Need some advice. Regarding my G3038H

[BlackDogTx]

Hi All,
Had some issues with all of this rain down here in the "hostile" territory of Texas.. I sunk my tractor good trying to cut a couple of ditches to drain off some of the standing water.. While rocking it out, the main hydraulic line on my tractor underneath the deck "broke" and I lost all my hydraulic fluid, rendering the tractor essentially useless. Short story, couldn't winch it with my half ton truck (12k winch), it was stuck that good.. Ended up hiring a wrecker with a boom truck to get her out. Well thanks to Phil at Small Farms Innovations, he looked at the pics of what broke when I got her up on dry land, and he said that it didn't look broke, it just looks like the pipe came loose from a rubber hose that runs about 4 inches or so and has two clamps on it.. Danged if he wasn't correct.. I had noticed some hydraulic odor last few weeks before I stuck it, so those clamps must have worked loose (they are just cheap *** radiator hose kind of clamps, like you get at the auto store.. Of course they were painted black so I never noticed them).
So here's my question, I added Hydraulic fluid and need to know what to do next as I lost all my fluid.. Can I just let it run or do I need to bleed out air or what? The fluid looks like it has a ton of air bubbles in it, almost frothy white looking.. I am thinking if after all the air is out I will change filters again just to be safe? Are there any other things I should do or watch out for??
Thanks!!
.E

 

[davesl708]

Hi. I am not familiar with the G3038H but sounds like your getting the lines bled out as it runs (air bubbles).
I would just let it run and operate all the controls to finish getting the air out. Filter change never hurts. Recheck the fluid level.

Good luck.

 

[k0ua]

I am not familiar with your tractor either, but obviously if you have a metal hydraulic line and a rubber hose section put on with hose clamps it must be a "suction" line or return line feeding the pump. It has no pressure developed in it. So just tighten things up and go on. There is nothing to bleed. You need to make sure the junction is sealed, so air does not get sucked in with the fluid on the way to the pump and that dirt does not get in. If dirt/mud/water got into the system, then yes changing filters/fluid again might be a good idea.

 

[BlackDogTx]

I am not familiar with your tractor either, but obviously if you have a metal hydraulic line and a rubber hose section put on with hose clamps it must be a "suction" line or return line feeding the pump. It has no pressure developed in it. So just tighten things up and go on. There is nothing to bleed. You need to make sure the junction is sealed, so air does not get sucked in with the fluid on the way to the pump and that dirt does not get in. If dirt/mud/water got into the system, then yes changing filters/fluid again might be a good idea.

Hi James, Thanks for the response..Yep, I put her back together enough to get out of pasture and up to the barn, Noticed I still needed to tighten down clamps more. Tough to do in a sopping wet field with ants, so I got her done pretty quick.. Up at the barn I tightened everything to ensure no drips etc.. Only thing is my 3ph doesn't want to drop.. Maybe it takes some time for fluid to reach that?

 

[BlackDogTx]

Hi. I am not familiar with the G3038H but sounds like your getting the lines bled out as it runs (air bubbles).
I would just let it run and operate all the controls to finish getting the air out. Filter change never hurts. Recheck the fluid level.

Good luck.

Thanks Dave.. Yep seems to be working except for 3ph. Might take more time..

 

[k0ua]

Hi James, Thanks for the response..Yep, I put her back together enough to get out of pasture and up to the barn, Noticed I still needed to tighten down clamps more. Tough to do in a sopping wet field with ants, so I got her done pretty quick.. Up at the barn I tightened everything to ensure no drips etc.. Only thing is my 3ph doesn't want to drop.. Maybe it takes some time for fluid to reach that?

Check the position of your drop rate knob under the seat.. You might have bumped it while fighting to get out of the "slop" If the knob is too tight, the 3pt will not drop at all. Remember the 3pt drops by gravity alone, with the fluid in the cylinder being directed through this 3pt drop speed control orfice. The orfice is adjustable by the knob.

 

[BlackDogTx]

Check the position of your drop rate knob under the seat.. You might have bumped it while fighting to get out of the "slop" If the knob is too tight, the 3pt will not drop at all. Remember the 3pt drops by gravity alone, with the fluid in the cylinder being directed through this 3pt drop speed control orfice. The orfice is adjustable by the knob.

Thanks James, yep for some reason my drop rate knob is finicky.. I checked it and it still hasn't dropped.. It does this occasionally.. I let it sit for awhile and it eventually drops.. I will report back on this.

 

[k0ua]

Thanks James, yep for some reason my drop rate knob is finicky.. I checked it and it still hasn't dropped.. It does this occasionally.. I let it sit for awhile and it eventually drops.. I will report back on this.

Might have something (debris of some kind) stuck in the orifice. If you rotate it counterclockwise the 3pt (with and implement on it for weight) should drop like a rock.

 

[BlackDogTx]

Might have something (debris of some kind) stuck in the orifice. If you rotate it counterclockwise the 3pt (with and implement on it for weight) should drop like a rock.

Yes sir.. Ran her around a bit to shake off the mud and debris, Messed with the drop valve knob a few times and she came unstuck.. Thanks for all the help.. Just topped fluid off again. Looks like we will be mowing next week!