522xi Hydro Problems

[Gibbs 0]

@bmsgaffer

 

My Grandson stopped by and he used his Apple I phone to record the GPS ground speed of the 522XI tractor.

I did the driving tests on the Dead End Street.The street is fairly level, slight fall. Phone sitting in the transmission shifter well.

 

Here are the results.

Tractor engine throttle speed set on high RPM. Transmission set in high gear.

Driving straight the GPS speed was 6 mph.

Turning in a circle the GPS speed was 7.4 mph.

(Factory ground speed specs is 0 - 7.5 mph)

 

Driving in reverse, high gear. Engine throttle set at high RPM.

Diving straight in reverse. GPS speed 2 mph.

Diving in reverse in a circle GPS speed was about 3 mph.

(Factory ground speed specs for reverse  is 0 - 3.4 mph.

 

I did an incline test going up to the top of the berm at the highest point. Just a guess average is about 15 degree rise. Height of the berm, 5ft, maybe 6ft. Length from the bottom to the top, a good 70ft. 

Transmission in high gear engine throttle set to high RPM.

Driving straight up the incline GPS speed was 5 mph. 

The drop in speed of 1 mph could have just been the engine being loaded, rpm falling slightly under load. 

 

I pulled the seat/fender unit off the tractor. I just did a quick inspection of linkage and the cam plate. I didn't see any problems. I'll do a more detailed inspection tomorrow.

 

My gut tells me the problem is not a linkage or a full movement of the Hydro control speed movement mechanism, therein cam plate operation movement. I think it has something to do with the hydraulics flow (mapping) of the system. I really don't know how to put it into words. The only thing I know for sure when engaging the power steering to turn one way or the other the ground speed increases to the 522XI tractors ground speed specs. 

 

I found this here on the RED SQUARE forum:

https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/files/file/3787-tractor-2003-5-xi-hydraulic-smpdf/

Tractor 2003 5 xi Hydraulic SM.pdf - 1998-2012

"Download this file"

 

Go to page 2 - 5, Good diagram of the Hydraulic system and devices that can impact the flow of high pressure hydraulic oil. Anything, devices, in the power steering flow of the hydraulic oil that could cause the slower ground speed problem when going straight ? And why turning the steering wheel making the power steering to work, increases the ground speed to normal , per the 522XI ground speed specs? 

 

I read over the Theory of Operation. A Hydraulic Tech I am not...  

 

Jim

.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:49 AM by Gibbs

[bmsgaffer 2,071]

Does the system also slow down when you are using the lift cylinder?

 

I don't think it would be tied to the steering hydraulicly, because once you set a certain turn angle (like in a circle), the hydraulics stop being used (it will move the steering cylinder to the proper angle then go back to acting like nothing is happening).

 

I would jack the tractor up with the fender off, and have someone hold the drive forward while someone else steers. If you see the bracket marked below (with red arrow) moving at all when you are steering with a steady throttle, then there is an issue with the smart steer linkages.

 

I didn't watch the video, did you do a proper smart steer delete kit or just bolt the end of the bar somewhere?

 

Just for good measure, have to cleaned the power steering filter screen?

 

 

[Gibbs 0]

14 hours ago, bmsgaffer said:

Does the system also slow down when you are using the lift cylinder?

 

No... Up or down doesn't change the ground speed, going straight or turning the steering wheel.

 

I pulled off the fender/seat body unit from the tractor and cleaned the cooling fins good on the top of the hydro pump.I had already cleaned the bottom cooling fins when I installed the new oil filter.

 

As for deleting the Smart Turn I followed the guy's instructions in the video. Just disconnected the Linking flat bar from the steering sector. Rotate the bar straight towards the front of the tractor. Bar and linkage is pushed back as far as it will go to the back of the tractor. There is a pre-drilled  hole in the frame to install a bolt,  washer spacers, and nut to solidly bolt the linking bar to the frame. (Somebody was thinking ahead of time). I verified the linkage at the hydro transmission would no longer enable the Smart Turn from changing, in anyway, moving forward, or turning the steering wheel. Same for reverse motion. What a mechanical nightmare. 

 

Also while I had the fender/seat body removed from the tractor I checked out the cam that moves the hydro shaft lever, that changes the variable grounded speed forward, neutral, and reverse. Foot pedal moves the shaft to its' extreme in both directions. 

 

Just a note. With the engine  throttle set at about 1/2 speed, rpm, any, slightest, movement of the steering wheel makes a distinctive sound. Not the usual sound. It sounds like it's coming from the steering sector hydraulic unit. Not the hydraulic ram. 

 

As for the power steering  filter screen. I checked it last year and it was clean. I will check it again just to be on the safe side. I will wash the screen real good with a solvent. 

 

I put everything back together and mowed the back yard. A ground speed of 6 mph is more than enough. Normally I probably mow at about around 5mph to get a good grass cut with the 48" deck. Tractor does great for about the first 30 to 45 minutes then she starts slowing down. I end up pushing the pedal all the way down after about an hour. I should get my Grandson to check the GPS ground speed with his I phone.

 

Edit: Where, is there, a vent for the transmission?

 

Jim

 

 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Gibbs