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Indianajohn

520H hydraulic line repair?

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Indianajohn

Newbie to the forum, and also a new 520H owner. It came into my shop with a complaint of "won't move and can't lift the blade". Obviously a hydraulic issue. Looking around underneath, I noticed oil dripping off the frame. Turns out the steel hydraulic line that runs along the top of the lower frame rail and goes to the front of the lift valve had been sitting in old accumulated grass that had gotten wet and it had holes rusted thru it. After doing some major disassembly to get the line out of there (you basically have to split the tractor), the only fix I have been able to come up with is to have a custom line made up. Used ones seem to be unobtanium, and due to the sharp bends and special flares, a DIY replacement looks like a non starter. And due to a lack of space where the line runs between the rear of the frame and the transaxle housing, a custom hose won't fit. And of course wouldn't be cheap either. The owners have told me they don't want to spend a lot of money on repairing it, and with the labor cost plus the price of a custom made line, it will run into more than they want to spend on "that old tractor". They basically told me I could have it for the time I already have in it. So it looks like I'm going to end up with yet another tractor. However, the Onan engine runs good, and the machine really isn't in that bad of condition. Plus I've always admired the 520 series tractors, so I kinda hate to give up on the old girl and part it out. I really hate it when someone parts out a fixable tractor. So far, my google searches have turned up precious little info. Has anybody else ever ran into this problem on one of these tractors? And if so, how did you deal with it? 

Edited by Indianajohn
Grammar mistake

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daveoman1966

I ahve all the hyd lines from a 520H.... both the steel lines and the rubber ones 

For further info, send me an OFF-SITE email...  my address is:

daveoman@windstream.net

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benji756

:text-welcomeconfetti:to:rs::wwp:

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KC9KAS

@Indianajohn :text-welcomeconfetti: to :rs:

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jackhammer

:text-welcomewave:   - -   Welcome to RedSquare,

 

Next you need to take pictures and post a few here. 

 

Sounds like you have fallen into a great deal

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lynnmor

You might want to rebuild the lift cylinder while it is out.  I listed kits in the classified.

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ztnoo

Welcome fellow Hoosier!!!

:text-welcomeconfetti:

 

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Indianajohn

Thanks for the welcome guys! Another KC9 call here. As far as pics go, not much to see right now as it's halfway apart. The routing of that line just seems like a bad design choice on an otherwise well designed machine. Several things have to be removed just to disconnect the line from the front end of the valve, not to mention that you basically have to remove the transaxle to have enough room to get the line out from between the transaxle and the rear of the frame. Even then it take quite a bit of maneuvering and colorful language to work it out of the tractor. Would have been better as two pieces too. Anyway, if I can get her back into working condition, I'd really like to build a loader for it. I have a skid loader, but there are places its hard to get into with it. Always wanted a small tractor with a loader, and this seems like a great platform to build it on. Always thought the 520 series was a bit ahead of its time feature-wise, and kinda a luxury garden tractor with the Onan engine, arm rests, chrome hub caps (mine still has one on the rear), and the fancy instrumentation. They don't build tractors of this quality anymore.

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WHX??

:WRS: John

 

I see you have learned your first lesson here ...always check in the vendors section first for parts!

2nd lesson ...we love :text-coolphotos: no matter what stage of dis/repair it's in! :)

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lynnmor
2 hours ago, Indianajohn said:

Several things have to be removed just to disconnect the line from the front end of the valve, not to mention that you basically have to remove the transaxle to have enough room to get the line out from between the transaxle and the rear of the frame. Even then it take quite a bit of maneuvering and colorful language to work it out of the tractor.

 

 

I'm not sure which line you are cussing, :bitch:  but I have moved the transaxle back by temporarily installing longer frame mounting bolts and sliding it back on these loose bolts. 

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roadapples

:WRS:

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TDF5G

:text-welcomeconfetti:

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Indianajohn
32 minutes ago, lynnmor said:

 

 

I'm not sure which line you are cussing, :bitch:  but I have moved the transaxle back by temporarily installing longer frame mounting bolts and sliding it back on these loose bolts. 

 

Yep, that's basically what I ended up doing. That way I didn't have even more stuff to disconnect. It gave me just enough room to snake that line out from between the axle and the back of the frame. I sent an email to Dave, so hopefully I'll be able to get her back together soon. Yeah, I'm sure I'll be utilizing the classified and vendor areas here quite a bit as time goes on. I own several older heavy duty tractors that I've had for many years now, and hoping this will be another keeper. As I said, they don't build me like they used to. I noticed that there is apparently a group for us 520H owners. I'll have to check that out.

And thanks once again for the welcomes. Really starting to feel at home here!

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WHX??
1 minute ago, Indianajohn said:

I'm sure I'll be utilizing the classified and vendor areas here quite a bit as time goes on.

Nice thing about the guys in the vendors John are they are always strait shooters & always treat ya fairly.

 

Yes feel free to right click on one of the 520 club thingys and add it to you signature. Its kinda of an informal club so we don't have a secret handshake but we do like to keep the riff raff out!

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jay bee

:text-welcomeconfetti: to :rs:John.  It sounds like you're bringing quite a bit of knowledge with you!!!

 

Jim

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Rick Smith

I am going thru this same thing right now. Not an easy task!

 

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richmondred01

The rubber lines are much easier to install. The steel ones are a pain. 

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wheelhorseman

I got new rubber hoses if anyone needs any.

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WHX??

Hey dude ...I got my hand up..:greetings-clappingyellow:

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wheelhorseman

Your at the top of the list!!  :D

Edited by wheelhorseman

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WHX??

:handgestures-thumbupright::lol:

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