Is this a low pressure line?

[charosenz]

I am looking to add a DIY PB Dual Spool valve on my JD 3203. JD does not make a PB kit.

I am looking for a place to route and connect the "tank" (drain) off of the new spool valve.

I would like to know if this line that comes from the Oil Cooler to the HST is a low pressure line that would be a good place to connect to.

 

[topbuilder]

I have worked on a lot of hydraulic systems. But, never a John Deere. Having said that, I always returned into the reservoir itself. A plug on the rear housing, the filler plug. See if you can find where the factory kit returns. Check into whether your unit is open center/closed center. That will dictate what valve is used. Good luck!

 

[charosenz]

TB,

Thanks for your reply.

I completely agree. I was up till midnight trying to find a plug that I could use to connect the low pressure return line from the new SCV.

Below is a picture of the top of the transaxle just inside of the right rear tire, not too far from the filler cap where you add transmission oil. I plan to open one of these to look inside and gently probe around to see if it drains in to the transaxle housing like it appears it should based on the diagrams.

Also attached is the JDParts schematic for those plugs, labeled as #6 and circled in red.

I appreciate follow up from anyone who is familiar with JD transaxles enough to know if draining through this plug would work.

Thanks Charlie

 

[BukitCase]

I don't know much about JD tractors, last one I drove was a 2 cyl. "multifuel", and the driver was also the "starter"

But according to this

TractorData.com John Deere 323 tractor information

it's open center hydraulics, and like most they're split between steering and hydraulics, with separate relief settings - there is NOTHING that suggests that they use the same reservoir as the HST, so I personally would look REAL HARD at what's going on before dumping hydraulic fluid into the transaxle -

On both my older tractors the only option to get more remotes is to find the line that feeds the 3PH, cut it and insert a PB capable aftermarket valve(s), tee the new valve's OUT into the tank return (if it HAS one and you can find it) and hook the PB of the NEW valve into the half of the previously cut line that goes to the 3PH.

My first sentence still stands but if all else fails maybe this could help... Steve

 

[charosenz]

BC,

I agree, and I appreciate the reply. I am looking real hard, and this thread is part of my effort to learn all I can before I do anything.

This model as both a power steering pump and an implement pump; and they are both fed by the same suction line right at the transmission housing where the transmission filter is located. There is no separate fill cap for just the power steering and the manual does not mention anything about power steering fluid servicing, other than the inline filter. So based on the manual and what I see, the power steering, the transmission and the transaxle all use the same transmission fluid - but have separate pumps. The Power steering flow goes from the pump to the steering valve, the steering cylinders then feeds in to what looks to be the clutch housing.

The flow on this model is such that the pressure line from the pump feeds the DSCV which in turns feeds the Rockshaft valve. There is no visible line out from the rockshaft, so I suspect it flows back in to the transaxle that it sits on top of.

Here is a pic of the plugs on the top of the transaxle that is just around the corner of the oiler filler cap. I am seeking input on people who can say for sure, if putting the return line in one of these plugs will return the oil to where it should go.

As you mentioned I need to be very sure before I do anything so I am hoping to hear from folks who are certain of their advice.

Thanks to everyone for the help.

Here is the pick of those plugs.

 

[charosenz]

For the most part this issue has been resolved because I learned that the oil return plug that the 3320 uses, is just below the Transmission oil filler cap, and the 3203 has one as well. So no need to tap in to that one line I asked about, and no need to tap in to either of those two plugs that were on the transaxle housing.

I did open up both of those two plugs, and the one to the rear, was powder dry. The one forward was wet with oil. I left them both open while the tractor ran and neither had any oil come out at all. I also cycled the DSCV and the Rock shaft and again no oil came out at all.

But, I still plan to use the oil return plug just below the filler cap as shown in the pic attached.

Thanks to Eric102 for his help in nailing down this oil return plug.

Charlie