Massey Ferguson 398 backend oil getting into engine!

[Friesianfan]

how is this likely to happen? Couldn’t understand how I was losing so much oil in back end butthen found oil rising up engine oil dipstick.
Tia

 

[farmerbill]

Is suggest its impossible. There’s a dry clutch and housing with a big open hole in the bottom between the two.

 

[AJR75]

Highly unlikely I would have thought- is she using much coolant?

 

[Friesianfan]

Coincidence then? At first I thought it was diesel getting in the engine via split diaphragm in lift pump but that’s all ok. Didn’t smell like diesel either. Definitely oil

 

[Friesianfan]

Not using coolant

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Eeerrrrm, do the 300 series not have a tandem hydraulic pump mounted on the engine or am I thinking of something completely different?

 

[avag]

Hydraulic pump seal dropping oil into sump

 

[farmerbill]

Eeerrrrm, do the 300 series not have a tandem hydraulic pump mounted on the engine or am I thinking of something completely different?

Yes! You’re absolutely right. It’s gear driven off the side of the engine so it’s almost certainly possible. Potentially just a gasket job?

 

[mixed breed]

Yep, There is a lip seal on the drive shaft of the pump, if it fails it leaks hydraulic oil into the engine crankcase.

 

[Gilesg92]

It’s the hydraulic pump. Had same on a 390.

 

[Dry Rot]

Hm, that sounds like what mine is doing too, but not so bad I want to tamper with it (yet). I've a small drip of what looks like hydraulic oil below the sump.

 

[Ffermer Bach]

Hydraulic pump seal dropping oil into sump

had the power steering oil on a zetor getting from the pump into the sump

 

[Cowabunga]

Be careful with this and keep an eye on levels. Years ago one of my neighbours had an early 390 with a red top and his engine went bang due to being filled with transmission oil. I was not there but I vaguely remember it being said that it started pulling the oil into the cylinders and ran away and nobody could stop it. Long time ago now, probably mid 1980's

 

[Fievel Farmanimal]

Some 300-series hydraulics info on my pages, hope this helps:

http://haapasalontila.fi/MF390hydraulics.html

Tandem pump repair:

http://haapasalontila.fi/MF390tandempump.html

 

[Cowabunga]

In your first link, the last picture shows the external linkage control lever, accessed from the ground. In the UK, that lever is not acceptable to Health and Safety authorities and if a tractor enters a dealership, it must be removed by them before handing the tractor back to the owner.
The reason for this is that the lever can cause the links to move all the way with one stroke, possibly trapping someone and seriously injuring them. Later models had this lever replaced by one with teeth and very limited movement that had to be ratcheted several times to fully lift or lower the links.

 

[Fievel Farmanimal]

In your first link, the last picture shows the external linkage control lever, accessed from the ground. In the UK, that lever is not acceptable to Health and Safety authorities

I don't disagree with UK authorities. That lever came separate with the tractor 1990. Maybe FEL installers took it off, cause they moved toolbox to place where the lever should be. Somebody wanted to see what it's like and I took a photo. I'll insert that warning and ratchet lever story on the page.

Personally I prefer 500-series type levers with pressure control, I don't mind if someone classifies me freak for this. Pressure control function can be dangerous too, cause the linkage comes all the way up after it starts to rise.

 

[Cowabunga]

I don't disagree with UK authorities. That lever came separate with the tractor 1990. Maybe FEL installers took it off, cause they moved toolbox to place where the lever should be. Somebody wanted to see what it's like and I took a photo. I'll insert that warning and ratchet lever story on the page.

Personally I prefer 500-series type levers with pressure control, I don't mind if someone classifies me freak for this. Pressure control function can be dangerous too, cause the linkage comes all the way up after it starts to rise.

I liked the 100 and 500 series quadrants with Pressure Control also. The safety point being that the person in control was then in the cab and there was no rear end remote control on either model ranges.
Most people actually liked that remote lever in the picture and some object strongly to its removal. I liked it, but also realise how potentially dangerous it is.

 

[mixed breed]

I recall some rum stories of accidents and ours were swiftly removed. But the nearest was a lad who has some neighbouring land, he was ploughing with his 365, his father came to relieve him so he could milk, his father somehow got his leg between the rear wheel and the lift arm and reached into the cab for something and somehow pushed said lever up, lifting the linkage arm up. The tractor was in the furrow so naturally the plough swung across trapping his leg just above the knee. Two hours later his son returned and released his dad who was bruised but unhurt. apparently he then bollocked dad as he'd only done just two runs of the field while he was away.

 

[MF-ANDY]

Don't know got away with fitting a full movement lever. They even changed from an incremental to a full movement type on the 600 series

 

[Spuddler]

I expect most people use Suto in the engine and backend anyway