Can't get the FEL working

bklough · May 5, 2016

I've changed the hydraulic fluid, filter, and have found no leaks. The brush hog (3 pt gear?) works, but is "shakey". I cannot get the FEL to work. The 3 pt (rear) works okay, but is not consistent. I can hear air bleeding out through the valve behind the seat, but it don't seem to make that much difference. I've replaced the filter, and refilled the reservoir with 303 Tractor Oil form O'Reiley. The FEL seems to "want to work" -- it stutters -- but just won't got all the way. Seems like a bleed issue, but I've got nothing.

Hercules 2254. That's really all I know.

lnk · May 6, 2016

Before I knew better I tried 303 in my hydraulics. Foamed up and was jerky. Read the tractor manual and it stated my gear driven hydraulics need 20W/20 API. Works fine now. YMMV

Good luck

gene bender · May 6, 2016

Sounds like there is air in the system i would take filler plug out and then cycle all hy controls a bunch of times to purge the trapped air.

markct · May 6, 2016

Need a bit more info, loader have it's own pump or does it use the same hydraulics as the 3pt?

cjunrau · May 6, 2016

Sounds to me like the pump is starving of oil. You may need to crack the main pressure line and see if the pump is working. Had a tractor once that would suck air in the suction line and had to do it every day

rrlund · May 6, 2016

I never could get the fat old goat off his........

No wait,that was the FIL.

bklough · May 6, 2016

Apologies. The margarita was kicking in when I posted. :-D There's only one pump, near as I can tell. Steering, transmission, and hydraulics are all in the circuit. The steering has improved greatly since I changed the filter and topped off the reservoir.

Here's some pictures of what I'm working with.

bklough · May 6, 2016

I'm not sure what the "filler plug" is. There's a drain plug just below the filter. There's a bolted down, spring-loaded "something" on the FEL controls.

What I noticed last night is that there is an extra range on the FEL controls. There's the usual 8 positions you can hit with minimum hand pressure. I applied more pressure pushing forward (drop bucket) and the stick moved almost an inch. Once in that range, I could feel another set of left and right stick positions. Also, in that position, the stick will stay there. I had to pull it back to get it to it's normal "neutral" position.

bklough · May 6, 2016

(quoted from post at 05:25:04 05/06/16) Sounds to me like the pump is starving of oil. You may need to crack the main pressure line and see if the pump is working. Had a tractor once that would suck air in the suction line and had to do it every day

Based on the oil I see moving through the reservoir, and I would think, the brush hog raising and lowering, can't I assume the pump is working?

I actually got the bucket to jump up 5 inches or so this morning. I turned off the tractor, then lowered it and heard a fair amount of air escape. Then I was back where I was, with the bucket just stuttering a bit, and the brush hog hesitating a bunch when lifting it.

markct · May 6, 2016

That's called float

markct · May 6, 2016

That cap sure looks to me like power
steering reservoir, way too small to be
hydraulic reservoir tank.

bklough · May 6, 2016

I haven't found another reservoir yet. Here's some pics from the manual.

That 1st pic shows a dipstick, but haven't found that yet either. The 2nd pic clearly shows the hydraulic pump with a line to that reservoir, so that's what I've been going by.

caterpillar guy · May 6, 2016

The square plug right behind the seat, on top looks like it might have a dipstick in the top of it. The same looking plug in front of the seat might be a fill hole or the one behind the seat.
The cap you have open by the front of the tractor looks more like the power steering reservoir unless it has a connection to the rest of the tractor hydraulics.
It sounds like you have crossed, either open and closed center vales and systems or air in things. Since the 3pt works but shakey,you might have a weak pump.
Other than that I would probably see a dealer for information or a book on it.

wrenchere85 · May 6, 2016

The tank at the front is for the power steering. The hyd.
tank is under the seat. The fill plug is the square
headed plug on top, at the right side front of seat.I use
regular hyd. oil.

bklough · May 6, 2016

These are what came out of the tank under the seat. The closest one, is from the front, the other with the spring and washers came out of the right side, front.

This is what I see down the front.

This is what I see down the right side. At the bottom is some swivel-type plug the spring sits under.

Front hole closest, "right-side" hole on the left.

markct · May 6, 2016

Oh goodness, doesn't look like parts that the amateur mechanic should be removing, likely the reservoir is the rear axle housing.

bklough · May 6, 2016

Okay, I found the dipstick on the transmission. It's right next to the gear shift in the picture. The fluid is up to the top, smells very weird, and is tan and foamy. I assume I have to drain this as I've never seen tan, foamy oil before (water?).

Do I refill this with the 303 tractor oil since all this stuff is tied into the hydraulics?

markct · May 6, 2016

Sure sounds like water to me, should
still function tho unless the water has
been there a long time and damaged the
pump or relief etc, especially possible
if it was started in winter when the
water was frozen it could have broken
the pump drive or pump itself

GordoSD · May 6, 2016

As you are working with hydraulic system I would strongly suggest you STOP. Close up all tanks and lines and get your air hose out and blow that machine squeaky clean .Then wash it. Otherwise you will contaminate it beyond repair.

bklough · May 7, 2016

Woot! 3 gal of 303 and 40+hrs later, the bucket works like a champ. Brush hog doesn't, but, hey, I can get done what I need too. For now. And "thatch" my lawn in the process. :-D

Turns out, the hydraulic dipstick was attached to that curved release vent right behind the seat. I'm thinking, had I stumbled on that first, everything would be working fine. I have a sneaky suspicion that spool valve or whatever with the washers and spring FUBAR'd the 3 point in some fashion. But, pretty sure I discovered a head gasket issue or block issue given the milky trany fluid in this whole process.

So, all: thank you for your posts and patience.

Can't get the FEL working

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