Possible Hydraulic pump issue

kittyhawk · Jul 3, 2024

Good afternoon, everyone, well I ran into an issue and need some help diagnosing a hydro/steering issue. Two weeks ago, I was out removing some storm damage with my 3620H, I was using the grapple and was moving plied of branches from the road to a brush pile about 500 yards away. About the fourth or fifth load I started noticing the steering was getting Vague and harder to turn and that the grapple wasn't Holding the load tight, I keep having to hit the Third function button to tighten the upper Jaw. I raised the loader and moved the grapple down and saw some fluid on the grapple frame and when I hit the third function button it was spraying fluid out of the quick connection area on the loader frame. I got the tractor off the road inside my gate, dumped the load and got parked under its canopy and found one of the quick coupler fittings was partially unscrewed and was leaking fluid. I let tractor and myself cool off, then tightened the fitting up and checked the fluid level, nothing was showing in the sight glass so Off to town I head at 1630 to find fluid. My local Napa was closed so I ended up with a 2.5 Gallon jug of Tractor Supply Travelers Premium THF. I got home added half the jug started the tractor raised the loader and tried the third function and no leaks but nothing in the sight glass, So I added another gallon and noting then added the rest and still nothing. I took it for a Spin and the loader, third function and 3 point all work good, the hydro transmission seems fine, but the steering is still Vague and Jerky when turning. Is it possible I damaged the Power Steering pump by getting low on fluid or could it still be having issues since its still be low on fluid. Another issue is I can't get back to up to my place check it for two more weeks while my wife's going through Chemo. So, I'm sitting at home worrying I have a bad power steering pump, or other issues with the Hydro, this and dealing with my wife's cancer is Driving me NUTS to say the Least.

ericm979 · Jul 3, 2024

I'm sorry about your wife's cancer. I hope she has an easy time of chemo and recovers fully.

Sometimes its hard to see the level of the fluid in the glass, especially if the fluid is not dyed. You can test by parking the tractor facing slightly up hill and see if fluid appears in the glass. The tank is long and the glass is at the back so it should not take much of a slope to markedly affect the level in the glass.

The power steering and PTO clutch are run off one of the two hydraulic pumps. The pumps are ganged together and share one feed line. The second pump runs the loader, remotes and three point hitch. The HST has its own feed from the tank. It's possible that you lost enough fluid that the feed to the two pumps sucked some air.

LouNY · Jul 3, 2024

My 8050 has the sight glasses and I will check when it's facing down hill, the turn it around and look at when level and again facing up hill just to be sure were the level is. When I finish I'm at least half a sight glass when facing downhill a bit and the tractor running. Growing up working on hills we have always keep the hydraulic levels a bit over full. The big tractors are a full 5 gallons over.

ptsg · Jul 3, 2024

That tractor hold maybe 8 to 10 gallons of fluid, so if it leaked enough that you started "losing" functions, just refilled with 3 or 4 gallons may not cut it.

Definitely try to check the level and get it right. I believe JD sells a dye for hydraulic fluid that makes it easier to see on sight glasses.

Eagle1 · Jul 3, 2024

Might have run the steering lock to lock a few time to purge any air.

Zork · Jul 10, 2024

kittyhawk said:
Good afternoon, everyone, well I ran into an issue and need some help diagnosing a hydro/steering issue. Two weeks ago, I was out removing some storm damage with my 3620H, I was using the grapple and was moving plied of branches from the road to a brush pile about 500 yards away. About the fourth or fifth load I started noticing the steering was getting Vague and harder to turn and that the grapple wasn't Holding the load tight, I keep having to hit the Third function button to tighten the upper Jaw. I raised the loader and moved the grapple down and saw some fluid on the grapple frame and when I hit the third function button it was spraying fluid out of the quick connection area on the loader frame. I got the tractor off the road inside my gate, dumped the load and got parked under its canopy and found one of the quick coupler fittings was partially unscrewed and was leaking fluid. I let tractor and myself cool off, then tightened the fitting up and checked the fluid level, nothing was showing in the sight glass so Off to town I head at 1630 to find fluid. My local Napa was closed so I ended up with a 2.5 Gallon jug of Tractor Supply Travelers Premium THF. I got home added half the jug started the tractor raised the loader and tried the third function and no leaks but nothing in the sight glass, So I added another gallon and noting then added the rest and still nothing. I took it for a Spin and the loader, third function and 3 point all work good, the hydro transmission seems fine, but the steering is still Vague and Jerky when turning. Is it possible I damaged the Power Steering pump by getting low on fluid or could it still be having issues since its still be low on fluid. Another issue is I can't get back to up to my place check it for two more weeks while my wife's going through Chemo. So, I'm sitting at home worrying I have a bad power steering pump, or other issues with the Hydro, this and dealing with my wife's cancer is Driving me NUTS to say the Least.

Prayer sent for your wife and you.
Apparently you lost more than 2.5 gallons somewhere around the third or fourth trip, if you recall accurately. You need to add more fluid to bring the level into the sight glass before you start it again. You probably were sucking air for more than a thousand yards or longer before you realized it. Until you fill your sump and remove the air you won't know.
I would suspect the result would be added noise, but you could have run it in this condition longer than you think. There is no point worrying about it, whatever damage, if any, is done, and give your wife your full attention. When your done, use this experience as a lesson to confidently say you'll shut it down as quickly as possible, when safe to do so, and check the issue.
I hope your issue is just low fluid and air. Please keep us posted as it is a learning experience for all of us.

YanmarFever · Jul 28, 2024

Kittyhawk,
Make sure your 3 point hitch is all the way down.
Put your loader down on the ground.
Park on level ground, then check the sight glass.

On my 4520 when I check it with the loader in the up position is shows very low.
When I lower the loader, is shows perfect, to the red dot.

Any updates? I hope your wife is ok.

kittyhawk · Dec 5, 2024

Hey guys just an update. I put some dye in the hydraulic system and sure enough it was low, I had to add another gallon of THF to get on the sight glass. It's back up and running but after an hour or so the steering gets that vague stiff feeling. So I've ordered 10 gallons of Triax Agra UTTO Supreme full synthetic THF and new OEM hydraulic filters. I'll get it all changed in a few weeks and see if this'll help.

sallyb · Dec 9, 2024

ptsg said:
That tractor hold maybe 8 to 10 gallons of fluid, so if it leaked enough that you started "losing" functions, just refilled with 3 or 4 gallons may not cut it.

Definitely try to check the level and get it right. I believe JD sells a dye for hydraulic fluid that makes it easier to see on sight glasses.

Mine holds 9 gals.