[El Paso Ed]

Well, Baby is parked for now and I', on my way back to the dealer this morning to get some Hy-Gard and ask some questions. I don't expect to find any real experts or answers and I'm turning to the experience of MTF members.

1. After plowing a few driveways the 3 pt was drooping; it had lowered itself from the highest position to the lowest, but the lockout was closed tight: is this unusual? I expected it to stay up unless I moved it.

2. The hydro fluid level is low and there is no puddle in the garage (but the system is not under pressure when it is parked - right? ). Could there have been air in the lines or should I start looking for a leak?

3. Is there anywhere else to by Hy-Gard?

Thanks in advance for your advice,
Ed

 

[10ford]

Your 3pt dropped because of the depth rod not being screwed all the way in. Standing behind the tractor, it's by the left frame rail. A threaded rod with a roll pin in the end forming a "T" at the end. Screw that all the way in with the 3 point raised and it won't droop anymore. The fluid settling is normal. The HFWD systems take a while to get settled. We usually provide a gallon of Hygard to our X7 customers free upon delivery.

Alan

 

[Tony bachler]

When I sell a tractor or attachment.. I make it clear to the buyer that there may be A drop in the fluid level any time they hook up the attachment. as the cylender may have leaked a bit while in storrage; Now it has to be refilled and that makes the trans low. Just filler up. and you're good to go;;

 

[SonnyT]

Alan I think hit it right with the depth rod. I wouldn't even think of using anything but Hyguard in your new x728!!!!:fing32:

 

[Jere39]

Our local Lowe's carry JD oils, filters, and Hygard as a seasonal item. But, I haven't found their prices to be much better than my JD dealer, and they don't have as many tractors to look at in the showroom.

 

[El Paso Ed]

Thanks to all for the advice. I'm new to anything hydraulic and don't want to screw up the new machine.

..., and they don't have as many tractors to look at in the showroom.

Excellent point - and I need to go down there and look at getting a FEL
Ed

 

[_biz_]

Our local Lowe's carry JD oils, filters, and Hygard as a seasonal item. But, I haven't found their prices to be much better than my JD dealer, and they don't have as many tractors to look at in the showroom.

:thThumbsU

Indeed!

 

[jossbrad]

Ed - My x728 was a little low on hydraulic fluid the first time I checked it. I'd only had the tractor a day or two. It came with the plow all ready attached and no attachments had been removed or added when I checked it. Like yourself, I was looking for a pool of oil on the shed floor and found nothing. I just simply think there was not quite enough put into the tractor to start with. Not sure if that's done at the factory or the dealership. Anyway, it wasn't at a dangerously low level (I only had to add about a quart). If you're not seeing a leak, I think you'll be fine to just top it off.

And yes, the lines are not under pressure when the machine is turned off.

And perhaps you know this all ready -- your manual suggests changing the hydraulic oil and filter at the 50 hour mark for a new machine. I think it's wise to stick to that. I think just about all the X7 series owners on here adhere to that. Expect to spend just a little short of $100 for the hydraulic oil and filter. I just go to the dealership and get the fluid and filters. Like Jere said -- just another good excuse to visit the show room.

 

[El Paso Ed]

Our local Lowe's carry JD oils, filters, and Hygard as a seasonal item...

Well it must be the wrong season, but the dealer's price was only $5 and change for the Hy-Gard; however... it ended up costing me about $3600 - installed with ballast weights and the ReGen kit...

...yup, the 45 Front End Loader is on the way, but no pics for a while (3-4 week delivery). I'm gonna have to start watching Mr. Roy's excellent intructional videos, so I know how to use it

Ed

ps, how's that lil' Brit doing? My orange pup, Sam, passed this year; miss him alot.

 

[PA318Guy]

That was some expensive Hygard! :ROF

 

[Diesel Powered]

Well it must be the wrong season, but the dealer's price was only $5 and change for the Hy-Gard; however... it ended up costing me about $3600 - installed with ballast weights and the ReGen kit...

...yup, the 45 Front End Loader is on the way, but no pics for a while (3-4 week delivery). I'm gonna have to start watching Mr. Roy's excellent intructional videos, so I know how to use it

Ed

That was quite possibly the most expensive trip ever for a gallon of oil. :biglaugh:

Congrats and I'm sure that 3-4 weeks is going to seem like 3-4 months!

FEL is getting higher on my priority list.

