Ford 3000 Hydraulic Leak

Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
Here I am again, less than a week after sorting the leaking core plug problem! Got it back together and noticed an old hydraulic leak was worse than normal. May as well get it sorted while I'm in the mood and all my tools are in the shed.

It's leaking from a pipe that comes out of the main casing by the brake pedals and back to the filter. The smaller pipe of the two. Maybe 1/2 inch diameter, 6 inches long to a coupling and a 90 degree bend where it goes into the casing:

20180804_155903.jpg


I tried tightening it a few years ago then bodged it with araldite which slowed it down but the time has come to replace it. So a couple of queries.

I guess I need to drain the system first? I top it up every couple of weeks so I was hoping I can re-use the SUTO which should be fairly clean. I think this is the drain plug (square) which is just in front of the rear axle:

20180805_173515.jpg


Fill point is on top of the axle behind the seat so it makes sense? There is another hex plug a bit further forward next to the problem pipe and the brake pedals. Slightly lower down as well. It's in the middle of this photo:

20180805_173229.jpg


I can probably get the pipe out without dismantling anything else but I doubt I'll get a standard solid pipe back in without stripping it down. It seems to be wedged in tight behind the brake lock. So the question is whether to go to a pipe shop and get a flexi pipe, routed slightly differently, or go for the original pipe which would mean taking off the foot plate, brake pedals and lock which doesn't look that easy. Planning to get a price on the original pipe from the local Ford dealer in the morning either way.

Any help appreciated as always..
 

Mursal

Member
Probably get away without draining the oil.
Loosen after leaving it stopped over night, to see if the oils stops coming.

Its leaking from the straight fitting to the right in the first image?
Has it loosened again?
 

Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
Probably get away without draining the oil.
Loosen after leaving it stopped over night, to see if the oils stops coming.

Its leaking from the straight fitting to the right in the first image?
Has it loosened again?
Pretty much stops after engine is switched off. Leaking from left, just behind brake spring. Where pipe joins big nut. Don't want to touch it in case it gets worse. Needs changing me thinks..
 

Mursal

Member
Agreed about making it worse, but before you take it off, best check it wont take a nip?

Flexible will be good .......... (y)

Take all with you to the counter, i'm not sure of the pipe thread, probably oddball ......
 

Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
Agreed about making it worse, but before you take it off, best check it wont take a nip?

Flexible will be good .......... (y)

Take all with you to the counter, i'm not sure of the pipe thread, probably oddball ......
Cheers. Will try but it's leaking on the pipe side of the nut. Can't see how it will stop it. Happy to take it to pipe shop but thinking oil will pish out while I'm there. Down from filter and also out of casing. Thought it might be best to drain it first..
 

Mursal

Member
OK then so, the pipe must be lower than I thought.
That second image is indeed the drain plug, needs a wipe of a rag (before any strangers see it).
 

agrimax

Member
Location
Co Down
Think the leaking pipe is the pressure pipe from the engine mounted hyd pump ,the bigger one being the suction pipe. Think part number 8427204 is what you need if you want to stay original and possibly the compression fittings and olives to go on the ends.However,the parts list shows a continuous pipe from the pump back to where your leak is.At some stage your pipe has had a compression joint fitted,hence the brass fitting to the right of the first photo.You could go to somewhere that supplies and bends steel tube and just replace like for like,ie the short piece. Best go with a flexi hose or you might find there is a crack in the pipe just on the bend. Just might be able to get it brazed when it's off.
 

Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
Think the leaking pipe is the pressure pipe from the engine mounted hyd pump ,the bigger one being the suction pipe. Think part number 8427204 is what you need if you want to stay original and possibly the compression fittings and olives to go on the ends.However,the parts list shows a continuous pipe from the pump back to where your leak is.At some stage your pipe has had a compression joint fitted,hence the brass fitting to the right of the first photo.You could go to somewhere that supplies and bends steel tube and just replace like for like,ie the short piece. Best go with a flexi hose or you might find there is a crack in the pipe just on the bend. Just might be able to get it brazed when it's off.
Thanks. The bigger pipe is continuous so it was a surprise to see the fitting so close. Think I'll call into the local dealer in the morning to see what they say but will probably go for a drain down and flexi pipe match..
 

Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
Local Ford dealer said it was originally a continuous pipe up to the pump but it's now obsolete. Said it was probably split to do a clutch or something else. Tried nipping it earlier and it was tight so flexi it is. Planning to tackle it in the morning after I've collected and tipped a muck trailer.

