TE20 hydraulic problem

Graham in France · Aug 15, 2014

Hi everyone, this is my first posting so hello to all you guys n gals.
I've recently acquired a 1952 TED 20 and have a problem with the hydraulic selection lever. The tractor is in the barn coupled to a 4ft topper which is sitting on the ground. The hydraulics were working fine when I drove in there 3 days ago. With the engine off, the hydraulic lever seems to engage ok when I press the clutch. Once I start the engine however, when I push in the clutch and try to engage the hydraulic lever there is a grating sound and the lever won't engage.
I've got a manual winging it's way to me but until it arrives has anyone any ideas what could be wrong?

Thanks

Charles in Aus. · Aug 15, 2014

The clutch free play might need adjusting , fairly easy to do but difficult to explain . There needs to be 3/8ths'' free play between the clutch pedal and the foot rest , use a drill bit on its side to measure this .Loosen the clutch pedal pinch bolt a little , just so that it can be turned on the shaft , hold the shaft with a spanner , move the pedal to the right position and nip the bolt up . Let the pedal rest and remeasure the free play . It takes a go or two to get right, don't panic if the pedal flops about , just repeat and try it again , there are no hidden things inside to fall apart if you get it wrong .

Graham in France · Aug 16, 2014

Hi Charles and thanks for your reply. I think I know what you mean. You mean the shaft to the clutch pedal should have the clearance between it and the foot peg mounting ? At the moment it's tight up so I will adjust it as you suggest.
However, the problem is with the clutch pedal held down, the hydraulic lever won't engage when I push it backwards.

cheers

2tractors · Aug 16, 2014

If there's oil dripping from underneath the mid section then the clutch may be wet with oil, an if no oil dripping the weep hole may be stopped up.It's normal to have some leakage from either the tranny seal or rear main, you may just have to engage pto before cranking or do the adjust that requires pulling bottom plate.

Jeff-oh · Aug 16, 2014

What Charles may mean is that you are not totally dis-engaging your clutch and thus the gears are turning when you try to engage the PTO.

What is a 4 foot topper? Is this a mowing implement?

The other issue may be the implement is driving the PTO shaft and causing the gear movement.

If the PTO is disengaged when you start up and the implement is not turning. You then press the clutch with the engine on. The Transmission should not be turning and thus no grinding. In this condition what happens when you try to shift into gear? If you also hear grinding then you have a stuck clutch plate.

May just need a little persuasion to free up. A simple way... (I may be wrong here as I am pulling from my memory)

Jack up the back end and with the engine off in 4th gear and clutch pedal down turn one of the rear wheels by hand.

Let us know what happens.

Graham in France · Aug 16, 2014

Hi and thanks for all your advice. A topper is indeed a mower used on paddocks (do you call it a brush hog?).

I can get the gears ok so the clutch is fine, I think.

I'm going to disconnect the pto shaft and try to start the engine with the hydraulic lever engaged. Hopefully this will enable me to lift the topper and reverse out of the barn!
I'll let you know how I get on.

Charles in Aus. · Aug 16, 2014

Thanks Jeff-Oh , elegantly explained re the clutch clearance .

Graham , a little known trick to help you at least get it out of the barn .
Engage the pto drive when the tractor is not running , take a spanner and rock the pto shaft backwards and forwards ,a little like operating an old fashioned bilge pump . After a moment or two the lift arms will begin to raise even if there is an implement attached. What you are doing is filling the lift cylinder manually and taking the place of the engine driven pump.
You might need to contort yourself a little to squeeze in there but it works remarkably well . This is also a good trick if the hydraulics fail when you are out in a paddock somewhere.

Graham in France · Aug 17, 2014

Thanks Charles, great tip!
Anyway, here's the update. I adjusted the clutch as you suggested, as you said it took a couple of goes to get it right.

I took off the pto so the blades wouldn't turn and started the engine with the hydraulic lever engaged (clutch down.)

I could then raise the mower and back out the barn - hooray!
I then took the hydraulic lever off, and tried to put it in again but it made the same grating noise as before so I'm back to square one. At least I know I can start it with hydraulics to use the machine.
One last thing, I found it wouldn't go into reverse gear. I had to remove the gear lever and click the selector with a screwdriver to go into reverse and back again. I replaced the gear lever and itselected ok.Don't suppose that might have anything to do with it?
Thanks again

John(UK) · Aug 21, 2014

If you would like a E/copy of the operators instruction Book for your tractor, email me and I will send you one. It will give you a better idea of how to operate the tractor...John(UK) [email protected]

TE20 hydraulic problem

Graham in France

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Charles in Aus.

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Graham in France

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2tractors

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Jeff-oh

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Graham in France

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Charles in Aus.

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Graham in France

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John(UK)

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