Got to get this solved before I go broke buying hydraulic oil:
Please have patience. This may get lengthy. My JD 2040 (SN 181XXX) is about to drive me nuts with the hydraulic oil filter constantly clogging up with fine metallic particles. The tractor has the open center hydraulic system.
This started out when I learned the history of the tractor after I bought it. The previous owner didn't have a clue what a grease fitting was for, nor did he bother to change any fluid or filter while he owned it. I get it from him cheap as a project and up until now, refurb and resto has been going smooth. Forward to the problem at hand.....
I have changed the filter, cleaned the screen, flushed the whole hydro system and filled with JD hydro oil. All this has been performed at least three times and still the issue continues. With everything fresh I can run the brush cutter for about an hour and a half before the power steering stops working completely. Immediately check of the 3 pt lift confirms, yep, no hydraulic activity at all. I've repeated the filter and change of fluid three or more times so far and after each change everything is fine for a couple of hours before the issue returns.
The first time I dug into the problem was because the power steering only worked when turning to the right. I ended up tearing down the steering system and thoroughly cleaning up the parts and digging out the sludge resting inside the housing where it mounts. I flushed the whole hydraulic system and even used whatever I could make to literally drag sludge out of the bottom of the oil reservoir. I figured I would go through a couple of filter, screen and oil changes before getting the system completely cleaned out and operating correctly. Ends up, it's taking continuous oil and filter changes. When everything is fresh, the tractor operates like a new one.......for a couple of hours.
Yesterday, I drained the oil again, removed the clogged filter and checked the screen. The screen hasn't had anything in it the last two times I've changed the filter and oil. Since I was completely frustrated again, I decided to look into the oil condition a little harder, thinking I was actually having an internal problem rather than a "clean flushing" problem. What I have found is all the used oil of the last two changes is colored extremely dark, almost black. Within the oil is very fine (and I mean real fine), evenly distributed silver flakes of metal, almost resembling automobile paint containing metal flakes. If I stir the oil, I can actually see silver swirls as the paint is agitated (again resembling automotive paint). I have figured that the metal flakes and associated contaminates are what's clogging the primary filter to the point that the hydraulics stop operating.
Like stated earlier in this novel, after fluid and filter changes, the tractor operates perfectly, for a while. What I need to pick your brains for is the cause of the metal particles that seems continuous. I waved a magnet around in some of the used oil and found the metal debris is magnetic, so I'm thinking there's something bad fixin' to happen soon if I don't figure out what's causing this. My initial thought was the brakes are coming apart but I wanted to run the problem by you folks before I just break down and pull the final drives to look. Thank God for the AR75603 filters! They've saved me so far. I just don't want to press my luck any longer. It's obvious this ain't gonna just clear up with new filters and oil.
Thanks in advance for any and all opinions and suggestions and sorry for such a long friggin' post!!
Please have patience. This may get lengthy. My JD 2040 (SN 181XXX) is about to drive me nuts with the hydraulic oil filter constantly clogging up with fine metallic particles. The tractor has the open center hydraulic system.
This started out when I learned the history of the tractor after I bought it. The previous owner didn't have a clue what a grease fitting was for, nor did he bother to change any fluid or filter while he owned it. I get it from him cheap as a project and up until now, refurb and resto has been going smooth. Forward to the problem at hand.....
I have changed the filter, cleaned the screen, flushed the whole hydro system and filled with JD hydro oil. All this has been performed at least three times and still the issue continues. With everything fresh I can run the brush cutter for about an hour and a half before the power steering stops working completely. Immediately check of the 3 pt lift confirms, yep, no hydraulic activity at all. I've repeated the filter and change of fluid three or more times so far and after each change everything is fine for a couple of hours before the issue returns.
The first time I dug into the problem was because the power steering only worked when turning to the right. I ended up tearing down the steering system and thoroughly cleaning up the parts and digging out the sludge resting inside the housing where it mounts. I flushed the whole hydraulic system and even used whatever I could make to literally drag sludge out of the bottom of the oil reservoir. I figured I would go through a couple of filter, screen and oil changes before getting the system completely cleaned out and operating correctly. Ends up, it's taking continuous oil and filter changes. When everything is fresh, the tractor operates like a new one.......for a couple of hours.
Yesterday, I drained the oil again, removed the clogged filter and checked the screen. The screen hasn't had anything in it the last two times I've changed the filter and oil. Since I was completely frustrated again, I decided to look into the oil condition a little harder, thinking I was actually having an internal problem rather than a "clean flushing" problem. What I have found is all the used oil of the last two changes is colored extremely dark, almost black. Within the oil is very fine (and I mean real fine), evenly distributed silver flakes of metal, almost resembling automobile paint containing metal flakes. If I stir the oil, I can actually see silver swirls as the paint is agitated (again resembling automotive paint). I have figured that the metal flakes and associated contaminates are what's clogging the primary filter to the point that the hydraulics stop operating.
Like stated earlier in this novel, after fluid and filter changes, the tractor operates perfectly, for a while. What I need to pick your brains for is the cause of the metal particles that seems continuous. I waved a magnet around in some of the used oil and found the metal debris is magnetic, so I'm thinking there's something bad fixin' to happen soon if I don't figure out what's causing this. My initial thought was the brakes are coming apart but I wanted to run the problem by you folks before I just break down and pull the final drives to look. Thank God for the AR75603 filters! They've saved me so far. I just don't want to press my luck any longer. It's obvious this ain't gonna just clear up with new filters and oil.
Thanks in advance for any and all opinions and suggestions and sorry for such a long friggin' post!!