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2040 hydraulics/power steering

E

ehathaway42110782

New User
I use a John Deere 2040 to pull a 7 foot finish mower. At the end of last mowing season, the steering got a little quirky. If I turned the wheel quickly it would lag like it was waiting for the fluid to get there. It sat all winter.
The other night I went out and found the fluid at the correct level and only a little milky. A little milky but not horrible at all. I started the tractor and tried to raise the mower on the back. Tractor made a loud screeching/rattling sound and barely managed to raise it. The sound was coming from below the steering wheel like between my feet. Not any noise from the front of the tractor where the pump is.
I tried to turn the steering wheel and the screeching was really loud and it wouldn"t hardly turn. However, after I turned it both ways a couple times, it quit screeching and the wheels began turning smooth as silk. The hydraulics lifted the mower up several times with no noise and again very smooth.
I went out tonight and started it again and turned the wheels and lifted the mower, smooth with no screeching.
Still haven"t changed the fluid and cleaned the screen yet.
Any thoughts?
 
Why are you still refusing to clean the screen, replace the filter and change the oil???
If the wrong or contaminated trans-hydraulic is used. The wet clutch and brake components are going to fail.
 
There are several things that could be wrong. The steering valve is making noise because it has air in it.
First drain the hydraulic oil and check the sump screen. If the brakes have came apart the material could have the screen plugged. This would starve the main pump. The brakes would need to be repaired and the hydraulic system flushed.
Second: your oil is milky. That could be water or air bubbles in it. Take a sample of the oil and place it in a clear jar. You can let it set for several days and it will separate or put it in a pan of boiling water it will separate fast that way. If there is water in it you will see it just like in a sediment bowl. If the oil clears up with, no water, then it just had air bubbles in it. If water change the oil and filter and it should get better. Air is more likely, the steering valve has an internal high pressure leak.
To help more I need to know if your system is open or close center. 2040s where one of the few tractors John Deere made both ways depending on the years.
 
I should have stated, I'm changing the oil on Friday as I'm off work that day. Definitely going to drain all the oil out and check the screen. Replacing with JD oil and filter. I just thought I would post what happened and see if I could see what was causing the problem.
Thanks for your reply.
 
Wow, thanks for the great reply! So that is the steering valve that is making that loud screeching? If the steering valve does have a leak would that be a hard thing to change?
When I change the oil on Friday I will get a sample and boil it and see what happens.
Is there something I can check that would let you know if it is open or closed? I can get you the serial number, would that get you the info you need?
Thanks again!
 
According external_link, the first serial number in 1976 was 179963 and the first number in 1977 was 221555. My serial number falls between these two so it must have been produced in 1976. It says on the tractor it was produced in Germany.
Type - 2040
Code - 204SA
Serial -
Also, after the serial number there is an 'L'. Hope this helps you.
 
(quoted from post at 21:46:48 03/30/10) According external_link, the first serial number in 1976 was 179963 and the first number in 1977 was 221555. My serial number falls between these two so it must have been produced in 1976. It says on the tractor it was produced in Germany.
Type - 2040
Code - 204SA
Serial -
Also, after the serial number there is an 'L'. Hope this helps you.
Click to expand...

According to JDparts.com closed center hyd on 2040's stated @ TRACTOR SERIAL NO. 266750
 
drained the fluid a little bit ago. I would call the color of the fluid green like an olive. I put some in a jar and boiled it in water for about 5 minutes and the color really didn't change.
the screen was absolutely plugged up with sludge. couldn't even tell it was a screen really. there were a lot of little maroon specks on there too. Any idea what that could be? it didnt appear metalic at all so i didn't think it was brake material.
Anyway, we're going to clean the screen and get new oil in there tomorrow. the clean screen alone will surely make all the difference.
thanks for any help
 
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