Buzzing From Hydraulic Pipe - Cause for Concern?

   / Buzzing From Hydraulic Pipe - Cause for Concern?
  • Thread Starter
#31  
Sorry for the long delay. It's been a busy time around here; everyone is happy to finally be thawed out and wants everything done yesterday!

I was able to run the tractor this weekend to do a little light grading before planting grass. The buzzing sound is still present, however it is definitely significantly quieter than previously with the 80w-90. Loader, 3pt, transmission all seem to function just fine. I lowered the teeth a little further than I wanted to while grading and the box blade really bit in, but she kept chugging forward so all seems well in that regard.

I experimented with the clutch and the hydraulics because oldnslo's comment got me thinking. Clutch in = not forward or reverse, but loader still works.

I also took a peak into the hydraulic reservoir after running it and it seems the air bubbles I had mentioned earlier are much less numerous and dissipate more quickly. I was thinking about it more and the fluid was not foamy as some I've seen some people on the internet describe air entrainment. To me the bubbles seemed much more on par with fluid that was being sloshed over a bunch of moving gears and then was so thick (80w-90) that the bubbles did not have a chances to settle out yet. With the new hydraulic fluid, it seems that "settling out" process happens almost as quickly as I can shut the tractor off and unscrew the reservoir cap. Which makes sense to me considering how thin this stuff is.

I think i would like to investigate the Oil Suction Port (#16 on the diagram) that Dave pointed out. Makes sense to me that the issue creating the buzzing must be where ever the pipe is sucking from. After I get a chance to inspect that, I'll report back what it looks like and if I decide then to drain the fluid once more and get a fresh filter.

As always, any advice you guys have is greatly appreciated. You've helped me fix this and calmed me down from worrying all day that my tractor is bound to become another lawn ornament "project".
 
   / Buzzing From Hydraulic Pipe - Cause for Concern? #32  
Glad to hear all appears OK!
 
   / Buzzing From Hydraulic Pipe - Cause for Concern? #33  
I've seen inaccurate statements regarding fluid viscosity in this thread. Here is a chart that compares viscosity of multiple oil types. Horizontal lines indicate common oils. Note that SAE 80 gear oil at midpoint of its range is near the upper end of SAE 20 engine oil. Also note how broad the viscosity ranges are. Hydros like oil operating at 9 to 16 cSt.

It was also said engine oils do not make good hydraulic oil. That may have been true 60 years ago but today good engine oils are excellent hydraulic oils. They generally are not used due to their cost relative to hydraulic oil. In the Middle East, for example, factory fill oil is often replaced with 15W-40 prior to delivery for operating at temperatures around 40C (122F). visc_0.jpeg
 

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