What is this and how do I fix it?

[sevans]

Ford 1710

It leaks (pours) hydraulic fulid out of the top of this part (brass nut on top) when I try to use the post hole digger. The digger no longer raises and the fluid loss is too bad to even try to use the digger anymore. It doesn't appear to affect the bucket but only the rear 3PH.

Can anyone please tell me what this part is called and if a repair manual will guide me through the repair?

Are the generic repair manuals for the Ford 1710 suitable?

Does this part generally need replacing or just new seals?

Thanks

 

[Farmerford]

That appears to be a priority flow control valve that receives the flow from the hydraulic pump and sends a certain amount (1 or 2 gpm) to the power steering through the "PF" (priority flow) port. The remaining flow (excess flow) passes through the "EF" port to the TPH. The valve insures that the power steering always gets enough fluid to operate even when other circuits (TPH) are being used.

Unless the "brass" (probably steel with a coating) fitting has loosened, I suspect the prolonged vibration of the engine has caused the fitting to crack. Note that the priority flow valve is connected to the pump only by the fitting, and further that the valve has two steel lines that may tend to add to the stress on the top fitting.

The only thing you said that doesn't fit this analysis is that it leaks only when the TPH is used, but not the loader. Unless the loader has a separate pump (possible, but unlikely), the loader, TPH, and power steering will all cause the pressure on the fitting to increase (since each tends to block flow from the pump) and therefore leak. You might check again to be sure the leak does not occur when the PS or FEL loader are used. If all systems use this pump, the fitting should leak when any one of them is used, and my analysis is not correct.

 

[J_J]

I agree with the above except, I believe that the o-ring under the brass nut is leaking.

 

[sevans]

Thank you both... I'll check out if it leaks when the bucket is under a load but now that you mentioned it the leak started long before I put the post hole digger on but it was very minor and only on occassion (like when I put the bucket under a heavy load) so I'm pretty sure your analysis is dead on.

I'll see if the nut needs to be tightened but in the event it's tight, indicating the o ring is shot or the fitting is cracked, will I have to do anything special to remove the unit like drain the fluid or relieve any pressure a certain way?

It looks easy enough to remove but I've read horror stories about 'acidents' when working on hydraulics.

Thanks again, you guys (and this forum) are great!

 

[sevans]

Well... it's not a lose nut. I'll have to get an oversized wrench to untighten it (too narrow to fit an adjustable in there) and channel locks didn't budge it.

I just learned that there are 'repair kits' made to replace all the seals on the 1710 priority valve. In that this is the very first problem I've had with this since new I don't think this is a reoccuring problem.

The tractor sat out in the elements for about 10 years without use after dad died in 1992. Us sons were too lazy to go out and cover it up. A neighbor got it runnig and I've been using it for the past year moving dirt and Pavestone in town.

I still need guidance on exactly what I need to do to fix the problem. Buy a shop manual, just take the thing off, buy the 'rapair kit', etc.

Can you please give me guidance?

Thanks for your help!

 

[J_J]

The nut may not be loose for the o-ring to leak. The o-ring is designed to be compressed and fill in the space made for the o-ring, and when it becomes brittle, it may leak. You will not know for sure unless you unscrew the nut and check the o-ring. I would install a new o-ring anyway. Spray the assembly with a degreaser, and let it dry, Then, start up the tractor and test the loader with a load and see if it is leaking around the nut. Take picture of the nut before and after.

 

[3RRL]

I agree with JJ.
I had a similar problem where I had a leak at the pressure side going out. Mine didn't have an "O" ring like yours, but a plastic compression washer that cracked. The nut was tight but there was a small leak coming from under it. When I removed the nut, I saw the cracked washer.

 

[MikePA]

Duplicate of this thread. Closed.