Cleaning hydro system?

   / Cleaning hydro system? #1  

chanceu

Silver Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Messages
120
Location
Alpharetta, GA
Tractor
New Holland TC24DA
I've had a leak down issue with my FEL since I added a few a grapple a few months ago. There were/are no leaks, but with the tractor running, the FEL lift and curl leak down slowly. I've posted about this before and someone suggested replacing the poppets in the control valve which I did. The problem stopped and I thought it was fixed, but it came back.

Reading another post, someone mentioned that a common mistake is not cleaning debris out of new hydro hoses before installing them. I'm guilty of that and I'm beginning to believe that's the problem. One big reason for this is that the problem seems to get worse the longer the tractor runs which I think indicates it gets worse once the trash gets stirred up.

The only other thing I think it might be is something new I read here last night. Someone said something about air being smaller than hydro fluid and just because there's no hydro leak doesn't mean there's no air leak. I'm probably going redo all the fittings I added just make sure.

My question is how do I make sure I get all the trash out of the hydro system? I did my 50 hour service shortly after installing the grapple and I did replace the hydro fluid and filter and the HST filter. I didn't go to any trouble to make sure all the oil was out of the cylinders and hoses.
 
   / Cleaning hydro system? #2  
I don't think you have trash in the system. Those kubota filters are pretty dern good and won't let trash be in the system for long.

It sounds like you may have an air leak on a hose connection. Try taking them all off one by one, cleaning the threads and mating surfaces and reassembling. There may be more than one...

jb
 
   / Cleaning hydro system? #3  
You may want to check the breather for your hydraulic system. I had some problems with my Farmtrac and changed the vent to a homemade style. I used some jic fittings and put an oil filter for a lawn mower on as a breather. Sure solved all the problems. The little vent cap that came on the tractor just had a very small hole in the cap. About 1/8 dia. Just wasn't enough air getting in when the hydraulics were being used on the loader and steering at the same time. The oil filter being used as an air filter breather works great. You get plenty of air flow in and out as needed.
 
   / Cleaning hydro system? #4  
Check you fluid level I had the same problem with a new piston on my snow blower, after the cylinder was filled the fluid droped and it could not build enough pressure.
 
   / Cleaning hydro system?
  • Thread Starter
#5  
Since I connected the grapple with quick connects, it was easy enough to remove all the new plumbing. Now it's back to the way it came from the dealer. I did a little bush hogging today and the FEL lift/curl still leaked down. If it is an air leak, it's somewhere in the original equipment which only has about 60 hours on it.

The fluid level is fine. I did have to add some after installing the grapple, but I also did the 50 hour service with the grapple attached.

As for the filter, how are New Holland filters at cleaning trash? I have a NH TC24DA and changed all the filters with NH filters at the 50 hour service.

I doubt it the breather because there are backflow poppets in the control valve which are supposed to prevent what's happening. As I said earlier, I replaced those poppets a while back and thought I fixed the problem, but it came back.

I'm about to take it back to the dealer and let them deal with it. I've had the tractor for a year so this problem can't be due to normal wear and tear.
 

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