Hydraulic Gauge for 300 Utility--Where should it g

Also, will the gauge set-up need a shut-off valve as shown in the IT manual?

Thanks for the help.

I will warn you, that you could be in for a surprise. Most working hydraulic systems operate just a bit hotter then you may expect. It is not uncommon during summer months not to be able to place your hands on any of the hydraulic components. The IH hydraulic temperature gauges registered only cold, run and hot, not actual degrees. I have seen the hydraulic system so hot you couldn't lay your hand on any part of it, yet the IH gauge would be in the run position. You are not the first person I have seen alarmed by this.

I am surprised that the system would heat up so much under normal operation, and wanted to correct any problems before causing damage to pump seals, etc. The engine doesn't seem to be lugging at all times (as if trying to keep the hydraulics under full pressure) so perhaps everything is just normal.

Having said that, a tractor doing what you are concerned about will put extra load on engine when there is no hydraulic demand. If you start tractor with no load on hitch other than hitch itself, move the hitch up and down. When hydraulic cylinder on hitch reaches the end of stroke you should notice substancial load on engine if hydraulic system is not properly by passing. 300's were famous for a bit of a surge just as demamd stopped, however it was only momentary. Same with power steering when demand stops you would notice load on engine. If you have a problem it should be easiest to detect at half throttle, or less. Just try that and try it with tractor cold as well as hot. I have put about 75,000 hours on IH tractors in my lifetime and have never seen this happen. I will not say never will never happen as these tractors are now a lot older than when I used them.

One other question just hit me. Does your tractor by any chance have the draft controled hitch? That hitch was techicall new on 350 however over the years a few of them have made it onto 300's. If the draft control is out of time it can do this. Any system where by the further you push the lever the further the cylinder stroke goes, lever must be in time with cylinder. That is usually just a matter of adjusting linkage on lever so lever and cylinder reach limit together.