Crossed my mind though whether rubber is ok or should I go for braided? I used to work on motorcycles years ago and rubber brake hoses were pretty poor i.e. expanding under pressure. I'm sure rubber will be fine in this case but thought I'd better check, just with me being an amateur tractor mechanic and all that.

Also planning to tackle a smaller leak on the flow control valve. I'm pretty sure it's coming from the plug on the left just under the knob. Yes, there's a bit of crud still on it (which I'll clean off tomorrow) but you can see it drip off the bottom of the plug straight away and not run from above.

20180806_102543.jpg


Have tried nipping it but it won't budge. Bit of a strange one because it just looks like a small sump plug. Looking at the manual, there is a sealing washer, spring and plunger behind it. Was thinking of checking/rubbing down surfaces and putting it back together with some gasket sealant. Just wondered if there's anything else I should consider? Like a load of other bits falling out or something else I should do before/after.

Thanks..
 

agrimax

Member
Location
Co Down
The hose you need needs to be rubber hydraulic hose which has reinforced wires inside it. Needs to withstand pressures up to 3000 psi minimum as that is the pressure pipe from the auxiliary pump. Your hydraulic shop should know anyway. Probably 2 wire hose.
Gasket sealant isn't really suitable for the other leak. Nearly sure it is a rubber o ring on that plug which is probably perished. A dowty washer or bonded seal would be better. That's just a washer with a rubber o ring bonded to the inside of it. Again if you take the plug with you to the hydraulic place they should be able to sort you out.
 

Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
The hose you need needs to be rubber hydraulic hose which has reinforced wires inside it. Needs to withstand pressures up to 3000 psi minimum as that is the pressure pipe from the auxiliary pump. Your hydraulic shop should know anyway. Probably 2 wire hose.
Gasket sealant isn't really suitable for the other leak. Nearly sure it is a rubber o ring on that plug which is probably perished. A dowty washer or bonded seal would be better. That's just a washer with a rubber o ring bonded to the inside of it. Again if you take the plug with you to the hydraulic place they should be able to sort you out.
Thanks very much! Always best to go in prepared. Especially when you can't afford for it to be out of action for long..
 

Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
The guy in the hydraulics shop didn't have a clue. Couldn't match either of the fittings. I did notice that the seal on the end was split. The hydraulics guy suggested I go to a seal shop. But it's a fair drive and I figured that even if they have something, is it really going to be the right one and will it work. I'd also noticed half of the threads are missing and there is a thin white plastic washer that fell out of the bigger fitting that also looks damaged. I thought about going to another hydraulics shop but I went back to the Ford dealer to see if they could at least get the seal.

As luck would have it, they sell the whole fitting. Apparently, you just knock the old one off, put the new one on. Hold the bigger fitting in a vice then screw it up and it crimps it on. Then take it apart and re-fit to the casing etc. The bloke even knew the part number before he looked it up! Don't know why he didn't mention it the other day when he said the pipe was obsolete. It's £25 +vat but at least I should get it sorted. Ordered in for tomorrow.

20180807_144044.jpg


Hydraulics guy gave me an o-ring to replace what was a damaged flat rubber ring on the flow control valve. Ford bloke said it looks like it would work. If not, can order the original dowty washer for £10.

P.S. I didn't drain the oil and it's hardly lost any. Most of what did come out has run from the pump/filter.

Will let you know how I get on tomorrow.
 
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Farmer996

Member
Location
North East
Been having a look online and I think this is it:

https://www.malpasonline.co.uk/itm/Steering-Pumps-Reservoirs/NUT-HYDRAULIC-PRESSURE/66498

Only £12.33 inc vat and postage. Doh! Never mind. Ford parts bloke will probably show me how to fit it. Might even ask him to do it. Just thought I'd post the link in case anyone ever needs one.

Edit: That said, I can't see the thin white plastic washer in the photo. Could see it on the parts diagram at the dealers. But if you google the part number C7NNH856C and click on images, you can see other non-uk stockists showing the washer. Anyway, I'm happy it's due in tomorrow and should be the correct part. Just need my tractor back in action. Lots to do!

Edit 2: I neglected to mention that the steel pipe itself looks fine. No cracks. Just a bit chewed at the end where the fitting has been crimped on before but parts bloke didn't seem concerned.
 
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