'94 JD 310D battling rust

hellspcangel911 · Nov 30, 2014

Hi All,
After much searching i pulled the trigger on a 310D. It was the 4wd that sealed the deal for me even though it was a little out of my price range. Its been a great machine, I use it for clearing my property and doing some 'landscaping'. I bought it from the original owner who used it for his property maintenance company - primarily to load salt into spreader trucks in the winter.
Needless to say the machine has a lot of cancer - especially by my standards.
Once I get the landscaping projects done I'll build a garage for her and start 'restoring' her. In the meantime I'm catching up on maintenance - just finished the water pump rebuild and in the winter will tackle repacking the leaky cylinders.
My question to the gurus: The metal hydraulic lines located under the step to operate the loader boom are rusted. Since they are under the step platform salt collected there and rotted them out. Part numbers are AT171091 and AT171092 but I cant find them anywhere. Is this something a local shop can fabricate? Levine Auto? or is that not a good idea? The guy at NAPA said to just make them one piece out of rubber hose?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
george

hosspuller · Dec 1, 2014

The most cost effective solution is hydraulic hose. Be aware there are several different types of hose and pressure ratings.

I replaced a metal line with hose on my Deere 310c

hellspcangel911 · Dec 1, 2014

any downsides to doing this? whats the cost savings?

Dave M7040 · Dec 1, 2014

Manufacturers like pipe because it packages nicely making the machine look clean. It is easy when the unit is being built for the first time as they can fit the pipes in the best sequence for assembly work. In the field it may be the most inaccessible pipe that is leaking and to get it out lots of other stuff must be removed. Hose is cheap and easy. A good hydraulic shop can guide you through the materials you need. Having the tractor spec's as far as hydraulic pressure and flow rates would help them.
Dave M7040

hellspcangel911 · Dec 1, 2014

Thanks for the informative response, I was concerned if the hose shouldn't over a certain length to prevent bursting. I'll admit it looks very clean with the parallel running metal lines and i would be willing to spend a little more to keep the factory look. I jsut cant find anyone willing to make them. glad to know hoses work as well.

Dave M7040 · Dec 1, 2014

You are welcome.
Lots of hydraulic equipment runs on very long hoses.
Concrete saws that are hydraulically powered to allow use indoors may have hoses over 100 feet long.
House movers use long hoses for their jacks.
Dave M7040