John Deer 790 jumping

[Rwatson0122]

Somehow water has gotten into my hydraulic fluid causing my tractor to jump when trying to steer or using the bucket. I drained all the fluid out and put new fluid in and changed the filters three times. It seems to work good for a short time but then does the jumping again and won't steer are my pumps bad?

 

[Mike1955]

Somehow water has gotten into my hydraulic fluid causing my tractor to jump when trying to steer or using the bucket. I drained all the fluid out and put new fluid in and changed the filters three times. It seems to work good for a short time but then does the jumping again and won't steer are my pumps bad?

Sir I've been watching this post. I don't have a clue how or where to diagnose this. The water I think is heavier than the oil. So if you quarantine the water and get it out you might be on track. Maybe someone else will chime in soon. Gook luck

 

[loggin]

Somehow water has gotten into my hydraulic fluid causing my tractor to jump when trying to steer or using the bucket. I drained all the fluid out and put new fluid in and changed the filters three times. It seems to work good for a short time but then does the jumping again and won't steer are my pumps bad?

We will definitely need more information. Not sure by what you mean "jumping"? Do you mean intermittent hydraulic pressure?
How many hours on the machine?
Is it a geared or hydrostatic transmission?
Have the hydraulic fluid and filters been regularly changed?
When you drained the hydraulic fluid were there any metal shavings or chunks in the fluid or the filter?
Is the 3 point hitch operating properly?

 

[crashz]

A JD 790 is a collar shift geared transmission tractor.

OP - did you clean the pick-up screen too? Maybe the screen is clogged and starving the pump.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Nothing jumps like a deere . . .

 

[Rwatson0122]

By jumping I mean it will stop and go like when you try to lift the bucket it will stop then go like stuttering so guess it would be intermittent hydraulic pressure. It has 959 hours on its a geared transmission I didn't see any shavings but the fluid when drained was milky white and the filters were clogged. I cleaned the filters and drained it put new fluid in and works for a few minutes then starts messing up again. I think water ran down into the transmission because of a bad gear shift boot.

 

[crashz]

That's a pretty common issue and entry point for water. I never had an issue with my 770 (an older version of the 790) but do know there is a pick-up screen near the bottom of the rear axle that can get clogged. I honestly can't remember where but I believe it unscrewed from the side of the case. Very common to get plugged up. When you say filters, I assume you changed the spin on filter below the floor board, but did you clean that internal screen too?

 

[Rwatson0122]

Yes the pickup screen has some gunk on it cleaned it off still didn't help tractor was running fine before the water got in it.

 

[loggin]

Yes the pickup screen has some gunk on it cleaned it off still didn't help tractor was running fine before the water got in it.

After changing the hydraulic fluid and filters + screen the last time did the fluid come out nice and clean?

How is the 3 point hitch hydraulics acting?

Next step would be to check hydraulic pressure, if the fluid is clean, to see if the pump is functioning properly.

 

[oldnslo]

Does it jump change while engine is idling vs half throttle vs full throttle?

I looked at JD parts breakdown and I believe that model has two separate pumps one for steering and for loader. If this is true then both systems jumping would point towards air leak in pump inlet line or some restriction in the inlet line. That should be the only common element between both circuits.

 

[rScotty]

Does it jump change while engine is idling vs half throttle vs full throttle?

I looked at JD parts breakdown and I believe that model has two separate pumps one for steering and for loader. If this is true then both systems jumping would point towards air leak in pump inlet line or some restriction in the inlet line. That should be the only common element between both circuits.

That's where I would look too. Start by looking to see if there is a wet area anywere along the line between the transmission housing and the inlet to the hydraulic pump. Intake line air leaks will allow air into the line when the engine is running, but won't show as an external leak until the engine is shut off.
If any part of your intake line is a rubber hose with clamps, take a careful look at the ends of the hose. Old hose can have cracks internally where it clamps to the barb. Almost impossible to spot the leak, it just shows up as an oily hose.
rScotty

 

[Rwatson0122]

After changing the hydraulic fluid and filters + screen the last time did the fluid come out nice and clean. The fluid is clean now but still jumping.

Next step would be to check hydraulic pressure, if the fluid is clean, to see if the pump is functioning properly. How would I go about checking the hydraulic pressure?

