Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q's

[vacfarmer]

Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

Hello Everyone.
I purchased my 4020 about 1 year ago after reading many, many post on this site - thank you all. I found a good local dealer who made me a great deal - as I have come to find out it was a "going out of business deal". He is gone and the next dealer is far away and I am sure has no sympathy for me.

I now have the first 50 hours on the tractor and need to complete my fluid and filter change. With the help of posting's here I have my WIX filters and associated fluids.

My questions were not answered by the manual, which showed no reference to the items I have q's about; 1st is -
why are there 2 oil fill caps under the hood? The first is top of the head, just like a car, the other is to the front and off to the side with a tube that goes up to the Turbo (4020 is 3cyl turbo I'm sure you know). - Whats the second cap just labeled "oil" for?

Second, to replace the hydo oil in the rear - do I fill from the little orange plug marked "oil" in the back of the tractor by the external hydraulics? or is there some other area to fill from? I do not see any area with a painted bolt to drain from either, but I suspect finding the drain will not be too hard to do.

Also, what is the white tank with the black cap next to the fuel tank with a cap labeled "oil"?

Thank you all very much for the help.

 

[virgil]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

2 oil filler caps under the hood........ dont know why they put two of them under there, either one will fill the crank case. one of them is eisier for me to get a funnel into.

The rear end /hyd/ transmission oil... Yes, the orange plug is where you fill it at. If you remove the hydraulic line that is just to the left and above the filler tube (that is a return line), you can put the new oil in without it "burping" all over you. There should be a painted bolt under the transmission.. it faces forward and is just below the driveshaft. This drain plug drains all the oil from the transmission, rear end, and hydraulic . There will be about 10 gallons of fluid in there, be prepared.

The little white tank you spoke about is the power steering tank.

Be sure to give the machine a shot of grease everywhere.

How's that machine performing for you?

virgil

 

[virgil]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

oh yes, be sure to blow out the radiator.

 

[vacfarmer]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

Thank you Virgil.
I got out the tools yesterday and just went at it. Had nearly as much fun doing that as using the darn thing. I assumed the second oil cap was a red hearing - why would the Turbo need it's own lube anyhow?

The rear end went very well, only a couple burps but I will remember your advice next time on that. The front axel was quite easy as well and I was happy to find the "remote mount" coolant drain - that was quite neat! I hit every zert under there, and checked the front axel bolts (all were fine).

I also pulled the entire air cleaner assembly so I could get the air hose next to the radiator - amazing how much stuff gets in there. I figured the power steering reservoir after following the lines to the front. Any recommendation on replacing that fluid - how often and what type? I do not even see that in the manual.

I enjoy using the tractor, though most of it's use is for part of my work. We use the tractor for unloading and loading product from trucks. I use the fel with a pallet attachment. My dealer knew this and before delivery had a restrictor installed on the fel to slow it's descent. It works quite well. I have also found about 1.2 million other things to do with it, some of which have saved me thousands of $$, making the tractor well worth the money.

Thanks for the info Virgil. I see you are in Weatherford - do you have a good dealer up there?

 

[virgil]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

Power steering fluid... I recomend the same fluid that I put into the rear end-trans-hyd. And as far as I am concerned, changing the oils is nothing short of putting money in the bank! What's that old saying? something about an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

We use a John Deere 303 for the power steering, Hydraulics, transmission and front end.

I also change the antifreeze in ALL of my personal pickups, trucks, and machines once a year...

Good Dealer.. Well, I hope I'm a good dealer, we've had the Branson longer than anyone else in this Lone Star State... #1 in sales in 3 states...Now I'm braggin, so I'll shut up.

 

[rameye]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

Virgil,

What does it mean when they say to clean the hydraulic pick-up screen??

I know what it does, but the op manual is a little vague on the where and how.

Zetor/Century 43 HP

 

[virgil]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

There are 2 screens on your machine. One is in the power steering tank, and one is in the rear end / transmission.

The one at the rear end is on the right hand side. Just in front of the rear axel you might say. There are 3 bolts that hold the cover on. The 'cover" is triangle shaped. There is an o-ring between the cover and the housing.

I've never found anything caught in this screen. But then I've yet to have failure in the hydraulic system. (other than blowing the seal out in the hyd pump, which fills the engine crank case with hyd oil, which was caused by not allowing the machine to warm up a little, which was MY FAULT.)

virgil

 

[rameye]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

Thanks Virgil....

Looking forward to my 50 hour overhaul.

 

[virgil]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

be sure to blow out the radatior and air filters. its amazing how much stuff gets in there.

 

[MicroPilot]

Re: Branson 4020 Basic Maint Q\'s

When I did my 50 hour service there were tiny bits of metal in this screen. I was told that it was normal and not to worry about it. Thats the reason you change the oil at 50 hours - to flush out the break-in period wear metal.