New(old) TO-20 with loader and issues

Hello, forum.

Just got a new to me TO-20 delivered. I grew up on a farm so I know a little about tractors.. not enough.. but at least I know what most of the parts are called.



I have many little things to mess with and ask about. When I first started driving it around the yard it kept stalling out on me. I cleaned some sediment out of the fuel bowl and that didn't help... then I reached in and wiggled the rod that goes from the governor to the carb back and forth a few times and now it seems to be doing OK. Maybe just sticking?

I'm also noticing that the rear brake pedal on the left side is laying flat on the running board and can't be pushed down. Can that be adjusted or is something broken?

Now the big issue is the loader... there's a drip drip leak coming from the front loader pump after shutting down with everything on the ground. Then today when I tried to move a load... maybe only 300lbs or so I couldn't tip the bucket up and it would barely lift up any, I was told oil leaked from the pump as I tried to move the bucket. It moves fine without a load. I'm suspecting maybe the pump needs rebuilt or replaced but I don't know who even made it to start looking for parts. If anyone knows or can help me figure out what's wrong that would be a huge help.. a loader tractor without a working loader is kinda pointless







Oh and one other issue... is there one front tire vs another that's easier to turn with a heavy loader on the front? I'm probably about to replace both of them.


*edit hooray I can use image tags now![/img]

Cow, after looking at your pictures I should make you feel just a little bit better. You do not have a TO 20, you have a TO 30, a few more horsepower than the TO 20. Many of the farmers years ago took the tires off and installed car tires in order to help with the "armstrong" steering problem associated with a loader on these tractors.

An oil leak like that isn't going to cause your problem, it is something more serious. The oil could be leaking internally under pressure in the Pump. If it were the external leak that was the problem there would be oil spraying everywhere. Have you checked the oil level in the reservoir for the loader, it could be low and that would also cause the problem too. If the oil is not low then the Pump is worn internally. But as you said it did lift when you tried it then it could just be low oil level.When was the oil last changed, when was the filter last changed..John

The oil level was very low when I got it but I have filled it with new oil. I had thought it was just a small leak initially because the loader will lift to it's full height and the bucket will move just fine but as soon as I tried to actually put weight in it, it was helpless.

I don't know about a filter, I'll look more closely but I have not seen one. Would it be a spin-on style or something else?

I'm willing to rebuild the pump if that isn't too difficult or even replace it but I have no idea what manufacturer/model to look for.

If I did this right your pictures will show on the forum. When you want to post a picture the link needs after it

[quote](quoted from post at 19:37:40 09/13/11)
[img:161d91ab17]http://www.thecowman.com/pics/iphone22.jpg


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Yes, I think I need to email an admin or something because the board is telling me I'm not allowed to post image tags. Thanks for making them show up in the thread.

Let me try again with this pic... I've got a casting number but someone painted over be plate with the serial number on it.

cowman, if you want to know the year of your TO 30 on the tag in front of the steering wheel that has been painted over all you have to do is take a little paint remover on the top 1/2" of that plate and that will show TO and then somewhere between 60001 and 140000. Then on the left side of this page under Research & Info click on Serial Numbers and follow through and you can tell what year you have. I am guessing the seller told you it was a TO 20.

I believe your pump is the Char-Lynn 10 gpm pictured in this ad.

I have the pump which is yet to put to work and my son has the Power Pac pump on a McCormick Super W6 which is used extensively in his fencing business

Yes, that does look a lot like it.


Are rebuild kits/parts/replacements/close enough fits available for this pump?

As you can see it will lift up all the way. Bucket works.


However, I was messing with it this afternoon and noticed that if I tilt the bucket down then lower the arms the bucket will get pushed back up a little as the loader comes down on it. I also noticed on the cylinders for the bucket, the piston.. or whatever you call the shiny part(sorry not up on terminology) was a little rough in spots. Not really bad, but not nice and smooth.

The more I look at this loader the more I think it wasn't made for this tractor but someone "made it fit". I gave it a second look and it doesn't seem to have any filter.



Any guesses as to the lift capacity? I'd think with the ~300lbs or so I had on the bucket I'd still have been able to curl it up. I can't seem to take a hunk out of the gravel/dirt pile by the house either, it just won't pick it up.

I'd remove the loader and get the tractor working properly first. Wide wagon tires work well on the front with a loader. Most of these pumps are nearly impossible to rebuild reasonably, meaning parts are hard to find and hydraulic people don't like to work on them. It probably will be easier and cheaper to replace the pump, even if you have to fabricate a new bracket for it. You are totally correct that a loader without a good pump is nearly worthless (scrap price). Most pumps run $300-500.

That bracket has 4 evenly spaced slots... looks like it might be pretty flexible/adjustable. If I can locate something with bolt holes that will line up and a shaft about the same size that rotates in the same direction with as high or better pressure/flow... hmmm.

As far as taking the loader off, I don't have much else to use the tractor for now. I think I could get it off, but I'm not entirely sure about getting it back on again. I guess you put it on the ground, disconnect everything, put some blocks or something under it, unbolt it, and back the tractor away from it? Then do the reverse to re-attach?

My plans for the tractor are to get it working well enough to use it for snow removal over the winter... this means fixing anything major that's broken which is mainly the loader, replace all the fluids, new tires in the front,etc. Engine is running good right now, starts easy, etc. The right rear axle is leaking if I park that side downhill.. not sure how hard that is to do, I've ordered a shop manual. 3 point raises/lowers and the PTO spins although I have not put a load on those either come to think of it... Brakes work well enough to stop the tractor easily. Plan to get some kind of weight on the back to counter the loader/add traction.

Other than some degreaser and a power wash I won't be doing anything cosmetic until spring/summer.

One way to remove the loader is drive it under a stout limb or shed rafter and with a chain hoist, raise it as u unbolt it and then drive the tractor out an set the loader back down. Then you can easily raise it again to put it back on.

(quoted from post at 21:26:57 09/14/11) I believe your pump is the Char-Lynn 10 gpm pictured in this ad.

I have the pump which is yet to put to work and my son has the Power Pac pump on a McCormick Super W6 which is used extensively in his fencing business

Click to expand...

Can anyone point me to a modern pump that would be a "close enough" fit? I can probably mess with the bracket a little to make something work but there seem to be thousands of pumps out there and I'm not sure what I should go with.

Better yet does anyone here have one of these in better shape they'd like to sell me?

I have a TO-30 with Wagner WM3 loader I will sell, just the loader, or loader and tractor. I'm in Virginia. My email is towerhill33 at yahoo dot com. My loader has a new pump, works fine. Make you a good price if you come get it.

Thanks but you're a little far away for me. I'm in WI




Was looking at this guy as a possible replacement pump. It runs at 2000 psi and has 12gpm of flow at the speed my current one is rated or 10... seems about right. Anyone see anything wrong with that? I have not messed with hydraulics much.