3-Point Hitch JD 4300 Hydraulics Not Working

R-G · Jul 10, 2011

A friend of mine owns this tractor, he started it up couple of days ago and the bucket came up slow, real slow and when he backed up to hookup his mower he lowered the 3pt and it wouldnt come back up. Now the bucket and the 3pt are not working at all, just stopped working with no sign of a problem. Called the dealer and he gave me a list of things to check and the only one that might apply is that the hyd fluid in the sight glass is milky white and foamy indicating there is water in the system. Dealer said to flush the system a couple of times and clean the inlet screen which is probably plugged and causing the problem. Dealer said to clean it i have to remove 2 bolts on a "gooseneck looking fitting" under the tractor, im pretty sure i know which one it is but want to make sure before we remove it,my question is can someone provide a pic of it, and also where the drain plug for the hyd fluid is located? I also need to know how much fluid he needs to fill it back up...................Thanks

JD5210 · Jul 10, 2011

Here is a link to the manual, there is a section on service transmission, which I think will answer your question. Second link is to tractordata.com which has serial numbers to determine year, incase you do not know and need parts. The third URL is to JDparts, might need that. If you are not close to a John Deere dealership, I suggest you pick up new o-rings for plugs if needed and it looks like the suction screen has a gasket, might want to get one of those. If you have more then 1 dealership around you, you might want to call on prices for the hydraulic fluid.

My hydraulic filter has a much larger dia. and my oil filter wrench would not fit. My neighbor had a wrench, I am glad I did not try the screw driver throw it, because I would have never got it off doing it that way.

http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMLVU11736_L0/Output/Index.html?tM=HO

TractorData.com John Deere 4300 tractor information

http://jdpc.deere.com/jdpc/servlet/com.deere.u90490.partscatalog.view.servlets.HomePageServlet_Alt

R-G · Jul 11, 2011

Thanks for the links, just what i needed. Picked up everything i need but there is one problem, in the manual it shows where to drain the fluid but there is no such drain on this tractor. Ive looked at it for close to an hour and there is no bolt anywhere to drain it? The pic below shows where it should be but its not on this tractor. Do i drain the whole thing from the suction fitting?

JD5210 · Jul 11, 2011

To me there has to be a plug someplace. Does everything else look like what is in the manual ie suction screen and filter?

I take it the current owner does not have an owners manual. What is the serial number on the tractor?

What kind of transmission is in it, hydro or gear? From JDparts part 23 is the plug for hydro (4300hydro.gif) . Second picture is from the transaxle, this looks like what is in the manual (4300trans.gif).

If you still can not locate it, can you post a picture? Someone may be able to point it out.

R-G · Jul 11, 2011

Found it, a previous owner had added a trailer hitch that went right over the drain plug, couldnt even see it until i took it off. Changed the fluid new filter and cleaned the suction screen and my buddy is good to go. Its still a bit cloudy so im going to drain it again and that should do it. Thanks for the links to the manuals, couldnt have done it with out them! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Berniesimber · Aug 20, 2011

Having a similar problem. Changed Hyd. filter and fluid after discovering that strainer was clogged. ran for <1 hr. and strainer clogged again. Have read about and believe that it could be Algae. Sent a sample off yesterday to be tested and will know results mid week. Anybody ever heard of a Microbiocide available for hyd. fluid. I know there is such a thing, just haven't found it yet.

Did this guy also continue to have problems? I suspect yes

elroy4455 · Aug 20, 2011

What type of material clogged the filter the second time? We see 00 series models in the shop with brake material in the suction screen. Both the left and right brake actuating shafts had only one o-ring on them, which allowed water to seep into the area between the shaft and housing and it turns to rust, which binds up the brake shafts. When you put your foot on the brake pedal, it applies the internal brake, but the return spring doesn't have enough umph to un-apply the brake, causing brake drag. The brakes will eventually start to fail and sluff off material, which the suction screen collects (that's it job), and it plugs up. We have also found that water in the hydraulic oil, or using non-Deere hydraulic oil, causes the brakes to deteriorate MUCH quicker.
If you have milky hyd oil, drain and change it! If you have brake material on the suction screen, check the brake shafts. Have a friend step on the brake pedal and see if the brake shaft returns all the way back when the pedal releases. Check each side. If they stick, you can try to free them up by spraying some good penetrating fluid (we use PB Blaster) in and around the brake shaft where it enters the housing. If that doesn't work.... save your pennies, nickles and dimes and go see your dealer.