M9540HD12 low hydro pressure/ poor clutch engagement

[SSweet9c1]

OK, So I've gotten some seat time in on my 2007 M9540HD12 with 2000+ hours (just purchased a few weeks ago)
It has the LA1353 loader and needed a little TLC, but wasn't too bad, had to straighten out some of the pieces on the loader that are close to the bucket (not sure what they are called) and I had to drive all the pins near the bucket out and clean and degrease, then regrease and reassemble etc. Also the joystick needed a new rubber boot and some lube on the linkages etc.

Anyway I've now used it for turning manure/compost and today I skidded some maple logs out of our woods, and once in a while the clutch does not engage. The tractor will sit there for a few seconds before it engages... If I go to WOT (or WFO) it will engage after a second or two. Then after that it is fine for a while... So far it hasn't happened under load, IE today it happened after I was done skidding a log, and had put it in park to unhook the log, hopped back on, and took out of park, put in gear and forward, and let up the clutch and nothing.. After a few seconds it took off as normal..

Then when I got back to the barn, I uncurled the bucket all the way, and tried to lift the front end off the ground... And I could tell it was trying, but it was struggling to lift it... It gave a better effort at WOT, but still wouldn't lift the tires off of the ground.. I was thinking the two might be related..
Level is full and fluid is clear.
I am waiting on new hydro filters from Messicks I plan to swap the filters and top up the fluid just as a precaution as I just purchased the tractor..

Could it be something simple like a loss in hydro pressure from the loader valve bypassing or something odd like that affecting the whole system?
Thanks
Jonathan

 

[DT86]

Any idea how old those hydro filters are? That would be my first guess, sounds like yours as well.

 

[SSweet9c1]

No idea, One of the other filters has 1500 written on it in sharpie.. So my guess would be that it had it's 1500 hour service done.. But either way, when I get a tractor and don't know the history I change all filters and the fluids that appear to need it..
Changing the hydro filters is my first step either way because it is also the cheapest and easiest Are these filters on the intake side? I seem to think that in general in hydraulic systems they are usually on the discharge side to prevent cavitation?
Thanks
Jonathan

 

[Tx Jim]

My '11 M7040 HDC with 226 hrs bought used feels as if fwd/rev is modulated to avoid jerking changing directions. I used the M7040 this afternoon unloading 42 rd bales off an 18 wheeler so the reverser operation is fresh on my feeble mind. If I'm correct it's possible that the modulation valve on your tractor is malfunctioning. I'd suggest checking hyd pressure before and after you change the hyd filters that are coming from Messicks