4050 hydraulic problem

[mach12]

I am working on a 4050 that experienced a hydraulic failure last summer but is currently asymptomatic. The customer reports that he opened the gate on his baler to let the bale out, then it would not close. At the same time, he also lost power steering and 3-point function. He limped it back to the yard, and after some deliberate heavy braking and trying the baler with the other set of remotes all hydraulic functions resumed. The tractor has worked well since, and this morning both sets of remotes will run a log splitter quickly, peaking at 2150 psi. Is there a pattern failure or quirk in these hydraulic systems? I do not wish to throw parts at something that is not broken, but it is currently difficult to prove any failure. The tractor has about 6000 hours on it and has been well cared for.
 

[M w J]

Front pump destroked and stuck but after sitting or cooling worked again. It only takes a very little fragment of oring or anything else to stick them. You could put a new pump on and maybe have it do the same thing. If everything is working now and not plugging filters I wouldn't mess with it. You could remove the destroke valve and if there was anything around it it would run out . But that could be a waste of time also.
 

[tim s]

You probably changed the filters, I wonder if there was any fillings in the bowel,if you have a transmission failure starting to happen it could be sending cuttings through the trans pump, hurting it a little at a time and alowing some to get to the stroke valve, you didn't say if it's a power shift or quad.,like the other post said a little something under the stroke valve would cause an 'instant' failure, and allow it to resume just as fast,,put a gauge on the trans. pressure port and warm it up , see if it stays steady, that will tell you a little bit about the trans. pump,and let use know what what it has..
 

[mach12]

Thank you both for your suggestions. We will probably take a wait & see approach if everything keeps working, but it's good to have a direction to take should it act up again.