If this is true then both systems jumping would point towards air leak in pump inlet line or some restriction in the inlet line. I do I check for air leaks?

 

[loggin]

After changing the hydraulic fluid and filters + screen the last time did the fluid come out nice and clean. The fluid is clean now but still jumping.

Next step would be to check hydraulic pressure, if the fluid is clean, to see if the pump is functioning properly. How would I go about checking the hydraulic pressure?

If this is true then both systems jumping would point towards air leak in pump inlet line or some restriction in the inlet line. I do I check for air leaks?

If you have air leaks in the intake line the fluid usually turns foamy and looks light or whitish in color because of all the tiny bubbles in there. The bubbles will slowly dissipate so you would need to check fluid soon after shut down.

To check pressure you need to have a hydraulic pressure gauge and a coupler of some sort, either quick attach or threaded, to attach to a hydraulic line. Then look up what the specified pressure should be for your tractor. Be careful because the pressures can reach typically between 2,500 to almost 3,000 psi. A small leak in the line or where you have attached the gauge can result in a small stream with enough power to puncture skin and enter the blood stream.

 

[rScotty]

After changing the hydraulic fluid and filters + screen the last time did the fluid come out nice and clean. The fluid is clean now but still jumping.

Next step would be to check hydraulic pressure, if the fluid is clean, to see if the pump is functioning properly. How would I go about checking the hydraulic pressure?

If this is true then both systems jumping would point towards air leak in pump inlet line or some restriction in the inlet line. I do I check for air leaks?

I was just looking at some info I have of those Yanmar/JDs. Boy is that a nice tractor! Most were built after 2000 so they are recent enough, but they were made by Yanmar to a design that dates back to the 1970s and 80s. Basic diesel engine and H/L 8 speed transmission. A tractor doesn't get much simpler than that, although they did try to complicate it by putting too many control levers on the dash. Ergonomics over function......

One change that Deere made could be the source of your "hydraulic jumping" problem. Deere put their own loader control valve on some of the 790s and they were trying out a new system of regenerative loader valving. It was an option, and if you have that option the regenerative functioncould cause the jumping. I'm not sure how you can identify if you have that loader valve. On the 770s you could tell because it had a longish lever for the loader that disappears into the bodywork down by your right knee. Maybe you should post a photo of that area where the loader control valve is located.

To your questions - you can buy a hydraulic pressure gauge test kit for a couple hundred bucks and generally it will have the right adapters to fit between the loader control valve and a loader hose so that you can watch the pressure guage as you work the loader. That may or may not tell you anything.

I doubt it is a restriction. More probably it is either an intake side air leak and a bubble going through... or that one of the automatic diverter valves in the system has failed. None of this is expensive, but can be hard to find. You have a diverter valve for the power steering - if it has PS -, plus several for the regenerative function on the loader control valve - again, if it has that option. And finally, the safety pressure relief valves are a type of diverter valve and could be bad.

All of these proportional and diverter valves are simply a poppet valve where hydraulic pressure pushes an valve against a spring to open an alternative flow route. In the case of the relief valves they do that to release too much pressure. But the point is they all have springs and a ball or poppet valve and springs can break and valves can stick... especially with water and goo in the hydraulic system.

You want to fix it because if it is an air leak then the hydraulic pump cavitates each time it tries to compress an air bubble and that reduces the hydraulic pump life.

Right now about all I can say is post some pictures, look for a leak when it isn't running, get a shop manual, and see if you can get some more diagnostic info - how it works with various loads, steering, using the 3pt hitch etc.

Good luck,
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

While you get some photos together and a shop manual, we can try to narrow it down. What we need is more information. The kind of info we would get if we had the tractor handy..

Drive it in a straight line without using the loader...does it jump? Try just raising and loweing the loader and bucket when sitting still. Make each movement independently and then both together at low RPM and at medium RPM. ...what then?

Try the same while uing the steering and yet again when raising and lowering the 3pt. Try it all at medium RPM versus at an idle.

Do the kinds of test a mechanic would do if he was there. Keep some notes and then we can try to figure out which system is causing the problem. It could be as simple as a sticky cylinder regen control.
rScotty