Hydraulic flow meter

I?m looking for a hydraulic flow meter. Northern tool carries one that runs about 400 bucks. Is that about as cheap a one as I?ll find? What type of fittings? Suggestions??
I am a new owner of s ?74 Case 970 with Powershift.

Well not knowing what your getting here , the one i carry in my service truck is a OTC and has more to it then just a flow meter as mine has and adjustable restrictor a 5000 PSI oil filled gauge with damper adjust and has a temp gauge and last i saw a REBUILT EXCHANGE will set you back on the north side of 3750 , Now ya want to step up the game with a NEW one one had best hit a loaded BRINKS truck as you don't want to know what then new ones cost .

Ok thanks!

The WebTec meter that Northern carries will be OK for the stuff you'll run into on average. Like Tractor Vet I've got one of the high dollar ones with all the bells and whistles that I keep in a separate box for testing pumps up to 100 GPM, but I also keep one of the type your looking at on the truck all the time to check flows on smaller systems.

I doubt you'll ever run into anything over 20-30 GPM, and that's the main thing you'll be looking at. The WebTec meter will do 32 GPM, and has a top port that you can put a pressure gauge in, so you'll be OK there. Since hydraulics require both flow, and pressure to operate correctly, and the two are often dependent on each other, the only problem with the meter alone is it doesn't have a built in load valve. To do an accurate flow test you've got to be able to apply a load, so you'll need a way to do that. All you have to do is put a needle valve (capable of flowing 32GPM) on the outlet side of the meter. With that, you can slowly close the valve to create a load. The one thing you've got to be cautious of is to NEVER EVER close the valve all the way, or you risk damaging the meter, the pump, or whatever turns out to be the weak link.

I hope this helps you out some. If you've got any questions, post back and I'll do my best to answer them.

Thanks for great info?that?ll help me. I just need a tool that I can use to test hydraulic systems on my tractor.

I'll just add that you need to make sure your oil is up temperature with the Webtec flow meter. It will give bad readings with cold oil.

I have contemplated making a crude one with a tee for a pressure gage and a ball valve on the end to load it and read pressure. Not fancy but would do the flow and pressure. Then by adding extra oil you could just run the oil into a small tank or pails to measure the flow quantity.

Surpluscenter.com has a couple of flow meters for just under $200.

They have one with the thermometer built in so that's another good thing about them.

Oh and one more thing that N C Wayne and myself left out your everyday Flow Rater even mine is only good for OPEN CENTER systems . For me to work on the later 86 sires I H's i am screwed when it comes to the PFC systems as i do not have the other half needed to test them . I did try and get one one time , waisted a whole day and just shy of 800 miles and got shut out in the bidding war . The sale had TWO complete flow raters WITH ANILIZERS an my measly top bid of 2950 bucks did NOT get the job done and fifty more would not have done it either . The Lap top computer with all the soft ware to work on the Magnums was the buy of the day as it only brought 1250 and no i did not bid on that as at the time we had no magnums in my area . I ended up getting a few items that i wanted and also ended up with some Steiger special tools i had no use for as here again we had none in my area . when i got to my truck and was loading my prizes two guys came up and want to buy the Steiger tools off me . And offered me twenty bucks , never laughed so hard in my life at his offer . and kept on loading them . Then he and his buddy walked away and then came back with a MORE Reasonable offer and i sold them that tools . PFC systems have to have a trigger line with a way to activate the pump and control the flow and pressure feeding it . SO with Hyd . systems it is NOT a one size fits all N C.'s flow rater works on what he works on the stuff he works on and mine would not cover that stuff or any of the new tractors . Now keep this in mind here working on hyd. systems can be vary dangerous Your hoses your usen should be twice the system pressure your working on not some TSC off the shelf junk. your fittings should be rated for the max pressure of the flow rater , NEVER use your hands as a way to be looking for a leak i don't care if you have leather gloves on as high pressure can and will blow straight on thru the glove and your skin .