MF35 Utility - repairs for winter

[twosocks90]

Shaeff, if I had to guess I'd say the original hydraulic pump failed and someone fabricated that mount and drive shaft to work with a pump they were able to locate, but who knows. I guess if it works, it works!

Patrick, thanks for the info and the link.

I have the tractor back together now and ran it last night. When I raise the loader as far as it will go, the screaming noise is not coming from the relief valve. It's coming from the hydraulic pump up front. Does anyone know if that's normal or not?

I had convinced myself that the weak lift was due to a lazy relief valve by now I am not so sure. My next step is to drain the existing fluid and find and clear that screen you all mentioned. The current fluid is red and looks relatively clean but I have not changed it since I got the tractor ten years ago and also don't know if the previous owner ever changed it. I plan to check specs on AW46 or AW32 hyd oil to see if it meets the "MF Spec M1110" that Patrick mentioned.

Two questions:

• is there no drain plug in the loader frame to drain the oil? I looked under there and did not see one.
• to get at the screen, do I just remove the hose from the bottom of the loader frame reservoir? Is it just sitting right there?

 

[shaeff]

Shaeff, if I had to guess I'd say the original hydraulic pump failed and someone fabricated that mount and drive shaft to work with a pump they were able to locate, but who knows. I guess if it works, it works! Patrick, thanks for the info and the link. I have the tractor back together now and ran it last night. When I raise the loader as far as it will go, the screaming noise is not coming from the relief valve. It's coming from the hydraulic pump up front. Does anyone know if that's normal or not? I had convinced myself that the weak lift was due to a lazy relief valve by now I am not so sure. My next step is to drain the existing fluid and find and clear that screen you all mentioned. The current fluid is red and looks relatively clean but I have not changed it since I got the tractor ten years ago and also don't know if the previous owner ever changed it. I plan to check specs on AW46 or AW32 hyd oil to see if it meets the "MF Spec M1110" that Patrick mentioned. Two questions: [*]is there no drain plug in the loader frame to drain the oil? I looked under there and did not see one. [*]to get at the screen, do I just remove the hose from the bottom of the loader frame reservoir? Is it just sitting right there?

I'm beginning to think just that. The PN on the hydraulic pump is a Massey number but I can't cross reference it to any of the loader models. I just hate how vulnerable it is.

Mine squeals a bit when overloaded, no idea if it's normal or not, I never really paid attention to where it was coming from.

On the 99 loader there is no drain plug. You'll need to remove the lower suction hose from the barbed fitting, then the hex shaped adapter that goes into the reservoir. The screen should be right in there. I'm planning to drain and refill mine before winter, it had lots of water mixed in when I drained it the first time. I run the UTF from Tractor Supply in my loader, seems to run fine.

 

[PatrickS2222]

Bmiszuk, that screaming noise sure sounds like cavitation caused by a restriction in the oil supply. Does it seem to get worse after working (including driving) the machine for some time? Also, does it seem more pronounced at higher revs compared to when the engine is idling?
It may be as easy as washing out the pick-up screen and the reservoir!

 

[twosocks90]

I just drained the fluid. It was red color, slightly milky. I didn't get nearly as much as I thought I would out of it. Maybe two gallons?

I haven't been able to break loose the hex fitting that screws into the loader frame/oil reservoir. I may have to wait until this evening when I have more help.

Patrick, I haven't really had a chance to know if it lifts less when it's been running for a while. Generally when I feed large bales in winter, I let the tractor warm up a bit, move one bale and then shut down. For other work like snow removal and moving manure, I haven't noticed it being any worse when it's warm.

I bought 5 gallons of UTF from Bomgaar's. According to the label it meets M1110 spec.

 

[PatrickS2222]

Not so much when it's warmed, but more about after it has run and moved about for a while. Remember the pump will be circulating hydraulic oil through the pick-up screen, filter, pump, valve block and back to the reservoir continuously. The only time that changes is when you move a valve to use the bucket.
This oil circulating and tractor movement will do two things:
1. Slosh the oil Front-to-rear in the reservoir, stirring the sludge and other impurities off the bottom; and
2. Allow this to be sucked against the pick-up screen, progressively blocking it.
The possible results I would expect:
1. Slower movement of all bucket actions, and increasing engine (and pump) speed makes no or little difference;
2. Increased howling (cavitation) noise as more of the pick-up screen becomes blocked;
3. Lifting strength may be reduced. That's what happened to our 135 with the 3PL pick-up screen (and gearbox oil) - was weaker and took 30-45secs to raise - except there wasn't any audible noise at all.

It's going to be interesting to find out what's in the bottom of the reservoir! :laughing:
Don't discount the possibility though that the noise is only caused by a worn bearing in the pump.

 

[twosocks90]

The screen has some gunk on it but it wasn't too terrible.


Patrick, now I understand what you mean. I've never really noticed the loader acting up after moving around. It seems to work pretty much the same all the time.

I'm going to try to flush the reservoir out (any suggestions?), put it back together with fresh fluid, install the pressure gauge and then try to lift a bale. We'll see what happens after that.

