Arrghh! How bad is this likely to be?

[AKfish]

This kind of situation is always gonna be one where you're "2nd guessing" yourself... When faced with the same deal; there's no "absolute" - right way or wrong way - it's just the best one at the moment!

That said - if you've got power steering (still operational) and if the 3pt was still responsive when you got back to the house - there was "some" hydraulic fluid remaining in the tractor. I believe there's an implement pump and a steering pump on your tractor. Both pumps utilize a common sump. If the fluid dries up completely - no power steering, no FEL, no 3pt. (And the pumps would get real hot, real fast.)

While it's possible that you could have caused some damage to the hydraulic pump(s) I think it's equally possible that they're gonna still work when you replace the lost fluid. (Although the performance might be less than what you had previously).

Best of luck.

AKfish

 

[mfreund]

AKFISH has it right, you made the best decision with the information you had at the time. I was not trying to "beat " you up over it, just trying to help someone facing the same decision in the future. I am sorry if it seemed that way. As I said before the same decision process cost me a engine. What was the greenish fluid? My hydro fliud is light brown.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Hydro oil looks ''greenish'' on snow.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Pilot]

Thanks for all the responses

I checked with the dealer for pump price & it's $405--if I need one. The tractor doesn't have power steering.

The problem now is getting the hydraulic lines off. The fittings are frozen tight. It's an aftermarket loader, an SMC, aka Schwartz. There is a solid steel line with a nut welded near the end so you won't twist the line, and it appears that the end of the line is threaded, so the end of the hose is the female side. Talked to the local logging supply store who can make up hoses for me, but there are 3 different kinds of fittings, so I can't destroy all the fittings to get them apart. Since there are 4 lines, I have 4 chances to get one apart intact.

So far I have just used muscle & PB Blaster. Tractor mechanic says not to use a torch, which I wasn't tempted to do as I could see the rubber hose catching fire, then hydraulic fluid, etc.

Life is just one adventure after another!

 

[AKfish]

Thanks for all the responses

I checked with the dealer for pump price & it's $405--if I need one. The tractor doesn't have power steering.

The problem now is getting the hydraulic lines off. The fittings are frozen tight. It's an aftermarket loader, an SMC, aka Schwartz. There is a solid steel line with a nut welded near the end so you won't twist the line, and it appears that the end of the line is threaded, so the end of the hose is the female side. Talked to the local logging supply store who can make up hoses for me, but there are 3 different kinds of fittings, so I can't destroy all the fittings to get them apart. Since there are 4 lines, I have 4 chances to get one apart intact.

So far I have just used muscle & PB Blaster. Tractor mechanic says not to use a torch, which I wasn't tempted to do as I could see the rubber hose catching fire, then hydraulic fluid, etc.

Life is just one adventure after another!

If necessary - (you end up destroying the connectors getting them off) - you might be able to splice in a short section of wire backed hose at the junction. Or if the steel lines can't be re-flared for a splice (have to take them off); will need new lines fabbed up.

(Sometimes you can't win for losin... )

Best of luck. And let us know how you work everything out.

AKfish