hydraulics on a M

My nickels worth…

Maybe it is just my somewhat advanced age, I dunno. But, this whole process has taught me one thing, I'll never have another old tractor that doesn't have power steering.

I had forgotten how tough they really were to steer while loaded. :>)

Allan

I can relate. We used a 227 JD two row wide mounted on an old 50 JD.

Worked that tractor and the operator to death, but got the corn picked. :>)

Hardest part was mounting and takin' off the picker!

Allan

That loader was designed to use the PTO pump on your M, but I just got thru changing mine over to the distributor pump. The PTO pump is really the best, but it is not "live".

Also, I just don't think that belly pump has enough snort for a loader that size and besides, it is not live either.

The distributor pump is only a 10gpm pump, but you won't notice a nickel's worth of difference between it and the PTO pump unless you have Power Steering.

If you do have power steering, you have to devote around 3 gpm to the steering alone and it does slow down that loader just a bit; but, having the loader being live sure is nice.

I've learned to live with the slightly slower loader because those old tractors are a bear to steer with a heavy load. Heck, they are a bear to steer with just the loader hangin' out there on the front.

One more thing. I notice that if I hit the end of a loader stroke and also bump up against the steering stop at the same time, the distributor pump 'dead heads'.

It makes the old tractor grunt and I'm wondering if if is doing the pump and/or tractor timing gears any good when this happens.

If you don't have power steering, I'd sure go with the distributor pump vs the PTO pump, even tho it is just a little smaller in capacity.

Hope this helps,

Allan