 

[deerenut]

:ditto: But your are going to love the loader. You will find uses you never thought of once you have it... Can hardly wait for pictures and your feedback.

 

[deerenut]

That was some expensive Hygard! :ROF

:ditto: But your are going to love the loader. You will find uses you never thought of once you have it... Can hardly wait for pictures and your feedback.

 

[El Paso Ed]

That was quite possibly the most expensive trip ever for a gallon of oil...

It was only a quart! And it did not bring the level up to the hashmarks, it barely touched the stick. I'm starting to get a little upset about the dealer setup and concerned about damage to the tranny. So, for now, the Babe remains parked.

My advice to future X7 owners: move the seat up and pull that stick before you take delivery and check it again after an hour of operation.

 

[Diesel Powered]

It was only a quart! And it did not bring the level up to the hashmarks, it barely touched the stick. I'm starting to get a little upset about the dealer setup and concerned about damage to the tranny. So, for now, the Babe remains parked.

My advice to future X7 owners: move the seat up and pull that stick before you take delivery and check it again after an hour of operation.

I was also disappointed in the dealer "setup" or lack thereof on my x748. After checking it over when I got home (because of other setup horror stories), it was noticeably below the add mark on the trans. Unfortunately, most dealers are just interested in making a quick buck and sending you down the road. Hopefully things get better!

 

[_biz_]

It was only a quart! And it did not bring the level up to the hashmarks, it barely touched the stick. I'm starting to get a little upset about the dealer setup and concerned about damage to the tranny. So, for now, the Babe remains parked.

My advice to future X7 owners: move the seat up and pull that stick before you take delivery and check it again after an hour of operation.

FWIW I had similar issues after picking up my new x530.

I think it's awesome you went to pick up some fluid and come home with a FEL. Congrats man, that's awesome!

 

[8086bruce]

Congrats!!! Your going to love having a loader!!!

 

[El Paso Ed]

Congrats!!! Your going to love having a loader!!!

Yea, I can't wait; it's the main reason I went for the X3 -> X7 upgrade. I'm sure I'll find 101+ jobs to do with a FEL around this place.

Update on Baby: I emailed the JD dealer and drove back down on my lunch break to start rippin' some new ones...

... But they had a free gallon of Hy-Gard and a reply from JD Corporate when I got there. Seems there's been a very small run (I was #7) of similar complaints on the X7's and they are modifying their setup procedures to include more 'drive-time' for the 4WD models. They also said there should be no damage unless the tranny was run dry (which I had heard before).

So, not totally unhappy, I headed back to work (and home a little early). To my pleasant surprise, another 3-4" of white stuff was waiting for me in the driveway. I added a couple of more pints (don't want to overfill) to Babe's tranny and cranked her up. Woah! She jumped with the surge of new blood. Stop! don't run over Mr. Snowblower!!

She's only had a couple days off, but Baby was beggin' to work; how could I say No? We killed that 400' drive in about 90 seconds flat, I really gotta get some video of her in action...

- Mr Jere39 (if you're out there); thanks for your advice. It was very cold tonite, the thermo-freeze effect had happened, so I just dropped that blade in float mode and hit the gas: Cleanest sweep ever!

Ed

ps: And I almost forgot the best part: the JD dealer said I'm 'on the board' for a Feb. 15 install of the FEL - Woo Hoo! :bananapow

 

[Diesel Powered]

Update on Baby: I emailed the JD dealer and drove back down on my lunch break to start rippin' some new ones...

... But they had a free gallon of Hy-Gard and a reply from JD Corporate when I got there. Seems there's been a very small run (I was #7) of similar complaints on the X7's and they are modifying their setup procedures to include more 'drive-time' for the 4WD models. They also said there should be no damage unless the tranny was run dry (which I had heard before).

That's a load of bull. I'm guessing the run has affected all of the HFWD units from at least mine to yours in the run, but there must be a limited number of people that actually said something to their dealer. Thanks for the info. I'll be collecting my free gallon of low vis next time I'm at the dealer. :1106:

 

[pwill]

I think John Deere in general is having problems with good setup of equipment. We recieved a new group of mowers from them at work and every one of them was one to three gal short on hydro. They also had multiple nuts and bolt left lose. Even had a rim and tire come off on the first full day of use one machine. The dealer did finally remeburse us for the fluid but you would think that when you spend a couple of hundred thousand with them they could at least set the equipment up right.