joestewart
Member
4430 Hydraulics quit after 5 minutes of running
I finally got this 4430 quad range running. s/n 4430H 020633D. 1974 model. Note: this tractor sat unused and unstarted for approximately 15 years before I bought it for a song. I think I have all the engine issues sorted out. Now addressing the hydraulic issues.
I have already drained the hydraulic fluid and changed the hydraulic filter. When I realized that I was having hydraulic issues, I did some internet sleuthing and discovered that there is a tubular inlet screen behind a 2 inch plug having a ½” square ratchet drive. I re-drained the hydraulic fluid and removed the screen: As expected, the screen was nearly occluded with trash (photo attached). I cleaned it out, put it back in, and refilled the hydraulic fluid reservoir, but the tractor is still exhibiting the same symptoms.
I will need some help in diagnosing. The algorithm in the John Deere service manual is long, cumbersome and confusing. I have hooked up a 10 foot bush hog, and given it a few trial runs. Here are the symptoms:
I start the engine. When I rev it up to about 2000 rpm, I am getting 40 psi of clutch pressure. That is about the maximum clutch pressure I have seen.
I pull back on the 3-point lever: The three point arms will raise but they raise slowly and there is some chatter while raising. I notice that the 3-point arms will not raise all the way (they only go up about ½ way, even with lever pulled all the way back).
The steering works, but I notice that I have to turn the steering wheel back and forth a couple of times before I can get the front tires to turn in the proper direction. After this the steering works fine.
So I put it in gear and engage the pto and begin shredding grass. All is well for the first 5 minutes or so. But then all of a sudden, I lose my power steering! Very difficult to steer. Then I notice that the three point arms have sunk to the bottom of their travel, and the bush hog is dragging on the ground - can’t get it to come back up. Then the PTO lever disengaged (by itself).
On one of these test forays, all the above symptoms occurred, but in addition to those symptoms, the following occurred: when I shifted into a reverse gear, I noticed that, when I let out the clutch pedal, the tractor would not move! No movement at all! I tried to shift it into multiple possible gears (both forward and reverse) and the tractor still would not move at all! I believe that at this point, the PTO would not engage either! For a few minutes there, I thought that I would have to be towed back to the barn. But then, I tried placing it into a reverse gear, letting the clutch fully out and, leaving it out. Well, after about 10-15 seconds, the tractor started moving (halting starts at first, but eventually moving smoothly). I had it in low forward gear at this point, and I took advantage of the temporary ability to move and I limped about 750 feet back to the barn.
When I got back to the barn, I put my hands on the steering gear, rockshaft housing and the service control valves: None of them were hot. I pulled the hydraulic dipstick and felt the fluid at the tip: The fluid was not hot. Then I felt the front hydraulic pump (the one up in front of the tractor, driven by a short shaft off the harmonic balancer). That pump was getting hot to the point that I could not hold my hand on it.
The next thing I did is remove the hex shaft that spins the transmission pump: The shaft looks to be in good condition! No rounding seen.
OK, So the front hydraulic pump was the only thing getting hot. So I am concluding that the front hydraulic pump is bad or that it is being starved for oil.
Any agreement on this? And what to do next?
I have read about the de-stroke valve on the bottom of the pump. I have not fiddled with that valve (yet).
I have not measured the hydraulic pressure at the service control valves yet - need to purchase some more hydraulic fittings to do this.
Any suggestions appreciated. I am trying to figure out that nightmare diagnostic algorithm in the manual.
I finally got this 4430 quad range running. s/n 4430H 020633D. 1974 model. Note: this tractor sat unused and unstarted for approximately 15 years before I bought it for a song. I think I have all the engine issues sorted out. Now addressing the hydraulic issues.
I have already drained the hydraulic fluid and changed the hydraulic filter. When I realized that I was having hydraulic issues, I did some internet sleuthing and discovered that there is a tubular inlet screen behind a 2 inch plug having a ½” square ratchet drive. I re-drained the hydraulic fluid and removed the screen: As expected, the screen was nearly occluded with trash (photo attached). I cleaned it out, put it back in, and refilled the hydraulic fluid reservoir, but the tractor is still exhibiting the same symptoms.
I will need some help in diagnosing. The algorithm in the John Deere service manual is long, cumbersome and confusing. I have hooked up a 10 foot bush hog, and given it a few trial runs. Here are the symptoms:
I start the engine. When I rev it up to about 2000 rpm, I am getting 40 psi of clutch pressure. That is about the maximum clutch pressure I have seen.
I pull back on the 3-point lever: The three point arms will raise but they raise slowly and there is some chatter while raising. I notice that the 3-point arms will not raise all the way (they only go up about ½ way, even with lever pulled all the way back).
The steering works, but I notice that I have to turn the steering wheel back and forth a couple of times before I can get the front tires to turn in the proper direction. After this the steering works fine.
So I put it in gear and engage the pto and begin shredding grass. All is well for the first 5 minutes or so. But then all of a sudden, I lose my power steering! Very difficult to steer. Then I notice that the three point arms have sunk to the bottom of their travel, and the bush hog is dragging on the ground - can’t get it to come back up. Then the PTO lever disengaged (by itself).
On one of these test forays, all the above symptoms occurred, but in addition to those symptoms, the following occurred: when I shifted into a reverse gear, I noticed that, when I let out the clutch pedal, the tractor would not move! No movement at all! I tried to shift it into multiple possible gears (both forward and reverse) and the tractor still would not move at all! I believe that at this point, the PTO would not engage either! For a few minutes there, I thought that I would have to be towed back to the barn. But then, I tried placing it into a reverse gear, letting the clutch fully out and, leaving it out. Well, after about 10-15 seconds, the tractor started moving (halting starts at first, but eventually moving smoothly). I had it in low forward gear at this point, and I took advantage of the temporary ability to move and I limped about 750 feet back to the barn.
When I got back to the barn, I put my hands on the steering gear, rockshaft housing and the service control valves: None of them were hot. I pulled the hydraulic dipstick and felt the fluid at the tip: The fluid was not hot. Then I felt the front hydraulic pump (the one up in front of the tractor, driven by a short shaft off the harmonic balancer). That pump was getting hot to the point that I could not hold my hand on it.
The next thing I did is remove the hex shaft that spins the transmission pump: The shaft looks to be in good condition! No rounding seen.
OK, So the front hydraulic pump was the only thing getting hot. So I am concluding that the front hydraulic pump is bad or that it is being starved for oil.
Any agreement on this? And what to do next?
I have read about the de-stroke valve on the bottom of the pump. I have not fiddled with that valve (yet).
I have not measured the hydraulic pressure at the service control valves yet - need to purchase some more hydraulic fittings to do this.
Any suggestions appreciated. I am trying to figure out that nightmare diagnostic algorithm in the manual.
