Question about hydraulics on a 5M

[Bigfoot62]

Update:
Talked to the service manager today. They have changed the manifold and pump. Waiting on one more small part to come in tomorrow. Also waiting for JD factory rep to call him back.
I'll post more when I know more.

 

[wmonroe]

Did they look at the old manifold to find out where it failed?

 

[Bigfoot62]

Did they look at the old manifold to find out where it failed?

Don't know. I plan to ask that question when I go to pick it up.

 

[Blackjackfarm]

Yikes!!! I've got about 460 hours on my 5095M!!! No problems with hydraulics yet but this is good to know!!!

 

[AKfish]

Here's where we are with the hydraulic issue:
Earlier today, I spoke with the service manager at the selling dealership. He has discussed it with the John Deere factory representative, and JD has agreed to cover the repair, only IF the manifold is defective. If it's not, the repair will be paid for by yours truly. Either way, I need to get it fixed. I'll probably try to make an appointment next week. I plan to start cutting hay in the next day or two, and I have to have this tractor to bale.

It's pretty difficult to imagine that after 420 hours of use... the main hydraulic pump is just worn out!! (You could buy a brand new tractor after replacing the manifold and pump 6-7 times; or 3,500 hours - whichever comes first!! )

I'm guessing that Deere is trying to "cover their @ss" and if somebody lost all their hydraulic fluid and kept running the tractor... well, they wouldn't want to be liable for that!

However, most folk's are likely to figure that it'd be a real good idea to shut the tractor down after 10 gallons of hyd. oil was spread all over the tractor and ground!

That said; they treated me very well and I wasn't out anything except the use of the tractor. :thumbsup:

AKfish

 

[Bigfoot62]

AKfish,
I talked to the service manager yesterday evening. He was still waiting on a hydraulic line to come in. That was all they needed to finish the job. Then, he wants to test flow rate and pressure. Also wants to let it sit a couple days and make sure that cured the problem.
He's still waiting on word from the JD factory rep. I'll be gone next week. Maybe they'll have it all sorted out by the time I get home.

Blackjackfarm,
Don't panic! This seems to be a rare problem. If it hasn't shown up yet, you're probably good. Mine began a few months ago, in the springtime, when I wasn't working the tractor much. And, honestly, I just blamed it on the tractor sitting for days or weeks at a time and cold hydraulic fluid. It only became a real problem as hay season started and I really used the tractor a lot more.

 

[Piston]

It's pretty difficult to imagine that after 420 hours of use... the main hydraulic pump is just worn out!! (You could buy a brand new tractor after replacing the manifold and pump 6-7 times; or 3,500 hours - whichever comes first!! )


AKfish

Wow! How much do these pumps cost? That's gotta be near $10k for the pump????

 

[Bigfoot62]

Don't know yet. I've been out of town for a week. I plan on talking to them Monday.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Talked to the Service Manager. He said the repair was done. They're waiting on the JD factory rep to come and look at the pump. He will determine if JD will cover the cost. Wish me luck.

 

[wmonroe]

Good luck, hopefully they treat you right.

 

[Bigfoot62]

OK, the tractor is home.
Replaced hydraulic pump and manifold. (plus oil, several gaskets, one hydraulic line, etc)
Total repair bill was over $2600. Still haven't heard from the JD factory rep as to how much of it I'll have to pay.

 

[wmonroe]

That's good you finally have the tractor back. Hope now they take care of you on the repair price.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Yep, good to have her home.

Will just have to wait and see on the bill.

 

[Caledon Hills]

Hey Bigfoot,

Glad you got your machine back; hope they take care of you too. So what caused the manifold and pump to go bad? My 09 M has about the same hours as yours, but no problems yet just work done and enjoyment doing it.

Regards,

Tom

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . So what caused the manifold and pump to go bad? My 09 M has about the same hours as yours, but no problems yet just work done and enjoyment doing it.

Tom, From what I can understand, the manifold on some of these tractors is bad. Just a bad casting. The manifold is cast aluminum. All it takes is a pin-hole. The pump is mounted up high on the transmission case, so it's above the fluid level. If the casting is bad, the fluid leaks from the pump and back into the transmission. Then, when you start it back up, the pump is running dry. As the pump begins to wear, it takes longer each time for it to regain its prime. The longer it runs dry, the more it wears. Not good, to say the least.
Again, from what I've learned, if you haven't had a problem yet, chances are you won't. Realize that this happens to just a very few of these tractors, literally a small fraction. The service manager said that mine was the ONLY 5M that he knows of with this problem. I didn't realize that I had trouble until it had almost 400 hours on it, and it was just out of warranty (of course). Of the few that have responded with similar problems, most seem to occur much sooner.
The folks on this forum are great. Thanks to AKfish and jd110, I was able to give my service manager the John Deere service solution number. (like an automotive TSB) It made his job a lot easier, and probably encouraged the JD factory rep to go ahead and authorize the repair.

 

[Caledon Hills]

Thanks very much for that excellent explanation Bigfoot, much appreciated. And you are so right about Akfish and JD110; they are two of the many knowledgeable and supportive guys here that are always ready to help.
Thanks again guys.

Regards,

Tom

 

[Bigfoot62]

OK,
Just thought I'd let everyone know.
I've had opportunity, over the last couple weeks, to work the tractor. Put about 25 hours on it, since the repair. Everything seems to be perfect. Looks like it's finally fixed. What a relief.
And even better, it's been over 2 months, and I still haven't received a bill. (at least, not yet) I'm hoping that JD just took care of it completely. And, if they don't say anything, I surely won't.
Thanks again to all those who helped and offered advice. It's been just another reminder of how great this site can be. :thumbsup:

 

[Bigfoot62]

Talked to the dealer yesterday. John Deere fully covered the repair. It's official, I don't owe anything. It only cost me the time and fuel to carry it in and pick it up.
BTW, I really like my JD dealership: E. S. Voelker

 

[wmonroe]

Good to hear they took care of you on the repair and the tractor is running well.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Thanks.