mickeyw
Bronze Member
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2012
- Messages
- 64
- Location
- Surrey, UK
- Tractor
- 1987 Renault 68-12, 1981 JD1640, 1973 Ford 3000
Hi All,
I have a Ford 3000 that has developed some hydraulic issues over the last couple of years. From the many threads I've read on this subject this is not an uncommon thing.
We have owned this tractor for over 20 years. It doesn't do much work, gets the minimum of maintenance and unfortunately lives in the damp British outdoors. That said it's always been a good simple machine.
Progressively the lift arms and FEL have become more and more reluctant to operate. Initially it was only cold and wet weather that caused a problem, but now it happens all the time. Often once the engine has warmed up some functionality returns, but not entirely.
At one stage they would begin to operate if I let the engine speed drop to idle, and on other occasions it was only when revving the engine hard that they would play ball. These are certainly conflicting situations.
Things I checked include fluid levels (running universal transmission oil), position of draft control lever, flow speed control, position of external circuit valve in the top cover.
There is no noise indicating cavitation.
There don't appear to be any external leaks.
The tractor has the piston type pump without any integral filter.
Fearing issues of blocked filters I pulled the top cover. Generally the inside and the oil is very clean. I removed the return filter and that looks clean too. I can blow air through it OK. The suction filter is hard to see and remove, but given the general condition of everything else I suspect it's probably clean enough.
I drained the oil and didn't find any debris at the bottom. The pressure relief valve is all clean.
What is apparent is that all the top cover o-rings are very old and hardened, so I'll replace all of those. I'd hazard a guess that the cover has never been off before. I'll also replace the lift cylinder seals. Having studied some pictures I think they are part of the top cover seal kit. Can anyone confirm this?
The only thing I have found amiss so far is a small broken coil spring on the connecting link from the flow speed valve. One end has snapped off. It should hook onto a tag on the return filter tube.
Could this be enough to cause the symptoms I'm seeing?
Another cause I read about is that the o-rings on the oil supply pipe at the pump may be old and letting in air. I'll replace these seals too, but I've yet to take much of that apart for inspection.
If you have any suggestions on the cause of this problem I'd welcome them.
I have a Ford 3000 that has developed some hydraulic issues over the last couple of years. From the many threads I've read on this subject this is not an uncommon thing.
We have owned this tractor for over 20 years. It doesn't do much work, gets the minimum of maintenance and unfortunately lives in the damp British outdoors. That said it's always been a good simple machine.
Progressively the lift arms and FEL have become more and more reluctant to operate. Initially it was only cold and wet weather that caused a problem, but now it happens all the time. Often once the engine has warmed up some functionality returns, but not entirely.
At one stage they would begin to operate if I let the engine speed drop to idle, and on other occasions it was only when revving the engine hard that they would play ball. These are certainly conflicting situations.
Things I checked include fluid levels (running universal transmission oil), position of draft control lever, flow speed control, position of external circuit valve in the top cover.
There is no noise indicating cavitation.
There don't appear to be any external leaks.
The tractor has the piston type pump without any integral filter.
Fearing issues of blocked filters I pulled the top cover. Generally the inside and the oil is very clean. I removed the return filter and that looks clean too. I can blow air through it OK. The suction filter is hard to see and remove, but given the general condition of everything else I suspect it's probably clean enough.
I drained the oil and didn't find any debris at the bottom. The pressure relief valve is all clean.
What is apparent is that all the top cover o-rings are very old and hardened, so I'll replace all of those. I'd hazard a guess that the cover has never been off before. I'll also replace the lift cylinder seals. Having studied some pictures I think they are part of the top cover seal kit. Can anyone confirm this?
The only thing I have found amiss so far is a small broken coil spring on the connecting link from the flow speed valve. One end has snapped off. It should hook onto a tag on the return filter tube.
Could this be enough to cause the symptoms I'm seeing?
Another cause I read about is that the o-rings on the oil supply pipe at the pump may be old and letting in air. I'll replace these seals too, but I've yet to take much of that apart for inspection.
If you have any suggestions on the cause of this problem I'd welcome them.
