Add this to 8hr maintenance

[jfh28]

I've had an annoying little problem for the last few months that had alluded me until today.

Since this past winter when starting up, the wheel motors wouldn't engage unless I let the machine warm up for a few minutes. I figured it was just the cold even though it is kept in a semi-heated garage.

Then I noticed a very slight coating of oil in the engine tub, just a sheen no accumulation. Couldn't find any leaking hoses or connections anywhere.

Come spring the warm up time needed to get the machine moving dropped down to less than a minute. Still couldn't find any leaks. Also lost power to the wheels briefly a few times while working. Fortunately it was always just a couple of seconds...did notice that it happened when I was heading downhill.

Thought I might have a pump problem like Mr. Mattio and so looked inside for crimped hoses today. Could find nothing until the flashlight caught the top of the hydraulic oil filter. There was ever so slight a trace of oil sitting there. Could I have been sloppy during the last change? The outside of the filter also had oil on it.

Turns out the filter had loosened. I got a good half turn on it. When I started it up the wheels engaged instantly. So from now on every time I grease it I'm also checking that filter. And when I install the next one it'll be a little more than hand tight!

Anyone think any damage might have occured to the pumps because of this? The oil level never changed, always full.

Thanks
Jack

 

[J_J]

I've had an annoying little problem for the last few months that had alluded me until today.

Since this past winter when starting up, the wheel motors wouldn't engage unless I let the machine warm up for a few minutes. I figured it was just the cold even though it is kept in a semi-heated garage.

Then I noticed a very slight coating of oil in the engine tub, just a sheen no accumulation. Couldn't find any leaking hoses or connections anywhere.

Come spring the warm up time needed to get the machine moving dropped down to less than a minute. Still couldn't find any leaks. Also lost power to the wheels briefly a few times while working. Fortunately it was always just a couple of seconds...did notice that it happened when I was heading downhill.

Thought I might have a pump problem like Mr. Mattio and so looked inside for crimped hoses today. Could find nothing until the flashlight caught the top of the hydraulic oil filter. There was ever so slight a trace of oil sitting there. Could I have been sloppy during the last change? The outside of the filter also had oil on it.

Turns out the filter had loosened. I got a good half turn on it. When I started it up the wheels engaged instantly. So from now on every time I grease it I'm also checking that filter. And when I install the next one it'll be a little more than hand tight!

Anyone think any damage might have occurred to the pumps because of this? The oil level never changed, always full.

Thanks
Jack

Yes, it is possible that you have some damage to the pump. You were apparently sucking air at some time. Once the pump picked up the oil, your wheels started to move. If you remember, the purpose of cranking the engine over with the plug wires off, is to bleed the air out of the system. It doesn't take long for the pump to destroy itself with no oil . Although it could happen, doesn't mean that it did any damage

You will not lose a lot of oil in that situation, because the charge pump is drawing oil out of the tank via the hydraulic filter which will have a vacuum until you shut it sown, and then you might leak a little oil.

 

[toy]

I've had an annoying little problem for the last few months that had alluded me until today.

Since this past winter when starting up, the wheel motors wouldn't engage unless I let the machine warm up for a few minutes. I figured it was just the cold even though it is kept in a semi-heated garage.

Then I noticed a very slight coating of oil in the engine tub, just a sheen no accumulation. Couldn't find any leaking hoses or connections anywhere.

Come spring the warm up time needed to get the machine moving dropped down to less than a minute. Still couldn't find any leaks. Also lost power to the wheels briefly a few times while working. Fortunately it was always just a couple of seconds...did notice that it happened when I was heading downhill.

Thought I might have a pump problem like Mr. Mattio and so looked inside for crimped hoses today. Could find nothing until the flashlight caught the top of the hydraulic oil filter. There was ever so slight a trace of oil sitting there. Could I have been sloppy during the last change? The outside of the filter also had oil on it.

Turns out the filter had loosened. I got a good half turn on it. When I started it up the wheels engaged instantly. So from now on every time I grease it I'm also checking that filter. And when I install the next one it'll be a little more than hand tight!

Anyone think any damage might have occured to the pumps because of this? The oil level never changed, always full.

Thanks
Jack

When I change hydroulic filters on mine I fill the filter full of oil , let it set for a while to let the oil soak into the pleated filter then I top it back off with oil, get a little clean oil on my finger and oil the rubber gasket on the filter then I tighten the filter hand tight and then I snug it about a half turn with the wrench. I then bleed the air out of the line, then start the engined and let it run for a few seconds about a minute or so then I turn it off and check if there is any oil leaks at the filter. I watch the filters during this process , so far I have had no problems with the oil filters leaking . I mentioned letting the filter soak for a few minutes in an earlier post and one reader thought it was to let the air escape but the reason for doing it is to let the filter soak in oil and when I cap it off it don't take as long to bleed the air out. When I was a teen ager many many years ago I overtightened the oil filter on my car and when it came time for the next oil change I had a time getting it off but I had an old freind that figured out how to get it off for me, this old man was always a good friend but that day he was my hero.

 

[SpringHollow]

Terry told me to use a strap wrench to tighten the filter when doing a hydraulic filter change. He said hand tightening was not good enough.

Ken

 

[jfh28]

Toy & Ken

That's the process I did when I changed the filter but apparently you need to tighten it even a bit more than what you think is enough. I did have a heck of a time getting the engine filter off the first time I changed that one. Very awkward position, tough to get any leverage on it....I did wind up with some new wrenches in the tool box because of it though!

JJ

What symptoms should I be looking out for if the pump did get damaged?

Thanks
Jack

 

[J_J]

Toy & Ken

That's the process I did when I changed the filter but apparently you need to tighten it even a bit more than what you think is enough. I did have a heck of a time getting the engine filter off the first time I changed that one. Very awkward position, tough to get any leverage on it....I did wind up with some new wrenches in the tool box because of it though!

J

What symptoms should I be looking out for if the pump did get damaged?

Thanks
Jack

Poor response, erratic operation, slow speed. time lapse when you press on the treadle, lack of power. It may be leaking internally, fluid going to case. I don't know if you have a case drain. Although the tram pump is a variable speed pump, most hydraulic system are sensitive to pressure. No pressure, some pressure, intermittent pressure. I had to replace my PTO pump, and steering pump which are gear pumps, and runs all the time. The trouble that I noticed with it was implement motor speed was slow. On the steering and lift pump, I noticed that it would lift only about half of the rated lift in lbs.

Pressure is one of the best ways to tell the condition of a pump, or any part of a hydraulic circuit. Just tee in a pressure test point and check it out when things don't seem right.

For less than $100.00 , PT could have put test gages in our systems to give warnings and the ability to troubleshoot the hydraulic system. If you knew the system test pressure when new, and operating correctly, you could reference those figures to analyze the system. Charge pump pressure is an indication of the tram pump. Someone just replaced their tram pump, had low charge pump pressure.

 

[jfh28]

So far none of those symptoms. I will keep a close look.

Thanks
Jack

 

[MuncyBob]

I have always turned all filters another 1/4 or so turn with the wrench after hand tight...even so, I discovered the engine oil filter loose last year! Not sure if vibration causes this or maybe I was a bit lax during that particular oil change. I would not go more than 1/2 turn though...did this once on a car oil filter and had a heck of a time getting the darn thing off on next change.