re: John Deere 1050S - water getting into hydraulic oil sys

e,baxter · Nov 13, 2019

re: John Deere 1050S, 1983, S/N 002056CH :

I have water getting into the hydraulic oil system and contaminating the hydraulic oil to the point the hydraulics don't work, within a couple of hours of changing out all of the hydraulic oil and filter and cleaning of the micro-screen ss filter.

At first I thought it was related to the small crack I have in the water jacket, but I've been told the water jacket does not interface with the hydraulic system. Then I thought maybe it was the hydraulic line going through the radiator (for cooling) but I find no radiator cooled hydraulic lines on this machine.

There are no leaks in the hydraulic oil lines nor cylinders nor anywhere.

Kind regards,
Edward Baxter
Georgetown, TX
[email protected]

Steve in VA · Nov 13, 2019

Is it parked under cover? I have a 1020
that had a similar problem but not to the
point where the hydraulics stopped
working. In my case, the tractor wasn't
shed kept and the water got in via the
high/low and gear levers. The boots had
perished and when it rained, the water
pooled around the shifters and leaked
directly into the hyd.

Steve@Advance · Nov 13, 2019

Are you sure it is water?

Can you tell if it is antifreeze?

Is the coolant level dropping?

It is unusual for water to stop a hydraulic system from working. It may not be working right, certainly not good for it, but it should still work.

Any chance what you are seeing is air whipped into the oil? If there is a leak on the suction side of the pump, it will suck air, moan, have jerky action, possibly quit completely if insufficient oil is getting too the pump.

Take another sample from the drain plug in a clean glass. Catch the first flow. If water it will settle to the bottom. Air will rise to the top. Try to save the oil in a clean container. If it is air it can be reused.

With the drain open, let it drip to stop. Fill the radiator, pressure it up, see if coolant comes from the drain. If so, somewhere there is an oil cooler that is leaking.

Tx Jim · Nov 14, 2019

Welcome to YT
If tractor is stored outside I recommend replacing gearshift lever boot & check breather pipe on top of rockshaft housing to be sure it's not clogged. I'm fairly confident that engine coolant & hyd oil contamination aren't related

Traditional Farmer · Nov 14, 2019

I have a Yanmar 330 almost the same tractor as your JD,the water is either going by the gearshift boot as said or could be getting in around the dipstick/filler cap.

e,baxter · Nov 14, 2019

Thank you for your reply.

Yes, I believe it is probable the water is getting in via the shifter boot.

Thank you,
E,Baxter

re: John Deere 1050S - water getting into hydraulic oil sys

e,baxter

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Steve in VA

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Steve@Advance

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Tx Jim

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Traditional Farmer

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e,baxter

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