MF135 hydraulics quit

[kaymcc]

I bought a 1970 MF135 gas Perkins with a bucket last fall and everything worked fine. Then I had a heart attack and I managed to park the tractor in a tent garage. I live in Northern Ontario and it has gotten pretty cold a few times (-40F). We got a warm spell for a few days (25F) so just for kicks I started the tractor, let it warm up to operating temp and lo and behold the bucket or the 3PTH will not move. Fluid new and cleaned screen last fall. One thing I did was change out 1 bucket hose but it worked OK after. Is the fluid so thick that the pump failed? It's going to get cold again so I'll probably won't get to it till spring. Pity. I wanted to use the bucket to move some snow piles around. Have a MF35 with a 6 foot snowblower to clean the driveway and yard but some piles are getting pretty high.

 

[Jim.ME]

What did you use for fluid when you changed it?

Have you confirmed all valves are set in the correct positions? Others, with a no hydraulics have found their valves got bumped out of place and missed it until it was suggested to recheck the positions of all the valves

Is it possible it has some water in it?

How is the loader plumbed in? If the loader nor 3 point works it would sound like it is using the tractor internal pump for everything. If so, what valving does it have to divert between the two?

Does your tractor have the auxiliary hydraulics package?

Pictures of your plumbing might help.

 

[kaymcc]

Used TDH gear oil from TSC. I parked it in the fall and all was working OK. Went to try it last week (25F) and no go. Both the 3PTH and bucket don't even try to move. It does use an internal pump with what I call a diverter valve under the seat. 1 position for 3PTH and slide it over for the bucket. I'm aware of the slide controls for constant pumping for the bucket and draft control. Was out yesterday and cycled the slide controls and still no response. If the weather holds, I might take the diverter valve off the top (only 2 bolts with a metal tube attached going down to the pump) and see if pressure is coming from the pump. If not, no panic. Will just have to wait till spring. As for water? I don't think so. The fluid is still clear on the dipstick. Not grey. Internal condensation? Maybe ice formed and blocked a valve inside.

 

[Jim.ME]

Used TDH gear oil from TSC. I parked it in the fall and all was working OK. Went to try it last week (25F) and no go. Both the 3PTH and bucket don't even try to move. It does use an internal pump with what I call a diverter valve under the seat. 1 position for 3PTH and slide it over for the bucket. I'm aware of the slide controls for constant pumping for the bucket and draft control. Was out yesterday and cycled the slide controls and still no response. If the weather holds, I might take the diverter valve off the top (only 2 bolts with a metal tube attached going down to the pump) and see if pressure is coming from the pump. If not, no panic. Will just have to wait till spring. As for water? I don't think so. The fluid is still clear on the dipstick. Not grey. Internal condensation? Maybe ice formed and blocked a valve inside.

Internal condensation will happen even in a building if it is not temperature controlled. Hopefully it is just a bit of ice in the wrong spot.

I had to look at TDH as we generally use UTHF (Universal Transmission Hydraulic Fluid). Looks like TDH is a Chevron/Texaco name for UTFH. I didn't spot it listed on the TSC site here, but as long as it meets the Massey Ferguson M-1129A spec (or one of the successors specs) it should be fine.

 

[kaymcc]

Follow up. Had a warm spell. The bucket and hydraulics working OK. Cleared out some snowbanks and all good. The TDH oil I use is actually made by PetroCan. I'm also using it on the MF50 I have for a few years now and it's been working fine with the 3PTH. Oh well.

 

[Jim.ME]

Follow up. Had a warm spell. The bucket and hydraulics working OK. Cleared out some snowbanks and all good. The TDH oil I use is actually made by PetroCan. I'm also using it on the MF50 I have for a few years now and it's been working fine with the 3PTH. Oh well.

Good it is working now. Sounds like it might have had a bit of Ice in it.

 

[Ron(Ont)]

Just a note TSC in Canada was a different company than the US version. TSC became Peavey Mart and now out of business.