2280 Swather Issues

[IFF]

I have a John Deere 2280 swather that I am having hydraulic drive/transmission issues with. Last hay season I was cutting and dropped a wheel into a unseen hole. I heard a bang but the swather kept moving as if nothing happened. I started to smell hydraulic fluid and stopped to see what was going on. Fluid was pouring from the hydraulic transmission joint where it bolts to the hydraulic pump/transmission. Two of the four bolts holding the transmission unit had broke allowing the fluid to escape. The swather still moved as long as it had fluid. This winter I unbolted the hydraulic transmission replaced the gasket and bolts, refilled the system and now the swather will not move. The header will raise and lower, it works off the same hydraulic drive/transmission pumps. Linkage is all correct and adjusted. At this point I don"t what to do to diagnose the problem. Hoping someone out there has experience with this. Thanks.

Doug

 

[Roger in Iowa]

Raising and lowering of platform says the one charge pump used as a hydraulic pump is working. But the other charge pump may not be working.

There is a plate held on with four bolts on the front side of both the transmissions. That is the charge pumps cover.

You need to remove the cover of the one that is not for the hydraulics and see if the pump is turning, by cranking the engine. DO NOT START THE ENGINE! There is a short shaft that drives the charge pump components and it may have sheared.

 

[IFF]

The charge pump that had the issue is the pump that raises the header. That is one of the reasons this problem is so perplexing. After the bolts sheared I could have kept the swather running all day if I would have had a tanker of hydraulic fluid standing by.

 

[Roger in Iowa]

Take the line off that goes to the plate with four bolts and see if you have fluid there. This is on the transmission that did not have the problem.

My thought is fluid is not getting to the charge pump from the reservoir and this charge pump provides charge to both transmissions. No charge, no go.

 

[Roger in Iowa]

Another thought is you ran it so long and perhaps the charge pump ran dry and failed the pump or it's drive shaft. May have to take the cover off and see if the pump component is turning. Just turn it over with starter, don't start.

 

[IFF]

Good thought Roger. I'll give it a check.