Jinma 254 Power Steering / hydraulic Q

[cjax]

Ok, bought a used (less than 80 hours) JM254 last weekend. Used it for about 2 hours, and it has done everything I need so far. Only problem is, the power steering is/was sluggish at best. I do a lot of turning, as I have an oddly shaped lot (though 20 acres) and a lot of hills.
About 1.5 hours into my work, I started to smell something odd (to me), but nothing was smoking, the gauges were all good, and it was still running. (Yes, I'm somewhat of a tractor newbie) Drove her back to her resting place, and noticed what I believe to be hydraulic fluid all over the right side of the engine and sprayed a little down toward the front right wheel. (I'll try to get a pic).
As I don't have a manual or any schematics, any thoughts? I'm guessing the PS shares the hydraulics and doesn't have it's own system. Would it be possible to put the PS on it's own to not overload the hydraulics? Does anyone have any drawings/schematics/manuals that I could use to try and work on this? I can find my way around things, but somewhat new to the hydraulics world.
Any information greatly appreciated.

[mark777]

......... Drove her back to her resting place, and noticed what I believe to be hydraulic fluid all over the right side of the engine and sprayed a little down toward the front right wheel. (I'll try to get a pic).
As I don't have a manual or any schematics, any thoughts? I'm guessing the PS shares the hydraulics and doesn't have it's own system. Would it be possible to put the PS on it's own to not overload the hydraulics?.....
.......Any information greatly appreciated.

CJAX,

The very first thing that comes to mind is a blown hyd pump seal. And the smell sounds very familiar as in engine and-or exhaust heated hydraulic fluid.

Changing the stock set up to remotely powered - power steering would require it's own pump, hose and fittings and hydraulic reservoir. Not an easy task, expensive but not impossible if you're good at fabricating.

My Chinese tractor buddies tell me the go to guy is John at: (www.johnstractor.homestead.com).

Another good site, (although I hate the idea they make you pay to join) is C.T.O.A. - Chinese Tractor Owners of America. Which is packed full of members that help each other, offer fixes and find parts, where the factory and dealers seem to fail in their support.

I've seen your recent post on TBN. I hope you have success with the members there. Good luck,

Mark

[cjax]

Ok, I did my Hydraulic flush and fill today. Wasn't too bad of a project really. Had it been one continuous project, it might have taken about 4 hours. Needless to say, were I do do it again, I could do it in less than 2, but I learned a lot about the system today!
Started off by trying to remove the knob on the front of the hydraulic reservoir, thinking that was the filling point. Little did I know it was for a single hydrr. set I don't even use (yet). Well, I broke the knob off in the process. No really big deal. Life goes on.
Got the tractor set up and on jack stands so I could operate the steering without problems. Raised the loader all the way up so I could dump those fluids also.
Then I went to draining the fluid. Man was it black and crappy! full of metal junk and just overall very nasty. Worked the power steering to empty its fluid, then dropped the bucket about half way, tipped the bucket all the way forward, then worked/lifted it back up to half way, and dropped the loader all the way down. That got quite a bit more fluid out of the reservoir. Then worked the 3ph to get what little was in there out. That wasn't much.
I then removed the hydraulic filter and cleaned it up, all nice and shiny like. (well, sort of)
I filled it up with Kerosene and closed her back up. Put her through her paces, stopping once to add a little more as the reservoir was emptied, and verified I had run all hydr equipment/controls possible. They all worked
I then drained the kero, and it was dirty. Very dirty. but I felt very happy with the results, as I knew it had removed a LOT of the crud in there. I used the drained kero sludge to clean some of the parts, like the filter, to a much nicer state. The inside of the reservoir was in tremendously better shape, as it was not longer black, but a bright orange when clean! Pretty cool to see.
Next I filled her back up with new AW32 from Napa, and started her back up to test he operations. Everything worked, except the 3ph.
WTH??
Well, we tried topping off fluids, that didn't work. Removed the filter area, and that didn't work. Noticed it was really heavily loading the engine when trying to raise the 3ph, so we figured there was a blockage. We removed 2 different bolts/assemblies from the 3ph pump area, to no avail. Disengaged the FEL and tried again, Still a no go. Then just on a shot in the dark, loosened up the from pump bolt (the one I had broken the knob off of earlier) and POW! It worked!. (Still not sure what we did there)
Anyway, I found if I leave that about 1/4 turn from tight, everything works fine, so, that is where she stays for now. Any thoughts on that?
Anyway, during all of this, I found one of my FEL couplings had some loose fittings. Tightened them up, and everything is now great. Runs great, no boggy power steering, and runs like a champ.
Also got out the grease gun and lubed EVERY zerk on this bad boy.
All in all, a very productive PM day, and I learned a lot I never knew about hydraulics today. Fun project for a first timer.

Pics and similar post available at http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1206226#post1206226

[mark777]

Cjax,

That's great news!

Apparently your previous owner never serviced or changed the original fluids. I've read repeatedly where new owners immediately change over from the fluids shipped in these tractors. And always, there seems to be loose castings and metal shavings during the first 50-100 hours services.

You quite possible avoided a very large bullet by catching it in time. Way to go.

Mark

[nuffer460]

Cjax, I know that this is an old thread, but the knob that you were turning, is an adjustment device for the rear 3 pth lifting arms. The use is to adjust the speed that an implement will lower. The service manual states that turning the knob counterclockwise, increases the lowering speed. Turning the knob clockwise, decreases the lowering speed. They also state, make 1/4 turn adjustments, then check the lowering speed.
They also state that if you have a FEL option it can effect that speed as well. My NorTrac 254 (Jimna 254) has a FEL option but it gets the supply before the Lift Valve. I have not noticed an effect to the loader by adjusting the lift adjustment valve. It does make handling heavier implement easier. If I have my Jinma woodchipper attached, a 1/4 turn to the right and it doesn't slam to the ground.:Disgus:
Hope this helps other Jinma Tractor owners.
John

[cjax]

Great post nuffer, and thanks for the info. I haven't read the manual too precisely yet. I guess I figured as long as she's usable I'm doing ok. That will actually help me use the rear a little faster (very slow now). I'll look into that next time she gets a good run. (Driveway needs another grading before winter set in)