Deere 310B Loader slow/low power lift

Pikachu · May 9, 2014

A friend just acquired a 310B backhoe and I'm trying to help him with diagnosing this problem. Running the engine at full throttle, the outriggers and backhoe functions seem fine. The loader is a different story.

Lowering it, to me seems fine. Tipping the bucket down easily raises the front end off the ground. Lifting the loader is slow and slightly jerky. However while lifting the loader, if I tip the bucket up just a bit, as soon as I stop tipping the bucket, the loader will speed up its lift for a few seconds. It acts the same whether the bucket is empty, or is full of sand. I'm kind of hoping this problem is related to the control valve for the bucket, is that a possibility?

The hydraulic oil was just changed with AW32 and filters were replaced. Before the oil change, the problem didn't seem to be there. We looked for a sump screen and there doesn't seem to be one in there. Could it be pushed in far enough that it can't be felt with my finger?

We don't yet have a pressure gauge, flow meter or service manual, but we're going to get them. Any insight on this would be appreciated.

Mike M · May 9, 2014

If you put in AW32 hyd. oil I hope you didn't run it long enough to ruin it !
I'm 99.9% sure all John Deere's since 1960 require Hy-Gard hyd. oil which is wet brake compatible.
Check your owners manual to be positive.

buickanddeere · May 9, 2014

As previously stated. That 301B is on the road to ruin.
somebody has went and lost the operators manual. The good
news is that real new manuals in print or on CD are
reasonable in price from 1-800-522-7448.
Drain and flush the complete and entire hydraulic system
and refill with Hy-Gard . Before the wet brakes and wet clutch
packs are ruined with a non wet clutch oil.
There is a transmission screen to clean and filter to replace.
Have a look at anything found in the screen or filter and get
back to us.
Run a ph test strip in the rad . If the corrosion inhibiter has
expired , the wet sleeves will develop pin holes.
.

Pikachu · May 9, 2014

That's good to know, but not so good to hear. I just sent him a text to replace the AW32 with Hy-Gard immediately. The AW32 he bought says on the buckets that it conforms to JD specs. We'll look into that aspect further before running it.

As far as the coolant goes, does it use an SCA additive like the other diesels I work on? Is there any reason not to use an extended life coolant such as one that conforms to Caterpillar EC1 specs?

Tx Jim · May 9, 2014

AW32 is a lower viscosity than JD Hy-gard aka 303 plus I think it's not wet clutch compatible.

Pikachu · May 9, 2014

I've relayed the information. I'm also seeing that the AW32 is a lower viscosity than the Hygard which makes me wonder if that's part of the problem with this as well.

cannonball · May 10, 2014

go jd parts and look under TRANSMISSION CASE FILTER, RELIEF VALVE AND SUMP COVER and you will see there is a screen

JDemaris · May 10, 2014

Not really true about the viscosity. AW32 is
available in three different viscosities and John
Deere HyGuard comes in two different viscosities.
Deere has "winter-grade" HyGuard that is 10W on
the "engine oil" scale and a normal "summer" grade
that is 20W. Also - Deere Hyguard is NOT type
303 oil. It does meet 303 specs and also far
exceeds them. You can use HyGuard where ever 303
is called for. You can NOT use 303 where ever
HyGuard is called for. In regard to the 300B?
Using either oil will make no difference right
away as far as the hydraulics go. Having the wrong
oil will screw up the wet clutches in the reverser
and linings on the wet brakes.

Tx Jim · May 10, 2014

jdemaris
Are you implying that it's not possible that in a worn JD CC hyd machine that the lighter viscosity oil couldn't be causing the hyd's to not function correctly??

I thought the 32 in AW32 stood for viscosity of the oil? Same as with AW46 & AW68. Hy-Gard oil has a viscosity between the ISO grades of 46 and 68 @ 40°C. JD also offers Bio Hy-gard.

