Suction Side Hydraulic Filter

muddstopper · Sep 18, 2014

My personal preference is to use both a suction and return filter. Take the lid off a empty 5gal bucket of hydraulic oil and look in the bottom. You will see all kinds of little nasties stuck to the side of the bucket and the bottom. Just because you open up a new can of oil and pour it into the tank, dont take it for granted that that new oil is clean. Without a suction filter, all that nasty stuff goes thru the hydraulic pump, then the valves before it is filtered. I am like JJ, use a suction filter at least as small micron size as the return filter. Also make sure you have a mesh screen in the fill port of your tank to catch anything that might accidentally enter into the tank when the cap is removed. Dirt, sticks, trash, etc. If someone is having a problem with their pump cavitating because of a suction filter, they either have a dirty filter, or one that is of insufficient capacity to carry the flow of oil required.

dieselscout80 · Sep 18, 2014

The return on my IH 424 is inside the cast iron reservoir where the three point valve is, so I don't think a return filter is a option.

dieselscout80 · Oct 16, 2014

Well I installed the new pump and filter and now my 3 point works great. The install was a bit of a pain to get everything lined up.

JJ, thanks for convincing me to add the filter. I appreciate you knowledge and assistance.

doxford jim · Oct 16, 2014

J_J said:
Suction filters are necessary on hydrostatic transmission. Usually around 10 micron or smaller and changed often

Hi JJ,

I live in a cooler part of the country and even a 10 micron filter can be slow in our summer. I usually run a 30 micron and it does clean up the oil.
During the winter (our temperatures can get down to -35C or colder) the hydraulic oil gets too thick for a fine filter to be used. I tend to use a wire mesh type suction screen (around 140 micron) as originally supplied with the tractor as this allows better operating during cold weather.
I also change out the hydraulic oil fairly regularly so that probably helps too - only around 12 litres per fill IIRC.