jd 2020 hydrolic system

I am putting this on this page cause of the different posts from the fellers here are trustworthy. Wifes uncle is ready to sell his 72 2020 with loader. 2nd owner. 1st owners used it to load bulk corn and uncle used it to move round bales to feed his now passed horses and clear drive of snow. I want the tractor and have what I feel is a fair offer. The issue is hydrolic system has gotten low in fluid. Didnt show on the stick. This has the power steering and other things have locked up. If I read correctly about that system there is a pan full of fluid with a pump pushing it up so a impellor can get the fluid in lines. if correct the lines have valve checks in the systems at the different functions. If that is a correct interpetation. If I were to take it to a shop how many hrs of labor should I be seeing on the estimate. I am unable to do this stuff as after last summers accident my arms are nearly useless. But this would make clearing drive better than the old farmall H. The power steering, live power, and much easier to get on and off. I know $$ rates cant be estimated but thinking how many hrs maybe a reasonable comparison. Thanks for all advice in advance.

(quoted from post at 21:21:37 04/13/23) I am putting this on this page cause of the different posts from the fellers here are trustworthy. Wifes uncle is ready to sell his 72 2020 with loader. 2nd owner. 1st owners used it to load bulk corn and uncle used it to move round bales to feed his now passed horses and clear drive of snow. I want the tractor and have what I feel is a fair offer. The issue is hydrolic system has gotten low in fluid. Didnt show on the stick. This has the power steering and other things have locked up. If I read correctly about that system there is a pan full of fluid with a pump pushing it up so a impellor can get the fluid in lines. if correct the lines have valve checks in the systems at the different functions. If that is a correct interpetation. If I were to take it to a shop how many hrs of labor should I be seeing on the estimate. I am unable to do this stuff as after last summers accident my arms are nearly useless. But this would make clearing drive better than the old farmall H. The power steering, live power, and much easier to get on and off. I know $$ rates cant be estimated but thinking how many hrs maybe a reasonable comparison. Thanks for all advice in advance.

Click to expand...

Fill transmission to full point on dip stick with J20 spec fluid .
Dip stick unscrewed and sitting on threads with the engine at idle . A peculiar method of measuring but that is the way they do it .

This post was edited by buickanddeere on 04/13/2023 at 08:52 pm.

Post your question on the John Deere forum below.

The fact that the power steering has ..locked up.. only means it simply is not getting pressure and flow to operate. This does not mean the system is damaged it is just low on fluid as you have indicated. I am sorry to hear about your accident but if you can operate a Farmall H to clear snow on your driveway I would think you should be capable of adding fluid to see how the machine responds. You can access and view the tractors operators manual from Deere free online more on that later. The hydraulic fluid fills on the back of the tractor and as described by B & Deere the proper level is found by just setting the dipstick in the fixture. For anyone to estimate what type of hours you should expect a shop to charge you to repair the machine is very ..pie in the sky.. especially with the hydraulics low on fluid and not functioning. Your talk about the system having and impeller is not a very accurate description. I am not real familiar with these German built models, I do know and it is confirmed by the online parts diagram that the tractor has a radial piston pump for the main hydraulic pump. It sets in front of the engine. In the larger 20 series US built tractors there is a supply gear pump in the transmission that pumps fluid up to reservoir up above the main pump to supply it. The online parts manual does show such a reservoir I am a bit confused in this case because the online operators manual shows a check dipstick for the transmission as well at the operators floorboard. I am not sure how the two systems could interact and maintain there levels. I will say if you do get fluid in it and get everything functioning then look for leaks and report back. Knowing where the leaks are may be helpful if you want an very rough estimate of what kind of repair hours might be needed for your machine.
If you do not have access to the actual operators manual for the tractor here is an explanation of how to get it from Deere Publications in the link. Type 2020 in the search box and search. The 5th and 6th selections will be for the tractor based on serial number. It is doubtful the serial number makes a difference for the operators manual, but it would for the technical repair manuals. At the left click the arrow pointing sideways so it points down and it shows the operators manuals and other tech manuals. Click the arrow to point down by Op manuals there you can put it in your cart. Also there is a square at the right with the arrow up to the right corner when you click that you can view it. The down arrow with the line under it will down load it to your PC. If you prefer not to view it on your PC opening the file you could print it off from that and put it in a 3 ring binder.
JD manual access

According to the JD parts catalog the 2020 was built 1965 to 1971 in Dubuque, Iowa. Many of them used a separate pump for power steering, separate from the radial pump for the main hydraulics. They had a pump in the transmission to operate some optional drive train functions and charge the main pump.

First, below is a link to the online 2020 parts catalog. Below the "Browse Parts Sections" on the page you will see "Documents". There is a document there titled "2020 Tractor: Introduction". There is information in that document to decode your model and serial number so you can select the right manual at the site used red MN posted.

https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc...viousUrl/L25hdmlnYXRpb24vZXF1aXBtZW50LzYwMTkx

If the reservoir is that low, it will be a good time to drain the sump, clean the screen and change the hydraulic filter. The Operator's Manual will have info on doing these things. Refill with a UTHF meeting the J20C specification. You will want to have 10 gallons of fluid. Use grease to hold the new filter gasket up in the case, don't try to balance it on the housing during installation.

And yes you may get more info using the john Deere Forum below.

I don't see where Mike Henry stated country of origin of this 2020 but yes some 2020's were built in Mannheim factory. As others stated fill hyd reservoir to full mark checked while engine operating at idle speed. 2020 built in Dubuque after serial # 045,199(1967) will have closed cent5er power steering powered by frt hyd pump.

Diagnosing closed center hyd failures such as this 2020 can be as simple as changing hyd filter, cleaning hyd oil suction screen & topping off hyd oil to full mark or very complicated requiring tractor to be split in 1/2.

If it has the older power steering with the separate pump and that is the problem your best route would be to eliminate that pump and buy a newer steering valve. Get a new aftermarket or a good used steering assembly. Tom

If it's the newer model as he stated it will have closed center power steering.

Decoding the complete serial number will clear up the actual year of manufacture and where it was built.

thanks everyone. I havent gotten the tractor yet as family wants to make sure all is good with the sale. I do know the manuals are there and assume they will come with tractor. I do know the uncle did try to just top off the system with fluid and 3point and power steering didnt respond. I am confident that it will be something simple that got missed in the process of figuring things out. As well I must have been misled concerning the systems way of functioning. It does sound to me as the person had the impression that the smaller tractors were designed like the bigger tractors. I offered fair market value minus a few hundred for repair. I had/have no intentions of taking advantage of anyone (family included). If I take a hit on repair bill I believe the tractor will earn its keep as I been around it since uncle bought it and it is in much better shape and overall condition than most others I have seen. Will post follow up when I am able to get it looked at.

Have a look around the place for the hydraulic oil that has been poured in and any other empty hydraulic oil containers .
If the stuff is not wet clutch compatible . The wet brakes will deteriorate .
I agree that checking the transmission screen and changing the transmission filter is a high priority .
Let us know what is found in them .