need help with a John Deere tractor

[upthecreek]

I have a 1979 or 1980 2140 John Deere tractor that has a hydraulic problem.  It was working fine when I shut it daown but when I started it up a couple days later the hydraulics were very slow and had no power.  I changed the filter and it inproved slightly but is still very slow.  Does anyone have any ideas about what the problem could be?  Thanks

 

[knabe]

http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMKV11661_J0/Output/kv11661j016.html

http://www.ssbtractor.com/wwwboard/view_all.cgi?bd=jd&msg=16451

 

[magikman]

it could be the hydraulic pump that went out or froze up.
or you have a line busted but you should be able to see that leaking.

 

[nate53]

?'s
1.  Oil level good, I know seems like a silly ?
2.  You say hydraulics are slow, do they improve with engine RPM?
3.  You changed filters but did you check suction screen (you have to drain resevoir to do this)?
4.  When you are using your hydraulics is their a chatter noice coming from the pump or is whatever your using hydraulic function for moving slow and steady or is it vibrating like their is air?
5.  Is their one specific hydraulic function not working very good or is every hydraulic function slow?  (quick hitch, scv's, steerng, brakes, pto)
6.  Could be pressure relief valve, but could be several other things as well, if you are mechanically inclined could buy a diagnostic and repair CD ( a tech manual- CD's are a lot cheaper than paperback) from Deere but they would have to make one so it would take a week or two for them to get it.  Most parts are too expensive to just guess.
Good Luck

 

[upthecreek]

The oil level is ok.  All functions are slow and smooth.  I was thinking it was a problem with the pipes that conect the charge pump in the transmission to the main pump as we have had promlems with them before, but the hydraulics usually chatter when that happens.  I was not aware there was a suction sreeenin addition to the filter, I will check it out. 

 

[vanridge]

I've heard if you do the chicken dance around the tractor while your wife is secretly filming it helps. Doesn't make the tractor run any better but you'll have a bigger problem to worry about! ;D


.....please don't take my bad jokes out on my kid at 4-H meetings! <beer>

 

[upthecreek]

I've heard if you do the chicken dance around the tractor while your wife is secretly filming it helps. Doesn't make the tractor run any better but you'll have a bigger problem to worry about! ;D


.....please don't take my bad jokes out on my kid at 4-H meetings! <beer>

I would bet there are several of my neighbors that would pay money to see that!!!  Maybe we could do a 4-H fundraiser and sell tickets!!!!  If I thought there was any chance it would work I would try it, certainly a lot cheaper than buying parts with green paint on them.

 

[nate53]

The oil level is ok.  All functions are slow and smooth.  I was thinking it was a problem with the pipes that conect the charge pump in the transmission to the main pump as we have had promlems with them before, but the hydraulics usually chatter when that happens.  I was not aware there was a suction sreeenin addition to the filter, I will check it out. 

Well I think there is a screen, smallest I've worked on is the 4240. The 4240, 4440, 46 and 4840, as well as 30, 50 and 55 series had them.  Should be directly behind your hyd. filter, pipe plug that a 1/2 ratchet will fit directly into.  Lot of people don't know about them, I didn't for the longest time.  What do you mean you have had problems with the pipes from charge-transmission pump to main pump.  There is  a hex shaft that drives the charge pump that can be pulled out the back of the tractor pretty easily, but it's not  likely that it is getting rounded off, more likely the suction screen or the valves in between the charge and main pump.

 

[upthecreek]

The oil level is ok.  All functions are slow and smooth.  I was thinking it was a problem with the pipes that conect the charge pump in the transmission to the main pump as we have had promlems with them before, but the hydraulics usually chatter when that happens.  I was not aware there was a suction sreeenin addition to the filter, I will check it out. 

Well I think there is a screen, smallest I've worked on is the 4240. The 4240, 4440, 46 and 4840, as well as 30, 50 and 55 series had them.  Should be directly behind your hyd. filter, pipe plug that a 1/2 ratchet will fit directly into.  Lot of people don't know about them, I didn't for the longest time.  What do you mean you have had problems with the pipes from charge-transmission pump to main pump.  There is  a hex shaft that drives the charge pump that can be pulled out the back of the tractor pretty easily, but it's not  likely that it is getting rounded off, more likely the suction screen or the valves in between the charge and main pump.

The aluminum lines have cracked and started to leak in the past.  As well they have come out of place.  The hydraulics on this tractor have given a lot of trouble over the years.  I can't count the number of times we have had to split this tractor.  This time it has been acting different than in the past, we are going to pull thay screen out tomorrow and hopefully we find the problem.  Thanks for your help.

 

[Brian04]

Buy a red tractor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

 

[NEB]

Could be a number of things like mentioned above , but if it was working fine when you shut it off, my guess is that your valve in your front pump is stuck open with a piece of something.  Check to see if you have a decompression tool on the top of your pump.  It looks like a bolt head, maybe a 9/16 head, or a   T  handle  type of bolt  that sticks up an inch or so.  If you have one, with your tractor off, turn the bolt one turn more after you feel tension.  Start tractor and let it run for a minute or so then turn bolt back out.  If it works you will hear your pump take off. This lets the piece of junk flow through and your hydraulics to build pressure again.  If you don't have a decompression tool on you pump you can buy one and put it on.  This is jmo no guarantees, but if it was mine that's what I would try first.  Good Luck!

 

[HAB]

Does this model have the small black plastic line running along the right hand side of the frame from the transmission to the pump in front?  Is so, I have had a pin hole develope in it, causing the pump to lose it's prime.

 

[upthecreek]

Thanks for the help everyone.  I got my tractor working today, it was a very simple fix.  The suction screen was plugged.  i was very happy to find a simple solutionto the problem.  Thanks again for the suggestions. <party>