https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/377156-testing-hydraulic-pump.html
Check out this thread, my post #6 shows links to my photobucket. Two different videos testing a bad pump and a good pump on our Frankenstein pump test machine. More than likely Your tractor with the herky jerky’s would show up as a fluctuating needle on the bottom needle. The test would tell you if you need to look for your trouble before the flow meter (pump, suction lines, screens etc) or if everything checks out smooth and up to pressure then look for your trouble upstream (relief valves, control valves etc)
Thank you wdchyd! I am just now seeing your last post. I had bought another pump for a decent deal in case it was the problem so I ended up changing it out yesterday. I probably should have figured out if that was the problem first but I was getting impatient with everything else I had tried. Changed all the filters & changed the oil too. Since I also replaced the fuel filter(it was nasty) I need to bleed the air out so I can start it again and see if I changed out a perfectly good pump haha. Thank you for the videos. Makes more sense in my head now. I will report back and let you know if its fixed or not!