water in tranny?

[ewarthan]

My MF1030 started oozing a white colored oily mess right out of the worn and cracked rubber shifter collar with first start since spring! I had taken the battery out and recharged it as it was dead. Great to start right up but instantly had about a hundred red wasps coming out of the cowling around the instrument panel. Bailed out with engine running. Then I noticed the cream like oil coming up out of shifter! Tried to shut off but the kill pull was stuck. Stopped engine by turning off gas line valve. Spent all day eliminating the wasp factor(maybe). A few ? Is this likely rain water down the shifter? This rig uses the transmission fluid for the hydraulics too and there was some circulation going on until I could shut engine off. Checked the dip stick and clear fluid oozed out of the hole after shut down. 9.7 gallon reservoir. Do I need to drain the entire rig or will the ?water? boil off with use? What does one do with 9.7 gallons of oily water fluid? Will I need to bleed any air out of fuel line because I shut off diesel from valve rather than normal way? Does this affect the tranny, front loader or 3 pt hitch? Does this hurt the brakes which is a part of the tranny? I am starting to worry this is more than a drain and refill job on top of fixing the rubber boot collar. Any sage advice now before I create my next mess will be greatly appreciated.

 

[CADplans]

My first tractor was stored outside by its previous owner,,
It had water in the hydraulic oil.
I spent 10 years chasing all the water/oil issues,,,
I never could get the 3 point hitch to work correctly,,,

I sold it to a guy that wanted to pull a drawbar hay rake,,, win-win!! :cool2:

If it were mine,,, I would clean it up, change the hyd oil a couple times,,,
and give someone a great deal on it.

I went shopping for a newer tractor, the FIRST thing I checked was for the water/oil issue.
I have had that tractor over 20 years,, it is perfect.

I refuse to own a tractor that would have to set outside,,, PERIOD!!

My neighbor has a 951 CAT that sets out,,,
right next to it is a ragged old trailer setting in the shed.
I think he has his priorities a little wrong,,,

 

[ewarthan]

so can I get a second opinion? CADplan seems a bit bleak on the future of this tractor. Thanks for your opinion.

 

[sweettractors]

Drain the oil, change filter, refill with fresh oil and run tractor while doing some field work and cycling all related functions for 5-6 hours. Then, repeat. Ken Sweet

 

[kthompson]

Totally agree with Ken Sweet just replace the busted or missing shifter boots also. But the water will NOT boil off.

What to do with the fluid in there? If you have the ability to place in container with drain on the bottom you can open with out moving the container. Such as barrel sitting on rack with drain cock. Buckets will not work. Let it sit for at least a few days and the water will mostly settle to the bottom. Open the drain and watch what is coming out. Do not be shocked to see some totally clear water. I would try to keep that water and the mixed that will be coming out separate. But for further separating if you have an covered area where you can set open buckets of oil the water will slowly evaporate out. NOW NOT SAY THIS SMART but know a mechanic who said and then I use the dried oil again. Not me. But there are uses for old oil that is good. Such as where I store my water PTO pumps to prevent rusting. Or coating disk blades or other metal or even using on wooden floors in trailers to prevent rot.

 

[Ford850]

Ken and KT gave good advice. That's similar to what I did when I bought my 850 years ago. I didn't know it was water logged, and it ended up freezing in the winter and I had no hydraulics to plow snow. After thawing out I drained it, refilled with low cost fluid, worked it for a few hours, and drained again. Then I refilled with fluid and it's been fine since. That needs to be done regardless if there are other problems, so I'd start by doing that to see if it corrects your issue.

 

[ewarthan]

oK going to give it a try, might take some time to fix the wasp problem, got a nest out of the dash the size of a cigar box and everytime I get back out there more buzzing. 5 days and still have to keep an eye open for wasp returns. Read all strings at bottom of page. What about the flush with diesel? I guess the worst thing would be to drain and let sit for a few days right? A drying out period. Rust? Could one run the engine and move the hydraulic controls for a brief period to "blow it out"? Thanks to all for such experienced advice. You guys are great!

 

[kthompson]

I doubt say two days would allow any real rust issue but I would not run the engine without hyd oil in the system. You do not want to run a pump when it is dry.
As to wasp, how about a fogger and drop a tarp or such over the hood and dash area?

 

[ch1ch2]

oK going to give it a try, might take some time to fix the wasp problem, got a nest out of the dash the size of a cigar box and everytime I get back out there more buzzing. 5 days and still have to keep an eye open for wasp returns. Read all strings at bottom of page. What about the flush with diesel? I guess the worst thing would be to drain and let sit for a few days right? A drying out period. Rust? Could one run the engine and move the hydraulic controls for a brief period to "blow it out"? Thanks to all for such experienced advice. You guys are great!

I agree good advice.
As far as restarting the engine, I am not familiar with the MF1030. If it gravity feeds to the fuel injector pump or if it has a manual pump to get the fuel to the fuel injector pump is the first thing. Once fuel is there a few cranks and hopefully it starts, if not you may need to bleed the injectors. I am betting it will start.

Now I see your from Belton. Isn't that where they make Mohawk implements?

 

[Goreef]

I have seen alot of older tractors with milky fluid in the trans. This is caused by years of repeated heat cycles and will happen to any tractor if the fluid is left in it long enough. The fluid never gets hot enough to burn off the condensation.this is the same reason you notice water dripping from the tail pipe every time you start your car when it is cold. I would drain the fluid and replace it with a premium universal tractor fluid and you should be good.