Brass/flakes in Hyd oil

So, about two months back I had contaminated hyd oil and screen in my 4630 QR, and a PTO lever that wouldn't stay engaged with poor hyd pressure. Didn't have time to break it open, so took it to the local mechanic (not the deere dealer) that I have had good luck with-

He put in a new high flow trans pump (only one available from deere at this time, took off the cover for the pto valving and said the little lever inside was broke as many of you suggested it was- They inspected from the top with the rockshaft cover off and could see or feel nothing else wrong with the trans.

I asked them where the heck all the brass flakes came from in the screen, and if it was the brakes. they said they pulled one wheel and the brakes were brand new, and saw no reason to pull the the other side.

They suspected the hyd pump, but said it looked like it had just been rebuilt or replaced judging by how good the teflon washers on the large plugs looked.


So after all that, we didn't find the culprit of the brass flakes. They told me to use it, and I have been for a good couple weeks now, I've been meaning to drop the oil again and check, but haven't had time to yet. hopefully in the next couple days.

My main question is, they tell me the only sources for brass flakes would be brakes, and hyd pump. Is this true?

The HYD system seems to be working well now except for a vibration in the hydraulics that I can feel in the steering wheel and in the tractor at certain mid rpms, but they are working.


What would you do going forward? I plan on dropping the oil soon and will let you know what I find on the screen.

My guess is a brake,, and it is usually the left one, educating my guess is the fact that when plowing to left brake is used to keep from spinning (knowing the diff lock "should" be used) and most hit the left brake pedal first normally...and yes it should be checked, I don't know which one your guy pulled but he should have checked them both..Darn it

And there are no brass components in your hydraulic pump.

so you guys are thinking that the only place in the system to see the brass colored flakes are in the brakes?

Tim I think they pulled the right hand side, said the brakes were the new style that didn't have any brass or rivets. I wondered the same thing about the left side.

the farmer I bought it from said he used it to disk fields, no plowing was mentioned, but that doesn't mean anything. could the brass have come out of the old transmission pump? guess I'm a bit worried that there's some bushings on the transmission shafts/synchros and such that could be going, but I have absolutely no knowledge of what these transmissions are made of.

I asked the guy working on it if could be the pto brake, he didn't think so. I guess the A&I manual for this tractor says the only component failures that match brass/copper in the oil is brakes and hyd pump.?

They said they did a real good job washing down the trans to get all the debris out, so we'll see what's collected here when I drain it again.


One more thing they mentioned, they said the planetary gears on the axle housing were starting to get sharp on the side they pulled- which tells me that it's been a farming tractor for a long long time. I'm using it quite a bit just for hay yard use, pulling and operating a pto hay processor, then a mower in the summer, and as the main farming tractor. are the planetary gear bushings made of brass? can the planetary gears be flipped over? or from the left side to the right so that they will wear on the other side of the gear? or is that taboo? I know it's not an immediate problem, but I'm betting they're not available from deere anymore, and if they are, they cost more than the tractor's worth.?

Thanks guys

(quoted from post at 20:28:10 11/15/15) And there are no brass components in your hydraulic pump.

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Ditto what Tech 7 stated about no brass in frt pump & ditto what Tim s stated about rear brakes.

I had a 4020 in the Deere shop a few years ago for brakes. They told me the same thing they cleaned it really good. Last winter I put a new loadshaft and bushings in. When I had that apart I cleaned a heckuva lot more brake material out than what deere had gotten out. I did a lot of scraping with a long screwdriver, number 9 wire and used a lot of brake cleaner and kerosene. The long screen was clean.

The load shaft is in the lowest area of the case, and that is where a lot of it ends up, when I have a bad one in here I go ahead and pull the load shaft to clean the basement out, most of them needed the load seal anyway. And while were talking about it be sure you pay attention to the cone and spring in the filter bowl..the little snap ring gets away and some times the cone sticks to the old filter,,then gets tossed away unknowingly,,now when the new filter goes in there is nothing to keep it tight in place allowing unfiltered oil to get by,,and even letting the filter spin cutting the seal off the ends and letting that go on to who knows where,,, I had one in here like that last week..just a few more things to think about...

Thanks for the heads up. Now if I can remember that. The "Sometimers" is happening a little more often.

Not be a smart but, but the screen ends are brass aren't they. If yours is so equipped. chris

If your talking about the sump screen they are steel or plastic..

had time to drop the oil today.

Pleasently suprised to see one or two small flakes in the screen. Most likely leftovers from what they couldn't get out when they cleaned it. No new debris that I can see.

Guess I'm wondering if this tractor didn't have a brake failure before I bought it and just wasn't cleaned out properly. It would make sense with the new brakes on the one side. I know the owner said that he had a wheel bearing replaced on the one side, but made no mention of whether he had the brakes done on both or not. obviously he did the one side, and I don't know why the otherside would be left alone?

So for now, crisis averted.

Just put my new gear reduction denzo starter on it tonight. Wow what a difference.

No the screen in the stroke control valve housing.

It's been many yrs since I gazed upon a R27173(parts key 17) but I sure didn't think there was any brass on this filter.