F-400 hydraulic sys. troubleshooting questions...

Absent Minded Farmer · May 17, 2011

I've been trying to hunt down a leak eminating from the valves behind the dash with no luck. The only leak I could find, MIGHT be comming from where the breather screws in on the reservoir cover. Otherwise, I don't have a clue without starting it. Here's the question part, how do I start the tractor without the dash or anything else in place? Also, should I be concerned about getting blasted in the face with a stream of high pressure Hy-Tran?

Thanks,
Mike

Bob M · May 17, 2011

You can easily start a 400 without a dash panel in place. You need a couple short short lengths of wire to use as jumpers:

1 - BLOCK THE WHEELS AND DOUBLE CHECK THE TRANNY IS IN NEUTRAL (safety first!)

2 - Use one wire to jumper between the ungrounded battery terminal and the ignition switch side of the coil. (Alligator clips on both ends of this wire will be helpful!)

3 - Use another other wire to jumper between the solenoid's battery and control terminals to crank the engine.

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To check for a gross hydraulic leak you can try cranking the engine without starting it by skipping #2 above.

rhtx55 · May 17, 2011

There is a gasket at the top of the reservoir where the steering shaft support bolts on, also one at the bottom of the same cast part that all the valves attach to where it bolts to the reservoir.
All the valves have orings between them, and orings where the metal remote lines attach. The top gasket sounds like your problem.

F-400 hydraulic sys. troubleshooting questions...

Absent Minded Farmer

Well-known Member

Bob M

Well-known Member

rhtx55

Member