LS Tractor - Drives Slowly - Bad Hydrostat?

[goddom]

Hello,
So I have 2013 G3038H tractor with about 1050hrs on it, and the tractor moves so slowly now - in all gears (high, medium and low). Fluid is not very old, and still looks clean. I changed the filter recently and cut it open to see if there was any metal debris in it - but it was clean.

The dealer has kind of given me mixed information on what might be going on. One guy said the hydrostat was toast. Another suggested that a hydraulic distibution block for the loader and hydrostat could have a pressure leak.

I think you guys will be much more helpful than they are! LOL

 

[Citydude]

Is it slow in reverse?

 

[goddom]

Is it slow in reverse?

Yes, it slow in reverse as well.

 

[Citydude]

Just spitballing, did you check the linkage from the pedals?

 

[goddom]

Just spitballing, did you check the linkage from the pedals?

I have. It seems like its a pretty solid rod to a lever on a rod that goes into the hydrostat casing. I had speculated that maybe the rod loosened up internally and isn't moving the squash plate properly.

 

[Citydude]

Well, that's not good if thats the case. No adjustment points externally? I'm not familiar with LS.

 

[goddom]

Well, that's not good if thats the case. No adjustment points externally? I'm not familiar with LS.

None that I can see. I will try and take some pictures tomorrow and post them.

 

[Citydude]

Yeah, you're going to get more help with pics.

 

[Ewcmr2]

I’m not familiar with your model but many of the smaller LS tractors had a roll pin wear problem on the hydro pedal/lever actuation rod. Pedal moved, rod moved, just not as much as it should.

 

[goddom]

So, after looking a little bit more, it does look like a linkage issue. I will repalce this connecting rod and see what happens

 

[Eagle1]

Mine had that, the mounting nuts just loosed on the Heim joints. Pain to get at but once both joints on the adjusting rod were mounted tightly on the plates. it was back to normal.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Probably no need to replace the linkage.... looks like the ball stud behind the connector is loose. That might be loose because of wear at this point. That might need replacing.
Try to tighten everything before replacing parts.

 

[goddom]

Thank you everyone! All I had to do was tighten the nuts on the hiem joints. They are not the easiest to get to and I did take the "cruise control" linkage out to help with access. The nuts and the ball are both 12mm.


Just so people who have the same issue can find this easier. When looking at the tractor from the right side.

The tie rod is here:

Close up of the joint on the right (when looking at the pictures above)

Joint on the left (when looking at the pictures above)

 

[Gregster613]

It sounds like your dealer and his mechanics don't seem to know much if all it took was to tighten up a couple of nuts!

 

[stephanadams]

Hello,
So I have 2013 G3038H tractor with about 1050hrs on it, and the tractor moves so slowly now - in all gears (high, medium and low). Fluid is not very old, and still looks clean. I changed the filter recently and cut it open to see if there was any metal debris in it - but it was clean.

Nox Vidmate VLC​

The dealer has kind of given me mixed information on what might be going on. One guy said the hydrostat was toast. Another suggested that a hydraulic distibution block for the loader and hydrostat could have a pressure leak.

I think you guys will be much more helpful than they are! LOL