John Deere 4230 Problems

[johndeerelover4230]

So lately our 1974 quad range 4230 has had some problems going uphill while on the road. What it does is when I am going up hill then suddenly, it starts slowing down until you shift it into the C or B range. I have asked arounnd, and nobody else knows what is happening. I hope we can figure this out before we start planting.

 

[tow653]

Sounds like clutch!

 

[jd110]

When you say it slows down, do you mean the engine bogs down, or does engine stay at same speed with ground speed slowing down?If only ground speed slowing down, then clutch is slipping or Hi-Lo is slipping. If engine is bogging down, then you may have a fuel problem or the engine may be misfiring under load due to a bad injector, low compression, etc.

 

[johndeerelover4230]

The engine stays the same speed, but the ground speed slows. Thanks for the help.

 

[Tx Jim]

Either the traction clutch or the hyd hi-lo is slipping. Does it slow down in both high & low speed of the 2 speed? I'd suggest checking traction clutch pressure. It should be around 165 psi.

 

[bound2needhelp]

I have a 4230 with the following and it is doing the same thing. Sorry for jumping in here but I'm new and beg foregiveness
Transmission: John Deere Powershift
Type: full power shift
Gears: 8 forward and 4 reverse

 

[beenthere]

No "foregiveness" needed around here. :welcome: to TBN

Re-hash just what you are having happen, in your words and when the problem developed, as it developed.

 

[bound2needhelp]

The warmer my tractor gets the more slippage I get. I will be pulling either my 16' Hydro-swing or round baler on normally level ground and especially if I shift to 4th gear or higher while the engine speed remains the same the tractor will slow until it would otherwise stop. Most of the time reducing the RPM's will enable me to stay in that gear and the slippage stops as the transmission engages. Often I must move to a lower gear, lower RPM and then synchronize my move to a higher gear with an RPM reduction until it grabs and then it behaves normally.

As a note: I have what appears to be a small hole in the bottom of the transmission housing and I get a relatively steady steam like jet that exhausts from their..
Since I have repaired the main hydraulic pump (under the radiator) and rebuilt the 2 of the 3 hydraulic valves (quick couplers) on the rear and replaced the seal on the PTO shaft (thingy) I have reduced my hydraulic leaks to almost nil and my hydraulic reservoir remains within the safe range

 

[Tx Jim]

bound2needhelp
Welcome to TBN.
Powershift trans needs to be tested with gauges in each gear to properly diagnose malfunction. Also another possibility is a slipping damper clutch in engine flywheel. How long since hyd filters were changed & sump screen checked/cleaned?

 

[bound2needhelp]

I changed the 2 filters about 2 years ago. At that time I was going through hydraulic fluid at an alarming rate because of all the leaks in the pump and selective control valves. I have never checked the sump screen and I am not sure where to check.