3444 IH, 3121 BACKHOE, FILLED DRY SYSTEM, NOTHING WORKS, NEED TIPS ON WHAT TO CHECK

[BELIZE91]

I purchased an IH 3444 payloader with backhoe, fluid pan on bottm was cracked and fluid drained out, I got the engine to run it's the BD154 diesel. My goal is to just get into the barn for the winter. The power steering does not work, the bucket and backhoe do not work. The hoses are rough as the machine sat for 5 years, I drilled a hole in the rubber hose going to the front pump to add fluid in an attempt to prime it, and also I can see fluid moving in a stream.

All the control levers were stuck, I was able to free them and the move easy now. I noticed someone removed the filter the parts book shows on the left side and replaced it with a piece of hose. everything else looks original.

I am leaving the deverter valve pushed down as I think that is the correct place for the power steering to work. I have also pulled it up nothing hydrarlic works on the tractor.

I have run it for 2-4 mins at a time, I am not really up on hydraulics but have a basic understanding.

is there a valve that could be stick?

Could it just be time is needed to run out the air?

Could the hole I drilled on the return line cause a problem?

any help to make the sterring work so I can beat the snow would be helpful

 

[J_J]

Can you tell if the pump is turning.

Can you tell if the pump is pumping.

Can you tell if the suction port of the pump is flooded?

Did you drill into the suction hose?

Loosen up some fittings and or remove hoses to verify there is flow.

You may have to prime the pump by forcing hyd fluid into the suction port using air.

 

[BELIZE91]

Can you tell if the pump is turning. yes it is turning

Can you tell if the pump is pumping. I am not sure,

Can you tell if the suction port of the pump is flooded? I am assuming the large pipe that comes from the rear of the tractor behind the transmission is the suction. it passes by the drivers left leg and runs on the left side of the engine. I drilled a hole into that hose and used a funnel to add addtional fluid, I can see a stream of fluid in the hose and somtimes it splases out. Also I notice on the transmission plate that contains the gear selector some fluid was coming out through a hole that was missing a bolt.

Did you drill into the suction hose? see above

Loosen up some fittings and or remove hoses to verify there is flow. I loosen the one at the devertor valve and saw nothing coming out. The hoses are weather worn, I would expect leaks at most.

You may have to prime the pump by forcing hyd fluid into the suction port using air
There is an unused port that has a threaded cap on resevor next to the large suction hose, maybe make an adaptor and apply air?

 

[BELIZE91]

I was wondering is the way to check the hydraulic pump to check the clearances in the rotor? I suspect that since the pump appears to be a replacement and there is no filter in the system, it was replaced by a 18" section of 1-1/2 hose. I am thinking they removed the filter because they could not get pressure. If I can get pressure I will put a filter back in. for now no oil is being pumped, even when I add air pressure to the tank

The power steering does not work either, that seems to be driven by a smaller pump on the right side, being it seems odd both pumps are bad, I was going to remove the smaller pump and verify the drive gear was not damaged, since it seems to possibly have a shear pin looking at the parts book

 

[gurg]

I also have 3444 tractor with hoe. you are correct with regard to valve to your right when down(power steering) when up (swing on hoe). unit takes a lot of hyd. fluid you ck fluid under hump between your legs small dip stick about 8" long right side flap pulls up. You have two pumps one is driven off shaft coming straight out front of crank under radiator pump is behind grill front of radiator. SECOND pump is driven off gears front of motor passenger side. plugged filters most time will make hyd. sluggish and slow and weak but not stop any operation. I would guess you dont have enough oil in hyd. system. do you also have hydrostatic transmission just forward and reverse peddals on left side foot area. do they do anything this is all same system. let me know as you make progress I to am in the midst of resurrecting my tractor my father bought this hoe new in 1970 I rebuilt BD154 motor when i was 27 now I am 58

 

[BELIZE91]

Thanks, for the info, Does the smaller pump run the Steering? I show enough fluid in fact I added a air coupler to the holding tank on an extra fitting and pressurized the system in an attempt to push the fluid into the system, but nothing happens, the flilter was removed from the system and replaced with a piece of hose. My plan was to install a filter once the thing worked. I pushed it into the barn for the winter and next spring I will get back into it. Fist thing I need to replace the o-rings on the cylinder sleeves, It was leaking water into the oil. I filled the engine with diesel fuel so the small leak into the oil would not hurt the bearings like water would.
Do you know if the small pump has a shear pin that could be broken?
I have a manual transmission

 

[gurg]

Tractor Joe .com has pic of our hydraulic pump I don't remember a shear pin

 

[gurg]

Reference to this pump being for power steering

 

[BELIZE91]

Could not seem to find it on his site, I have the parts book but it does not show one, but I would think it would either use a shear gear or pin incase of a lock up.

 

[BELIZE91]

Well it's been 2 years we just got the machine done. Engine needed sleeve seals, a head, trans pan welded the steering control valve was frozen, coolant and hydraulic hoses as they broke and I needed to add a shut off cable so the motor could turn off. I have a video on you tube called Project 3444 that covers what we did

Only issue now is the swing arm does not move side to side when you pull the lever on the valve block, however when I pull that handle and another handle same time the part being operated moves faster. What does that indicate?