Hydraulics won't hold Ford 3000

vettegc · Jun 18, 2009

The hydraulics slowly leak down when something is attached. It also has a little shutter in it. I would like to repair this myself. Is this a major job? Where do I start?

kennyd · Jun 18, 2009

Slow leakdown is considered normal...Shuddering is usually a clogged filter/return screen or fluid thats got water in it-is it foamy looking?

vettegc · Jun 18, 2009

Well, is there any way to fix it? I know of a lot of old tractors that hold up steady?

Soundguy · Jun 20, 2009

If you lift the 3pt, and kill the tractor and it leaks down.. the likely leak is in the lift cyl.

try to peer in with a mirror on telescoping stick, thru fill hole and use a flashlight.. if you see oil from mouth of cyl, you will be pulling the hyd top cover.

cnh has a oring and gasket kit for not too much green.. if you can lift 80# and have access to common hand tools it shouldn't be too hard of a job... I'd have a service manual in hand when it comes time to adjust it.. etc.

allow about 4 hours for this job..

soundguy

6sunset6 · Jun 20, 2009

So here is an interesting question. Would the seals in the 3 point lift last longer if it , the 3 point, was set down everytime the tractor was parked?

Tex5String · Jun 20, 2009

It is good safety practice to lower all hydraulic attachments -- this at least prevents a playful kid from dropping the FEL or box blade on his buddy or your favorite hunting dog. Hose failure can also drop an attachment pretty fast.

some zilch · Jun 21, 2009

blown hoses generally do not drop attachments fast. they will drop, but at a controlled rate, as the cylinder still has to expell the fluid in it. i see lines on large excavators blow all the time, and the arm will drop, but not at lightening speeds or anything.

i am pretty **** about lowering all hydraulic attachments to the ground, shutting engine off, and putting the levers in float and bleeding off any remaining pressure. i figure a good hyd system can hold extreme pressure for quite sometime, so by bleeding the pressure off, there is less stress on the system when the tractor is not in use.

alot of modern construction equipment has electronic hyd controls, and cannot be bled off once the engine is shut off.........i still out of habit jiggle the controls after i shut the engine off, even though it does nothing.

Soundguy · Jun 21, 2009

it's a good practice to drop the 3pt and relaxe hyds ..

soundguy

Wayne County Hose · Jun 23, 2009

Your seals will last longer if you leave some pressure in the system. There is absolutely no harm done to your hydraulics by leaving them pressurized. Actually you harm your system more by relieving the pressure. You can have it an inch off the ground but I'm sure the safety police will still object.