Deere Hydraulics - my 5055e a Lemon

[adirondackmtnman]

Does the hydraulic heating problem happen when you are using an implement while using the remote hydraulics or with general 3 pt hitch use, raising, lowering and holding position - like when using a bush hog?

Is the problem present on the 8F/4R, 9F/3R and sync shuttle trannys?

From what I have read, the issue seems to occur only on the E models with the 9/3 transmissions. I haven't seen any complaints about the D series with the 8/4 gearbox, nor have I had an issue with mine.

Sent from my LGL35G using TractorByNet

 

[sixdogs]

Not that this means a whole lot here but I have an earlier version with my 5520 which is today's 5085 or 5090 type model. I had a strange thing happen this spring in that my transmission and rear axles were overheating. I couldn't figure it out and took it to the dealer who finally figured out that one of the SCV levers was a little sticky and was stuck/sticky a whisker off dead center. I heard no squealing of any kind but it was enough to heat things up in a big way.

The lever gets used more often now and it cured my problem. Just a thought here before people start tearing into things.

 

[jphossler]

I was searching Google for gas tank problems and I have had a JD 5065E for 5+ years (only 300 hrs) and have gone thru 2 tanks. There was a hydraulic valve that needed to be replaced but it may not have been done correctly. The latest problem was the 3 point hitch would not drop (only very slowly) and I was told it was not part of the original problem. I took my tractor to a local mechanic who does only farm equipment and he basically had to rebuild the hydraulic system ($1800 repair). The hydraulic system had gotten so hot that it melted a lot of plastic inside and outside of the system. His suggestion was to sell the tractor and start new because he thinks I am going to start having a lot of problems later with seals etc. I have contacted my dealer and hey have been talking to JD engineers but nothing back yet. I have also contacted a lawyer friend but would prefer not to go that route if I don't have to. Apparently some of these issues go to arbitration to decide first, but I think that burning thru 2 gas tanks would have been sending off red lights somewhere. I have been a lot disappointed in JD's response to this. The first time it happened it was under waurentee and I got a new tank but it came back with a piece of cheap insulation board between it and the hydraulic system. I thought that was tacky plus it did not work because I burnt a hole in a second tank. Also I have to use the SCV sometimes to get the hydraulics to work and that is not suppose to happen so I am told.

This is my first major JD purchase and I thought they were a good company but have been very disappointed with how they have handled this thus far.

jph

 

[beenthere]

Doubt you will get far by going off to a non-Deere mechanic to solve the problem. If you'd kept it in "Deere" at your dealer, then more likely to get an eventual resolution.
Deere is a good company, but doesn't mean problems don't slip through the cracks.

Not sure what "burning thru 2 gas tanks" means.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Nicer when there are no troubles at all.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Doubt you will get far by going off to a non-Deere mechanic to solve the problem. If you'd kept it in "Deere" at your dealer, then more likely to get an eventual resolution.
Deere is a good company, but doesn't mean problems don't slip through the cracks.

Not sure what "burning thru 2 gas tanks" means.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. Nicer when there are no troubles at all.

Some of these tanks have actually melted a hole in them. Too close to a very hot hydraulic part that somehow gets hot because of flow restriction somewhere else. Maybe a relief valve? Maybe a stuck cable that operates one of the hydraulic features?

 

[sixdogs]

I have a 5520 and have had none of these problems but I did have one issue worthy of mention. This summer I had to take a 20 mile road trip in the tractor and when I got back had almost no brakes. I couldn't figure it out. Nothing happened for a couple months of use and then it happened again but I did notice the rear axle housing was really hot.

A dealer suggested I use a laser thermometer to try to help him diagnose and I learned the axle housing/hydraulics were getting really hot really fast. After he got it he ran it for a few hours and determined one of the SCV handles ws stuck just a tiny fraction off center and blocking the hydraulic oil flow. Not enough to cause a squealing but enough to cause a problem. We loosened up the SCV valve and now no problem.

This is likely not your problem but my point was to illustrate how a little thing can magnify itself and cause other issues.

Sorry about your situation and I don't know what to do about it. A laser thermometer might help narrow the problem and help with a cure. Short of that, sell it, take the loss and move off. The weight off the shoulders makes things better even though it costs.

 

[kornowsd]

I know this is an older thread but, at some point, someone else might find this helpful. I have had some issues with my hydraulic suction screen gunking up (under 200 hours) and causing the hydraulic pump to knock... the manual says change the oil every 1200 hours and the filter on a yearly frequency... long story short, I chatted, at length with my Deere mechanics. There is a ball check valve, on the 3-point lift arms, right in the center of the tractor rear. If the 3-point lift arms aren't activated on a regular basis (at a minimum once a month but preferred once a week) moisture accumulates in that check valve causing it to stick... this increases fluid pressure, at that point, as well as friction/heat. It can, and often does, get to the point where it super heats the hydraulic fluid, at that point, and causes the fuel tank to melt, if left go long enough.

One thing I have learned, through owning this tractor, it is designed for constant use and is certainly not a "utility" tractor in that sense of the word - like the 3-4000 series tractors. If these 50xxE tractors aren't used, and frequently, they develop a ton of interesting little maladies, similar to this check valve heating the hydraulic fluid. I use mine at least 3-5 hours, per week, and exercise all the hydraulics on the thing and, even then, valves will stick here and there, just a bit, overheat the HY-GARD and, within about 100-hours of operation, have broken the oil down and started the development of suction screen plugging sludge... I have friends that have these and they run them, every day, what I run mine in a week and theirs run flawlessly... I can, honestly, pinpoint all of the issues, with this tractor, to my "weekend warrior" habits. This thing is designed to put hours on it.

