Author	[Modern View]
Phil Tibbetts 08-26-2012 18:11:26 208.93.14.38 Report to Moderator	Okay guys I got the 544 home today and so far here is what I have found. The tractor starts fine, will not move at all, PTO works, 3PH lifts very slowly, sounds like a rattling noise inside the bell housing ( broken flex plate? ), I have heard that if the flex plate is bad then the shaft is probably also bad?, the left rear wheel is locked solid, will not turn at all. I have worked on several MF tractors but the Hydro is new to me. I am open to any and all suggestions. By the way it has less than 3000 hrs showing on a working tach and is in excellent condition other than problems listed. [Reply]   [No Email]
charlieu 08-26-2012 19:47:02 206.53.193.95 Report to Moderator	Re: 544 Hydro in reply to Phil Tibbetts, 08-26-2012 18:11:26   If the PTO works the flex-plate has to be good. If you have noise in the clutch housing I would say that your charge pump is junk. The charge pump is on the front of the transmission on the back wall of the clutch housing. When you shift the range lever between Hi and Low and if you stop in the middle, that's Netural, this is where you want the lever when you pull or tow the tractor. When in netural the Hydro transmission is disconnected from the hydro and should roll freely. The first thing that I would check is that you may have the left brake that is stuck. If it's not the brake you are then headed inside. Let us know what you find. [Reply]  [No Email]
Phil Tibbetts 08-26-2012 20:12:36 208.93.14.38 Report to Moderator	Re: 544 Hydro in reply to charlieu, 08-26-2012 19:47:02   The reason I thought it might be the flex plate is because it is a tinny sound like tin vibrating or rattling. I should have known it wouldn't be easy. Nothing ever is. Thanks for the info. [Reply]  [No Email]