Could Lucas booster help old hydraulic clutch?

I am the new custodian of a 1978(?) IH260a TLB, which I am told is built on the foundation of a Case/IH 684 tractor. The 260a is uncommon, and some smart folks on this site have called it an orphan, with hard to find parts and mechanics who turn them away. Its true.

Many things are strong about this machine, but two mechanics have now told me the hydraulic clutch pack is probably slipping. I have reverse and some some forward power but once warm I have almost no forward power. Transmission is torque converter fw/rev with shuttle shift, (not hydrostatic). There is a clutch-dump pedal.

Long story short- I am thinking about taking a chance and adding 10-20% Lucas Hydraulic Booster and Stop Leak to see if I can inexpensively get some torque back into forward gear. (When I bought this machine, I only drove it on flat land at 40 degrees f. It had more torque then, and I think the oil must have been thicker.) Could this Lucas fluid addition damage my hydraulic pumps? I do imagine it will put more strain on the engine due to its viscosity.

All replies are welcome. I have contacted eight service centers and individual mechanics who all do not wish to repair my machine. And although I am mechanical, I don't think I am up for rebuilding a clutch. Could I shim the clutch plates?

It probably won't hurt, but doubt it will help.

Automotive transmissions usually have buna or nitrile clutch seals, where equipment usually use iron rings. The additives work by swelling the seal rings to bring the pressure back up and stop the slipping.

Are you sure the clutch dump is working? If it is not fully retracting it will have low pressure. Continuing to drive it with slipping clutches will do more harm, both to the clutch packs and filling the system with clutch material.

If you can find a shop manual, you can run some pressure tests and have some idea what's inside. They typically are not as complex as you might think.

Usually when a shop is not interested it's because they fear parts will not be available, or after the tear down the customer will say no, or after the job is complete the charges will be more than the tractor is worth and they could be left with no recourse to collect their money.

Paying up front might get your foot in the door, but is very risky!

You don't have much to lose by adding the Lucas. Run it for a while and see if it helps. It's not going to destroy anything. Worst case scenario, - you get no result and have to tear it apart and rebuild it.

Lucus may not fix the torque converter from slipping and leaking down, but is it the lucas conditioner or the lucas oil fortifier. The oil fortifier will make sure that all wet brakes and clutches will no longer work function and slip worse. The conditioner will help swell/soften up orings but sometimes, the orings are cracked and chipped so you still out of soap. But then, what have you got to lose? Any fix would probably be temporary at best.

I have used lucas hyd conditioner and sealant a couple of times with moderate success. I have a couple of ih3588's with alot of hyd leaks. Put a couple of gallons in each and seemed to dry up alot of the smaller anoying leaks. didn't stop anything major. But more to your problem, I have a cih 1594. 3 sp gear box with 4 sp power shift. Power shift 1 and 2 were fine but it got so it wouldn't always go into 3 and 4 . Would go into those gears but not solidly. would move but slip under any load. Sometimes would shift solidly after running it awhile. Runs a discbine. last fall got so it wouldn't go into 3 and 4 at all. Talking to mechcanics, they suspect that the clutch pack seals are leaking. What did i have to lose. Put about 5 qts of the lucas in it. Didn't totaly cure the problem , but has been very usable this summer. Sometimes it shifts properly right away, and sometimes have to run it awhile. So it looks like thats where you are at. What have you got to lose?

I thank you all for the replies! And Steve, I have the manuals now, so I will check the clutch dump pedal for correct action, and the fw/rev selector while I am down there. These two linkages seem to go to the same valve body spool area, and I can adjust them both.

I'm glad to hear that some folks think the idea might help. Im not looking for miracles I will post in coming days with any results.

Bill, I was looking at the Hydraulic Oil Booster and Stop Leak. Thanks for your comments!

Doug, Thanks for your comments and your gear shifting info. My old and neglected machine seems to be stuck in first, which is kinda okay with me for now. The shift lever, which shows three possible gears, is on third, but it behaves like it's in first. This is probably another topic! Its possible that the shift lever has no relationship to the gear in which it is stuck. Someday soon I may inspect that issue as well. I'm glad the booster fluid improved YOUR transmission.

Thank you Dave!

Christpherct

The slipping you describe sounds like fluid breakdown, or worn clutches, as confirmed by the mechanic's diagnosis. A fluid change may be all you need to get some torque back.

You can add some additive which contain friction modifiers specific to your fluid. Who knows you might get lucky,

Guido.