Ventrac- power decreasing, noise increasing???

[plowhog]

Last fall I noticed it seemed a bit more noisy when I used power steering left or right on my Ventrac 4500Y. Didn't use it over winter.

This spring, the noise increased. Then I had slowly decreasing power while mowing. I did a test with keeping blades engaged, turning, and lifting the deck all at once. Sluggish. I shut it down.

The manual suggested a restricted hydraulic filter could cause this. The first suggested change is 100 hours, which is exactly where I am at. I just now changed both hydraulic filters with new-- presto-- Ventrac runs like new and purrs like a kitten. Even the power steering noise I noticed last fall is gone.

Should these hydraulic filters start causing restrictions at only 100 hours? Or should I be looking at something else which might have caused this?

 

[johara1]

Cut the filters open and look for metal....... or something blocking it..... jim

 

[prestond]

Is it possible that you were low on hydraulic fluid before the filter change? I noticed I was a little bit low on hydraulic fluid at about the 70 hour mark.

 

[prs]

Cutting the filters, especially the 10micron one could prove interesting, but messy. Take great care to not introduce dust, drit, grime, chaff, etc. into the system. Always wide the various quick coupler male fittings and use clean shop towel twisted to clean the female part of coupler. Use a tooth brush or parts brush to clean the female coupler protectors before replacing them and do use them. Old implements with cruddy fluid can contaminate the new system, but what's a mother to do???

 

[plowhog]

Is it possible that you were low on hydraulic fluid before the filter change? I noticed I was a little bit low on hydraulic fluid at about the 70 hour mark.

Good suggestion, but I checked that and it was OK.

 

[plowhog]

Cutting the filters, especially the 10micron one could prove interesting, but messy.

Do you have any suggestion about how to open up the filter? I thought of cutting it with a hack saw or sawzall, but was worried I would be "creating" metal particles. They are both spin-on filters.

 

[prestond]

If you really want to get serious about cutting oil filters, you can buy an oil filter cutting tool like this: JEGS Oil Filter Cutting Tool.

I usually use a Dremel cutting disc (and make a mess).

 

[johara1]

Pipe cutter...... jim

 

[johara1]

If you really want to get serious about cutting oil filters, you can buy an oil filter cutting tool like this: JEGS Oil Filter Cutting Tool.

I usually use a Dremel cutting disc (and make a mess).

Your putting grit and metal in the filter that you are looking for........ pipe cutter or that one JEGS sales..... jim

 

[plowhog]

I don't have a pipe cutter that large.

Probably a messy job, but I could probably get one apart with a pair of side cutters and tin snips.

If there is metal in the filter, is it usually quite obvious to see?

 

[johara1]

cut the top off, sit the filter in a vice upright..... take the pleated paper out and look on the inside, thats were everything shows up, it unfolds like an accordion .... do it all the time. Do the same with oil filters you can se trouble on the way before it happens..... jim

 

[prs]

I would not bother to cut one without the large pipe cutter or filter cutter. If you do, yes the media will show any metal in bright light/sun light.

prs

 

[johara1]

Yes, you will contaminate the results, the only way to cut one with a grinder and a cut off blade is up side down and keep the contamination at the upper end and disregard it .... jim

 

[plowhog]

I will try cutting it upside down to minimize contamination.

btw I have 6-8 hours on the Ventrac since filter changes-- still running as it should. Just seems weird that at slightly over 100 hrs I was losing hydraulic pressure due to filter restrictions.

 

[johara1]

Just maybe continuation, and the filter caught it.... or if the filter was full metal I would say it will soon be history. That is why you cut them open and check them, even if you don't have a problem. You really should have cut that filter open and seen the problem..... jim