BTW, yesterday we cleaned up the feed area and spread 5 or 6 spreader loads of manure. A 55 year old tractor pulling a 60-70 year old manure spreader :thumbsup: The spreader is a David Bradley that was given to me as junk a few years ago. My daughter and I rebuilt it last winter, replacing all the wood and giving it a fresh coat of paint. It works very nicely for what I need.

 

[PatrickS2222]

Great pics - thanks, seeing it makes things a lot easier than imagining!
That isn't a lot of matter on the screen - but I wonder if it has dropped off while the tractor's been parked and you've been removing the oil pick-up? There's not a lot you can do about it though.

What ideas can I think of for flushing out the reservoir? This is what I'd try ... although someone else can likely suggest a better method:
1. Park the tractor with the oil pick-up at the lowest point of the reservoir.
Temporarily refit the pick-up and add some of the old oil if you need to start up the engine.
2. Plug the hole temporarily - a water-pipe plug (NPT thread), tapered timber or plastic "cork" will be fine.
3. Pour in 4-5 litres/1 gallon diesel.
4. Using a piece of piping (3/8 or 1/2" copper plumbing pipe springs to mind) that will easily reach the bottom with one foot or so out the top, insert an air blaster into the protruding end, blast air profusely through the pipe, whilst moving the other end of the pipe in each direction around the bottom of the reservoir. A small bend near each end of the pipe may be beneficial. ***Keep your face well out of range of the backdraft***
5. When you believe the sediment has been sufficiently stirred up, release the plug and drain the contents into a tray. Allow to drain for several minutes, and contents of tray will also settle in this time.
6. Refit plug. It may be possible to pour clean diesel off the top of the tray back into the reservoir for a second flushing, or alternatively skip this step and go on to a final rinse with a couple litres or 1/2 gallon of clean diesel, and if it's clean when it drains out, rinse the diesel out with a litre of petrol, let it drain dry for an hour or so.
7. Seal pick-up fitting in place. Refill with fresh oil. ***Don't start engine yet.*** Release trapped air from pump intake if possible.

***If you are concerned with the remaining old oil that's still in the hydraulic system and don't want it to mix with the new oil you've just put in - remember all the cylinders, hoses, pump and the valve assembly are still full of old oil - read carefully and understand the following: -

You can minimise the old oil mixing with the new - but it might waste a little new oil. Disconnect the return hose at the reservoir and have an assistant hold it in an approx 2 gallon container. The next steps are critical for maximum effect. Remember when the engine starts, the oil is then pumped constantly.

I would, in very quick succession, with minimal delay between steps:

a. Start engine;
b. Bucket full up;
c. Bucket full forward;
d. Bucket full back;
e. Bucket full down;
f. Bucket half up;
g. Bucket full down;
h. Engine off.
i. Refit return hose to reservoir.
j. Replenish reservoir to correct level.
k. Start up again, check bucket function, also check for leaks and recheck oil level.
By this time the oil returning to the reservoir will be reasonably clean, and aside from removing hoses and cylinders, remaining old oil is quite difficult to remove. There won't be any sludge in it having already passed through the screen and thew filter, so I'd be confident 98% of oil will be new.

After allowing the old oil to settle for a few days, you'll be able to pour off some from the top, and get a better idea of just what was on the reservoir bottom. Keep us in the loop!

 

[twosocks90]

That isn't a lot of matter on the screen - but I wonder if it has dropped off while the tractor's been parked and you've been removing the oil pick-up? There's not a lot you can do about it though.

The matter on the screen was actually SOLID. It was like a sealant that had dried on the screen or something. I had to gently clean it off using the wire brush in the grinder.

I then put the screen back on and put some new hyd fluid in the reservoir, ran the tractor, moved the loader up/down and tilted the bucket. Drain the fluid, cleaned a little bit of foreign matter off the screen. Repeat. And repeat again.

The last time I did it, the fluid still had a slight red tint to it (from the old fluid) but there was absolutely no evidence of sludge or crud or anything on the pickup screen.

I refilled it with new Universal Tractor Fluid from Bomgaar's and exercised the hydraulics until all the air was out. I think the next pictures tell the story best of all!

 

[pmsmechanic]

I don't remember if your loader has a bale spike or not but if you have just forks please be careful lifting a bale like in the first picture. My uncle spent several days in the hospital after a bale rolled down the loader arms onto him.

I really like the fact that your daughter spreads manure. Those kind of experiences are good for every younger person to experience.

 

[twosocks90]

I don't remember if your loader has a bale spike or not but if you have just forks please be careful lifting a bale like in the first picture. My uncle spent several days in the hospital after a bale rolled down the loader arms onto him.

pmsmechanic, can you look at the bale spear pictured in the very first post of this thread and let me know if you think it could be a problem? Did your uncle have forks attached to his bucket only?

I really like the fact that your daughter spreads manure. Those kind of experiences are good for every younger person to experience.

I think it's good for them to experience it also. I walked along side her virtually the entire time to make sure she stayed safe. What's amazing is that she even thinks the manure spreader is a pretty neat machine

It sure is good to get the kids off their cell phones and outside for a while to see what the real world is like