New to me L5740 HST was hiding a surprise in the filter

[Cloemker]

I'm away from home so I can't check my L5740 but which filter did you get the parts from, the low pressure suction filter or higher pressure hydro charge filter? Your start was exactly like mine - due to spring road restrictions, the dealer had to unload 6 miles from my home, the closest they could get their truck without exceeding our 5 ton/axle spring restriction. I drove the L3710 they took on trade to the meeting place and when I started out with my new L5740, it wouldn't pull itself in high range. I never engage the parking brake on flat ground so I had not noticed the trucker had engaged the brake when he unloaded. I finally noticed that dim red brake light and we were on our way home at a good clip.

I suspect your damage is not hydro, but something in the brakes. They are sintered metal brake discs in oil, but the large pieces do not resemble anything from discs. They also do not resemble internal hydro parts - piston slippers or rotating group housing are a copper alloy. Probably somebody from the dealership can identify the parts but I don't think you trashed the really expensive parts, especially if it's pulling good now with the brake off. If there were major internal hydro parts like that at the filter it would likely not pull the hat off your head.

The parts came out of the suction filter. After changing all the fluids and filters, I mowed with it for an hour last night and it worked just fine. At some point I'll have to fix the stuck brakes, but so far, so good. Could the parts be anything from the PTO or hitch systems?

 

[sixdogs]

This is a little outside of my area but I like the brake suggestion from MHarryE. After all, the transmission works fine and the only thing you've got going wrong are the brakes. Life has taught me to go with the easiest answer to a problem first. Just my two cents here from decades of these kinds of problems.

 

[k0ua]

This is a little outside of my area but I like the brake suggestion from MHarryE. After all, the transmission works fine and the only thing you've got going wrong are the brakes. Life has taught me to go with the easiest answer to a problem first. Just my two cents here from decades of these kinds of problems.

Exactly, I always told my tech's "fix what you can see first". Repair the thing that you know is broken first, and go from there.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

I would stay concerned. Some of those metal parts look like copper. Wondering if they have electrical contacts inside the tranny?

 

[JWR]

The parts came out of the suction filter. After changing all the fluids and filters, I mowed with it for an hour last night and it worked just fine. At some point I'll have to fix the stuck brakes, but so far, so good. Could the parts be anything from the PTO or hitch systems?

It's going to be speculation at best. If I were you, I would land on that dealer's doorstep and insist they tell you what they know about the tractor. What was done to it at their shop ? Where might the debris come from ? Show it to them. Slim as it may be that is your best chance to find out the source of the debris. rScotty's idea of trying to un-do the deal is a pretty good starting place -- tell them what you told us and say "Hey, this is way-off, not right. I want my money back." I think it's better than even odds the dealer will buckle down at that point and at least try to help you. Be sure to save those debris scraps.

 

[sixdogs]

JWR is right. Do it now and before you do any more to it.

 

[newbury]

<snip> I discovered that the brakes were locked up. The bogging down was due to the brakes being partially engaged. I had to pound on the arms with a 2x4 to free them. I decided to head up to NAPA and get filters and fluid. I still don't know what made the metal. If it was something last night while I was driving it with the brakes on, or if it happened before. <snip>

Why were the brakes on?

View attachment 464908

After anxiously awaiting my upgrade from a 5030, I put the new tractor into high gear to drive home and it completely bogged down when I pushed the Hst pedal down. I could only get it to work when the H-DS was in low.
<snip>

How far did you drive it?

It seems if you drove it w/ the brakes on the dealer might not be at fault.

 

[C4Ranch]

Maybe it's not dead. Yet.

I decided to head up to NAPA and get filters and fluid. I still don't know what made the metal. If it was something last night while I was driving it with the brakes on, or if it happened before.

My strategy is to run it for an hour or so and check the new filter for metal. If no additional metal, run it another few hours and let the cheap fluid remove crud in the system. Then replace the farm supply UDT spec fluid with SUDT.

Thoughts?

Go with sudt2. How many hours are on it?

 

[k0ua]

I don't believe the copper is electrical in nature. I am not sure what it is, but it is not electrical. The broken nylon washer, and what ever the black (rubber) stuff is points to some subassembly is totally destroyed. I dont think it has anything to do with the hydrostatic transmission. I think it points to something brake related. When you hear hoofbeats think horses not zebra's. In my opinion, I would be getting it to the dealer for warranty repair.

 

[sixdogs]

I would stay concerned. Some of those metal parts look like copper. Wondering if they have electrical contacts inside the tranny?

Are they copper or just copper colored...like brake parts?