1983 L245 Hydraulic issues looses power

[bbqmasterjohn]

So I finally got our old L245 running again last summer after sitting for about 10 years. I flushed everything and replaced all the filters with the exception to the hydraulic screen. I didn't change the screen because my dad had retrofitted the exhaust that came out the top of the hood/cover to go down and come out the back going under the clutch/left foot rest. Great idea so we can mow under trees and not have to lift the hood over the exhaust to take it off but it blocked the hydraulic screen.

Anyway, she runs great until she gets hot from cutting grass that's super thick or just in use for a few hours. When hot the bucket/loader stops working up/down/tilt, and the mower won't raise/lower. It starts off slow with the bucket stuttering and ends with neither working at all. I think I can hear a pump trying to work but straining when she's hot and the problems start acting up.

After this round of work today I decided I'd check the hydraulic fluid level. Rookie mistake I made was opening the fill level port when the tactor was still hot. Luckily I didn't get burned. I did notice something strange though. The hydraulic fluid came pouring out. It was fairly normal in color compared to the new stuff I put in. I had topped it off so it was just barely coming out the fill level port a month or two ago when it was cold so it wasn't over filled.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I was thinking of checking it again when it's cold. I was also considering some Sea Foam Hydraulic additive to see if that would help with anything?

Any thoughts as to what I might check?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

DO NOT USE any additives!

You could have a suction leak or yes the screen filter being plugged will cause every issue you are having.

I would be draining it and getting that screen out!

 

[Russell King]

The exhaust can probably be unbolted from the manifold and dropped down pretty easy (except for the rusted hanger?). The manifold to pipe nuts should be brass or bronze so they won’t be too hard to remove.

 

[TheOldHokie]

So I finally got our old L245 running again last summer after sitting for about 10 years. I flushed everything and replaced all the filters with the exception to the hydraulic screen. I didn't change the screen because my dad had retrofitted the exhaust that came out the top of the hood/cover to go down and come out the back going under the clutch/left foot rest. Great idea so we can mow under trees and not have to lift the hood over the exhaust to take it off but it blocked the hydraulic screen.

Anyway, she runs great until she gets hot from cutting grass that's super thick or just in use for a few hours. When hot the bucket/loader stops working up/down/tilt, and the mower won't raise/lower. It starts off slow with the bucket stuttering and ends with neither working at all. I think I can hear a pump trying to work but straining when she's hot and the problems start acting up.

After this round of work today I decided I'd check the hydraulic fluid level. Rookie mistake I made was opening the fill level port when the tactor was still hot. Luckily I didn't get burned. I did notice something strange though. The hydraulic fluid came pouring out. It was fairly normal in color compared to the new stuff I put in. I had topped it off so it was just barely coming out the fill level port a month or two ago when it was cold so it wasn't over filled.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I was thinking of checking it again when it's cold. I was also considering some Sea Foam Hydraulic additive to see if that would help with anything?

Any thoughts as to what I might check?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[TheOldHokie]

If it works fine when cold but not when hot I would not be thinking suction side problem..

i would suspect the pump is worn and loses pressure when the oil gets hot and thins out. As usual my suggestion is a pump pressure test. Do one with cold oil then follow with another when fully warmed up.

Dan

 

[bbqmasterjohn]

If it works fine when cold but not when hot I would not be thinking suction side problem..

i would suspect the pump is worn and loses pressure when the oil gets hot and thins out. As usual my suggestion is a pump pressure test. Do one with cold oil then follow with another when fully warmed up.

Dan

So...Now it doesn't even require getting hot. It works barely for like 2 min from cold start and then stops. Any thoughts?

 

[Chanceywd]

In the 70's I worked on a case garden tractor that was hydrostatic that had an engine driven pump and a hydraulic motor to drive the differential. I don't remember the model. It had been displaying the symptoms for sometime of would run for a few minutes and then slow down. It had the pump and the hydraulic motor replaced by a predecessor in my job position. It had been pushed into the storage building and not used anymore.
I had already fixed a couple of things that had been not repaired right and my boss challenged me to fix that or we were going to get rid of it.
I got the manual out and see it had a screen strainer in the base on the suction. I drained it pulled off the line and removed the screen to find it was heavily covered with "stuff" I can only assume it was maybe paint from inside the housing among other things. But I cleaned it and flushed the system out and put it new fluid. I was surprised at my young 24 yo age and no previous experience with hydraulics how much difference a clean suction made and it ran like new.

I would be checking that suction screen for sure.

Bill

 

[TheOldHokie]

So...Now it doesn't even require getting hot. It works barely for like 2 min from cold start and then stops. Any thoughts?

My thought is ots getting worse. What have you done in the way of diagnostics since your previous post?

Check suction side of pump plumbing for clogged filter and/or vacium leaks.

If you have good oil supply to pump check pump outlet side oil presdure both cold and hot.

Dan