2008 TE254A Foton Tractor Gear Oil Pump problem

[D0TC0M]

Hi everyone.

I just got this tractor as a gift from my father, only thing wrong with it is the hydraulics. Its a 2008 with about 300hrs on it. I think I will have to change the gear oil pump. Well not sure if the pump is shot or maybe an o-ring from what I have read. I will only know for sure when I take it off and apart. I'll need help fellas for those that are familiar with these tractors. I have no problem working on it myself just need to know how to trouble shoot it.

My brother who drove it last said that for the last little while the 3 point hitch would raise in jerks under load and the steering was more difficult. We use the tractor mostly in the winter with a snow plow so he thought maybe there was a blockage staving the pump. He checked the filter and nothing was plugged. Now everything is back together the pump doesn't seem to want to prime itself and build pressure. I loosened the outlet pipe and it just drips with no pressure. oil level is good. Is there anything else to check before I start tearing the pump off? In the event that I do have to take the pump off, can someone kinda roughly explain how its removed. I think its gear driven but not sure.

 

[doxford jim]

What hydraulic oil are you using ? When was the last time you changed the LO filter ? Do you have any manuals for this tractor ?
I would start with changing out the hydraulic oil to AW32 and putting in new filters/clean filters - whatever applies.
Has the drop off in performance coincided with the winter weather or was it doing this before?

 

[D0TC0M]

What hydraulic oil are you using ? When was the last time you changed the LO filter ? Do you have any manuals for this tractor ?
I would start with changing out the hydraulic oil to AW32 and putting in new filters/clean filters - whatever applies.
Has the drop off in performance coincided with the winter weather or was it doing this before?

My father bought the tractor new and he doesn't remember if he got any manuals with it. My father is quite old and I'm pretty much on my own to gather up the information I require to fix it. It has whatever oil that they put in it after the break in period. I don't believe the oil is the cause of my immediate problem of no oil pump pressure although I will plan on changing all the fluids before returning the tractor to service. I have it being transported to my house tomorrow as we are experiencing a large snow storm right now.

I never have driven the tractor except to try it out when it was new. The tractor was only used during the fall to haul firewood and in the winter to snow plow my father's driveway. I questioned my brother who usually drives it for my father and he said three 3 point hitch was jerking to lift the snowplow. He said he noticed it last winter but it seemed to get gradually worse and was affecting the steering too. He checked the filter and he said it was clean and when he put everything back together the pump would not self prime nor would it build any pressure at all. He then removed the inlet pipe on the pump to double check if the oil was flowing up to that point and oil is there but the pump doesn't seem to want to prime itself and build pressure. The outlet pipe was cracked open to very if there was any oil pressure and there is none even when the outlet pipe fitting is very loose.

 

[RonMar]

Well jerking operation is usually a sign of air in the system.

Is there a leak in the line between the sump and the pump inlet? The line from the hydraulic reservoir usually come up and out of the top of the reservoir. Some tractors have a pipe union right at that point. If that union dosn't have a good seal, it could be sucking in air at that point and it will never prime. There is also typically an O-ring on the pump inlet and outlet flanges. If the inlet O-ring is leaking it will also suck air there.

Does it have a in-line spin on filter, or is there a screen mesh filter in the reservoir? If it has the spin-on then it could also possibly be leaking in air at that spin on cartridge rubber seal. A crack in the pump housing or loose pump housing hardware could also cause it to suck air.

It is way easier to suck in air thru a leak than to pull oil along thru the pipe, particularly cold oil. This can really be a problem if it is the wrong oil. These things shipped from china with a type of generic oil in ALL the reservoirs. Well that oil is too thin to be good gear oil, and too thick to be proper hydraulic oil. It seemed about right for motor oil The hydraulic system works best with AW-32 hydraoulc oil in it.

Since the hydraulic line comes out of the top of the reservoir, the pump has to pull enough suction to lift the oil up and over the top. A dry pump will not do this very well at all. You can help get oil up and over that high point and prime the line and pump by applying compressed air to the reservoir breather vent pipe. The vent pipe is usually located on the reservoir filler cap.

 

[D0TC0M]

Oh I did forget to mention that we did pressurize the reservoir with about 5 psi of pressure and it didn't do anything worked but you've given me other excellent points to check. Thanks for responding. I'm not sure what it has for filter. I only saw the tractor briefly but if I recall correctly the inlet pipe goes down to a long tube and I remember my brother telling me that there was only a screen inside it. I definitely don't remember seeing any screw on filter but I'll certainly find it and check all the connections you mentioned. If the weather would let up here I'd love to go get it to start working on it. I have 2 feet of snow in my driveway and it would be nice if I could use the tractor instead of the a manual snowblower, especially at -20

I went ahead and ordered a new pump from a seller on alibaba anyways. I want to have it on hand just in case I need it, if not I only paid $50 for it plus shipping for it so it a cheap spare.

 

[D0TC0M]

Am I right in thinking that only the two large bolts that go through the pump in the opposite corners hold it bolted to the engine?

 

[RonMar]

Yes, you are probably correct about the mounting. As for adding air pressure to the sump, was the engine running when you did that? Positive displacement pumps won't pass anything unless in motion, so you could add all the air in the world but it won't force any fluid down the feed pipe unless the pump is turning or the inlet side of the feedpipe is removed to allow fluid to flow out of the reservoir.

 

[D0TC0M]

Yes we had the engine running. I talked to my brother a little more about the symptoms and he tells me that at the end it was so bad he had to have the engine revving high for the 3 point hitch to lift. He also confirmed that this tractor has a reservoir and screen mesh filter and it is clean. I can't wait to get the tractor home to check it out. I really appreciate the help Ron Thanks

 

[doxford jim]

Sent you an email to with a pdf copy of Northern Tractors XT254 tractor manual. I believe that he manufacturer of their tractor is Foton, so it might be of some use to you.

 

[D0TC0M]

Thank you very much Jim I really appreciate it. If I could ask a little favor of you, Please could you remove my email in your previous post. Those pesty internet bots pick up those emails and sell them to email spammers. Thanks again for the email !!

Ch33rs
Dan