Any idea how rainwater got in my hydraulics?

[the bear]

water in the hydralics is a bad thing just a few drops will ruin the front pump score the viens and then the pump will act like its low on oil. was the dip stick firmly in place when you checked it and is the gasket on the filler cap in good shape, is there a hose of on the over flow tank in the front of the machine or loose maybe

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Sorry guys, for taking so long to get back to you all, when you were nice enough to help me out. I have been busy with other things and just got around to working on the tractor again today.

Loose dipstick?

Mike

Mike - good thought, but it has a sight glass instead of a dipstick. Thanks for thinking of it, though.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

...

The only place it could be is where there is no pressure. The storage tank would be my first place to look. Either the cap or a vent line. The filter should be under presssure, so that is probably fine.

...
The only other idea that I has was if you had been washing the tractor with a pressure washer? I've heard that this can cause problems, but would assume that would be obvious if you did this.

Good luck,
Eddie

Eddie, I like the way you think. The hydraulic sump is in the rear axle, and I've looked all over and in the shop manual, and the only vent is in the plastic filler cap itself, which is right out there, open to the weather. It's my number one suspect at this time, and I'm going replace it. The vent is a little plastic pop-up in the middle of the cap, and it was in the up position when I first looked at it. I think there is a metal one available and maybe it has a more intelligently designed vent.

Nope, no pressure washing.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

The sumps are not under pressure in a hydraulic system. A very possible place to look is the vents for the sump system (probably the main portion of the tractor between your legs) There usually a vent cap/plug somewhere that can easily end up taking on water.


I'm assuming this was too much water to take on by condensation?

Andy

Andy - I think you and Eddie were right on the money about the vent/filler cap being the source of the leak. Good thinking.

As far as condensation, that's probably a judgment call I'm not qualified to make, but to my eye there was quite a bit of water in the fluid. When I drained it, it looked like coffee with a couple of creams in it. Even the flushing fluid I used came out a bit cloudy.

Thanks for your help.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

water in the hydralics is a bad thing just a few drops will ruin the front pump score the viens and then the pump will act like its low on oil. was the dip stick firmly in place when you checked it and is the gasket on the filler cap in good shape, is there a hose of on the over flow tank in the front of the machine or loose maybe

Hey Bear, lots of good things to think about in your post. At least I don't have to worry about scored vanes, since the two pumps on the 4310 are gear pumps, and it has no hydraulic dipstick either. Having ruled a lot of other things out at this point, I'm thinking the filler cap is the culprit. Of course, even if I replace it, I'll probably be nervous about leaving it out in the rain.

Thanks for your help.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

I thought it might help someone if I finished the jerky hydraulics end of the story. After draining the fluid and taking off and draining the filters, I put the old filters back on, and refilled it with cheap (kind of) fluid. I ran it for a few minutes, but the jerky FEL and power steering persisted. During the second fluid drain, I also took out the suction screen and cleaned it. It was definitely gunked up with a slimy grayish substance, and a few bits that looked like paper. I should have done this the first time.

After putting the cleaned screen, new filters, and new JD fluid back in, everything worked perfectly. Is that a sweet feeling or what? I'm sure that the clogged suction screen was starving the hydraulic pump and causing my problems, but I never thought that water would cause that. Just goes to show you what I know - not much.

Thanks to all that helped.

Tom

 

[woodlandfarms]

You know if oil gets whipped up (like being squeezed through a small hole) it looks milky. Wondering if you did not have water and it was just this restriction causing the fits..

Carl

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

You know if oil gets whipped up (like being squeezed through a small hole) it looks milky. Wondering if you did not have water and it was just this restriction causing the fits..

Carl

Yup, I've heard about air getting mixed with the hydraulic fluid, and my understanding is that the air will eventually re-separate from the fluid. Since mine didn't change much after a week of sitting in a bucket, I was thinking it was probably water. I guess the bottom line for me is that everything is working OK now.

Thanks for the idea, though, Carl.

Tom