need some help.

1) first issue is when I tested out the tractor at the auction the bucket worked fine. I take it home and use it for about an hour and bam, the bucket is super slow to rise up but drops fast down (gravity) with a load it will not rise up at all. I have to rev the piss out of it for the bucket to rise up empty. doing a complete fluid change today in hope that for some reason it will help. Any ideas of what my issue can be? no leaks anywhere.

2) I drove the tractor on the street for about a mile to go to another piece of land, and I was on high gear and was probably doing id say about 8 mph just cruising along when bam! I hear what I think something braking in the front axle and the front wheels locked up for a split second. I pulled off to the side and inspected and could not see anything out of the ordinary, I babied it (2mph) to the land but theres this weird noise coming from under the engine now while on drive. any ideas what that could have been? it was not on 4wd when I was on the road. 4wd works fine. tested it when I got to the land.

any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Number 2 sounds like front axle or drive shaft to front axle has something broken internal.

Ummmm, what are those extra extensions and tanks near the hydraulic coupler ports on the right side (left side in the picture)? Some type of redneck filters ? That's not normal.

Which picture?

 

[gracianoh]

Update, I replaced hydraulic fluid, filter and cleaned the screen underneath which was covered in gunk. Also did an engine oil change and filter for peace of mine and replaced the seals on the cylinder. The dog gone thing still doesn’t pick up a small dirt load. I’m confused. Any other things I can try?? It also drops about 3” a minute when the bucket is up high.

 

[Zebrafive]

System pressure check

The 3"/minute drop and lack of lifting force sounds like the valve is leaking back to sump?

 

[gracianoh]

Where is this valve located. Is this the one under the seat area ?

 

[dfkrug]

Where is this valve located. Is this the one under the seat area ?

Yes, the loader valve and AUX are under the seat.

Looks like you got this at the BarNone auction in Sacto. Did you contact Sierra Tractor to get the history on it?

It does have low hours, and a video was in the listing, showing it did work. Did you also test it before bidding?

I see you have the retrofit retainer bracket to keep the FEL mount in front from coming off. PMSMech noticed it
came loose anyway. Prob caused one of the big noises you heard.