444 Hydraulics quit

I bought a IH 444 gas last fall with a Westendorf
loader. According to the serial number, I think
it is a 1970 model. It had been sitting in a barn
for 10 or 15 years with minimal use prior to my
purchase. We changed all of the fluids, but did
not drain the loader cylinders, and we did not
changed the hydraulic filter or clean the screen.

We used it regularly all winter to plow snow.
(approximately 12 times for 30 to 45 minutes each
time) Hydraulics worked fine over each of those
uses.

The hydraulics worked when I shut the tractor off
a week ago, and today when I started the tractor I
had nothing in the way of hydraulics, 3-point or
power steering.

In looking at the book schematics and tracing the
lines on the tractor; It appears that I have a
screen filter in the hydraulic reservoir under the
seat and a canister filter under the steering
counsel. The hydraulic pump is on the right side
of the tractor under the distributor. In addition
to the 3-point I have one set of original
equipment remotes.

After market there has been a t pipe plumbed into
the pressure line coming off the pump. That T in
the line feeds the 2 loader control valves.

I need some direction on where to start looking
for problems. Possible ideas I have come up with
but I have not tore into the tractor yet;

1) The screen filter under the seat has became
plugged

2) The canister filter under the steering column
is plugged

3) There is a valve, preasure regulator or some
other connection that is not closing or not
opening properly.

4) The hydraulic pump has spontaneously quit.

5) The drive gear on the pump has broken or a key
sheared off.

Does anyone have any ideas on where to logically
start looking for a solution? Is there an idea
that seems most likely given that it seemed to be
working fine when I shut it off and it is not now
when I started it?

Thanks for your suggestions in advance.

Check everything. Start with screen and filter, those are regular maintainence items. Also on the valves below and in front of the seat there is a little screen with a hex cap over it. I don t think it is the pump as they just loose power over time or leak fluid into the crank case. I had to do all of the above to my 444 to get it working good.

Hi Paul, as Leon said filters and screens first. The Operators manual shows how to clean suction screen. See Caseih.com parts, this model with PS has a relief/bypass valve on the splitter valve that if stuck open will allow all hydraulic fluid to bypass and return to the hydraulic pump.

JimB

Thanks for the suggestions, I was able to get it going; changed filter under the steering column(real dirty), cleaned the screen in the reservoir(a little dirty), and cleaned the little screen under the seat(not much there for dirt). Still nothing, then I tried tapping on the relief valve on the flow splitter, and that seemed to get it going. That may not be a long term solution to the problem, but it is working for now.

My theory is that the dirty filter under the steering was plugged enough to pop the relief valve and then it stuck open.

I have a new problem that started when I went to lift my bush hog, (which is fairly heavy), and is still happening with the back blade attached.

When I lift the 3 point it will not go back down with the tractor running. Power steering and loader work fine. Also, when I start the tractor the 3 point raises the blade maybe and inch or so off the ground with the 3 point control all the way forward. If I shut the tractor off it settles back down. I have the draft control all the way forward (heavy load). I do not have a factory top link, and the one I have does not touch the sensor for the draft control.

A couple ideas but I wanted to get some other thoughts;

1) I have a internal seal blown and I am bleeding some fluid into the internal lift cylinder.

2) The draft control or the draft sensor is messed up and applying some lift to the 3 point.

I am open to suggestions and trouble shooting/problem isolation ideas,

Thanks for your help in advance.