If you're planning on weekend warrior work, parking the tractor for most of its physical time on the planet, the 505x series prolly isn't quite the tractor for that. The 3-4000 series are designed with being parked, in mind. I've had a 4000-series, prior, and have several friends with them, that aren't used much, and they never develop those little annoying nits that the 505x series does.

Long story short... that super-heating of the hydraulic fluids, which causes fuel tanks to melt, sludge to form at 1/10th the suggested fluid change interval and those other heating nits are all the result of inactivity in a tractor that's designed to be run, a lot...

 

[Coyote machine]

I know this is an older thread but, at some point, someone else might find this helpful. I have had some issues with my hydraulic suction screen gunking up (under 200 hours) and causing the hydraulic pump to knock... the manual says change the oil every 1200 hours and the filter on a yearly frequency... long story short, I chatted, at length with my Deere mechanics. There is a ball check valve, on the 3-point lift arms, right in the center of the tractor rear. If the 3-point lift arms aren't activated on a regular basis (at a minimum once a month but preferred once a week) moisture accumulates in that check valve causing it to stick... this increases fluid pressure, at that point, as well as friction/heat. It can, and often does, get to the point where it super heats the hydraulic fluid, at that point, and causes the fuel tank to melt, if left go long enough.

One thing I have learned, through owning this tractor, it is designed for constant use and is certainly not a "utility" tractor in that sense of the word - like the 3-4000 series tractors. If these 50xxE tractors aren't used, and frequently, they develop a ton of interesting little maladies, similar to this check valve heating the hydraulic fluid. I use mine at least 3-5 hours, per week, and exercise all the hydraulics on the thing and, even then, valves will stick here and there, just a bit, overheat the HY-GARD and, within about 100-hours of operation, have broken the oil down and started the development of suction screen plugging sludge... I have friends that have these and they run them, every day, what I run mine in a week and theirs run flawlessly... I can, honestly, pinpoint all of the issues, with this tractor, to my "weekend warrior" habits. This thing is designed to put hours on it.

If you're planning on weekend warrior work, parking the tractor for most of its physical time on the planet, the 505x series prolly isn't quite the tractor for that. The 3-4000 series are designed with being parked, in mind. I've had a 4000-series, prior, and have several friends with them, that aren't used much, and they never develop those little annoying nits that the 505x series does.

Long story short... that super-heating of the hydraulic fluids, which causes fuel tanks to melt, sludge to form at 1/10th the suggested fluid change interval and those other heating nits are all the result of inactivity in a tractor that's designed to be run, a lot...

Can't say I am familiar with any particular model Deere, however I can say I don't quite buy into your thinking/logic about the models designed to sit and the big boy tractors being designed for everyday use. If you think about it, the ones supposedly made to sit should break more than those made to work hard.
Either way, whether a Deere or some other brand, if things are breaking as a result of less than normal use, it has to do with the design, engineering and parts procured by the manufacturer. Melting fuel tanks, is a problem looking for a solution. I've read about at least one owner who has had several tanks replaced, and from what I recall, he continued to have issues. Whatever the specific cause/effect in specific operating conditions, lack of use, etc., these inherent design/part malfunctions need to be remedied sooner than later.
Lack of use sounds like corporate speak for, 'we don't have a clue how to make this go away, yet....'
JMHO.

 

[econometrics]

I don't know. We can all attest to the fact that the more frequently you use something, usually the better it tends to operate in the long run. Diesel trucks is one good example. Sure, using a machine creates normal wear and tear that will eventually need to be maintenance or replaced.

But I do think kornowsd has an interesting perspective on this that no one here has posited yet. It's a pretty sound argument.

I put 100 hours on my 5075E the first year I had it, but have been out of the country a lot this past year. We will see what kind of small issues like this I run into when I get back to the Nation of Texas and start running her more frequently again.

Can't say I am familiar with any particular model Deere, however I can say I don't quite buy into your thinking/logic about the models designed to sit and the big boy tractors being designed for everyday use. If you think about it, the ones supposedly made to sit should break more than those made to work hard.
Either way, whether a Deere or some other brand, if things are breaking as a result of less than normal use, it has to do with the design, engineering and parts procured by the manufacturer. Melting fuel tanks, is a problem looking for a solution. I've read about at least one owner who has had several tanks replaced, and from what I recall, he continued to have issues. Whatever the specific cause/effect in specific operating conditions, lack of use, etc., these inherent design/part malfunctions need to be remedied sooner than later.
Lack of use sounds like corporate speak for, 'we don't have a clue how to make this go away, yet....'
JMHO.

 

[sixdogs]

kornowsd;

I agree with the frequent use comments above. As mentioned earlier in the thread, I had a sticky remote lever that cause my trans fluid to overheat and the brakes on my JD5520 to fail. Turned out to be my second remote lever that was just a whisker sticky--not enough to notice--and caused the fluid to get hot. I move those levers every chance I get now.

I'll speculate this problem decreases with use and that once parts get "worn it" they behave better. Just a guess on my part.