What's happened here?

Ductape · May 7, 2009

B2400 owner said:
For some reason, the wife acts as if she could care less about my hydraulic problems.

Who'da thought..............

I'm impressed that you have decided to give this B2400 a new lease on life,but you realize you are out of your mind........ right?

B2400 owner · May 8, 2009

Ducttape, whatever do you mean?

I'm not out of my mind, I'm just determined. I go crazy(out of my mind) if I don't have a project to work on. Usually it involves something with an International Harvester badge on it (Scouts), but Kubota is just as good.
I've been having withdrawl symptoms since I sold my B21 contractors backhoe a couple of years ago. I had it for almost 10 years and that was one heck of a machine.I was getting out of general contracting and thought I didn't need it any more, boy was I wrong. You never realize how handy a tractor is till you don't have one.
I only paid $800.00 for the B2400HD with the 60" belly mower and the mount and control valve for the FEL,so I figured I couldn't go wrong.(working on getting the loader arms and bucket back from the guy that bought it from the town. He paid $647 for it and wants $1,800 now.

) .
The town garage had a bunch of parts for the thing too. I'll have about $3000 (less the FEL)in the tractor when I'm done, including the purchase price, and it should be as good as new when I'm done.
It's funny though, my wife said I was crazy when I pulled up with the tractor. She has since come around when she saw how well it mowed.
BTW, I tore the power steering down last night and other than a couple worn O-rings which I ordered, everything was good. I think the problem was when I put it back together after replacing the top seal on the shaft, I overtightened the plug sleeve, causing the needle bearings to be too tight and binding. I probably could have just lossened it, and all would have been well in hydraulic land.
I guess I'll find out about next wednesday when the parts come in.
Wish me luck.
Brad

Soundguy · May 8, 2009

if it uses an orbital valve on the ps and there was rubber circulating.. you will have quite a job picking pieces out and cleaning orifi with a wire..

if it is a different style.. you may still have rubber in valves.. and or a plugged filter..

soundguy

B2400 owner · May 8, 2009

Soundguy said:
if it uses an orbital valve on the ps and there was rubber circulating.. you will have quite a job picking pieces out and cleaning orifi with a wire..

if it is a different style.. you may still have rubber in valves.. and or a plugged filter..

soundguy

Luckily, the filter on the pickup for the pump did it's job perfectly. When I tore the power steering unit apart, there were no sign of the rubber bits I found in the reservoir.

Soundguy · May 11, 2009

dodged a bullet on that one.

soundguy

B2400 owner · May 15, 2009

All right guys, I need some suggestions again before I set this tractor on fire myself.

I put the power steering unit back together with all new seals and o-rings and it works a little, but I still have the whining and vibration from the pump.
I did a crackle test (pretty cool) and I definately have air in the hydraulic fluid which i hope is the cause of the weak power steering. The TPH and transmission are still working fine.
I've got two questions for y'all.
Is there any way to get the air out of the fluid?I've already drained it out and am debating replacing it, although I hate to do that beacuse it only has about 20 minutes run time on it and super UDT is expensive stuff.

My other question is, besides a leak in the suction line which I have ruled out, how else could air have gotten in the fluid? I was thinking maybe the suction screen being clogged might have had something to do with it.??

I'm about to get agravated and any suggestions or thoughts would be highly appreciated.

Thanks

J_J · May 15, 2009

If it is air, it should rise to the surface over night. If you are seeing air all the time, especially when running, then you are sucking in air from somewhere, the other way for air to be in there is a large difference in pressure say between one side of an opening. and the other side. I believe when pressure is being relieved, that air could be generated. and that is the sound you hear.

J_J · May 15, 2009

J_J said:
If it is air, it should rise to the surface over night. If you are seeing air all the time, especially when running, then you are sucking in air from somewhere, the other way for air to be in there is a large difference in pressure say between one side of an opening. and the other side. I believe when pressure is being relieved, that air could be generated. and that is the sound you hear.

http://atl.grc.nasa.gov/Documents/PDF/D2.pdf