JDemaris · May 11, 2014

Hyguard comes in several viscosities. 10W (J20B)
and 20W (J20A) at 60--70 degree F temps when using
engine-oil ratings. J20C is a 10W-20 oil. Factory
fill on 300Bs was J20B. So when comparing to
other oils - I cannot imagine viscosity being an
issue. Not as described in the post. That is
unless we're talking very cold weather or
something like 50W motor oil being used in the
hydraulics. Main consideration is the ability of
the oil being used to pass through whatever
micronic lever the filters are at.
Long term considerations as to wear are
different. AW32 is the same basic viscosity as
factory-fill Hyguard when the 300B was new. 303
oil is equal viscosity to J20B Hyguard but minus
the friction modifiers that Deere calls for and
not acceptable in a 300B (according to Deere).
That being said - many a 1960s Deere tractor came
with 303 and wet clutches and Deere even allowed
adding kerosene in cold temps. Those clutches were
bronze though. At least the ones I recall.
So yes to your question - I am implying and
inferring that . . as the issue is described in
the post - I doubt the oil is the issue. Could I
be wrong? Sure. Need more info.

Tx Jim · May 11, 2014

As regards to AW32 this is what I found by Googling.

I understand there's Hy-Gard & low-viscosity Hy-Gard but what's the part numbers for 5 gallon containers for the other viscosities you mention as I didn't see them mentioned on JD's agriculture website?

Tx Jim · May 11, 2014

Does anyone remember what year Hy-Gard was introduced? I can't remember.

Pikachu · May 12, 2014

OK, so it is possible the oil contributed to the problem? I'd like to get this particular issue figured out before dumping the oil that's in it and buying hygard.

What should the next step be? Checking pump output pressure and pressure at the bucket lift cylinders or valve?

What about the sump screen? Is it even possible for it to have gotten pushed in far enough that it can't be felt from either side, or is it probably missing. I should have an inspection camera this evening, but I'd like to hear what people think.

Tx Jim · May 12, 2014

Check stand-by pressure. It should be 2250-2350 psi.

Pikachu · Jul 10, 2014

Finally got back to working on this backhoe, and found that charge pressure was zero, and pump output was only about 1200. Here's the condensed version:

Flow tested the charge pressure line into a bucket and had about 13 GPM. Reconnected charge line, turned the front pump off and charge pressure came up. This led us to believe there was a high pressure leak causing the front pump to use a volume in excess of the amount it was being supplied. We found a square profile o-ring between the transmission case and cover was blown out. Apparently this is a high pressure passage that is dead-ended and sealed with an o-ring unless the machine has a particular function valve, which this one does not. Replaced the o-ring and gasket and the machine operates normally now. The problem had nothing to do with the oil, although it has now been changed to the proper oil.

buickanddeere · Jul 10, 2014

Thankyou for the update. Most posters disappear and we never know the final outcome.
That was good detective work to find a failure as such.

Fixdesignbuild96 · Aug 16, 2017

I know this has been dead for a while, but my 1982 310B is doing almost the same thing. I have replaced filters, cleaned screens, and the loader/bucket still acts like it is running out of oil...(shakes at low RPM, and almost stops lifting at intermittent points)
The Hoe/out riggers, steering and drive all work as normal and with good power... Could you give me a little more detail as to what cover the O-ring was behind and were it was located? Or it you have any ideas or insight I would love some feed back.

Thanks

Tx Jim · Aug 16, 2017

Welcome to YT
The quad ring(key 7) that I think Pikachu is referring is on RH frt side of top of trans case. This quad ring seals passageway to supply oil to tractors equipped with rockshaft for 3 pt hitch

Ragnarok · Aug 16, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:53:53 05/11/14)
Does anyone remember what year Hy-Gard was introduced? I can't remember.

I think Hy-Gard came along about the same time as the 'perma-clutch' and hydraulic shift two speeds...so probably 1973 or 1974.

Before my time at a Deere dealership...I would've been in like third grade!

Low viscosity Hy-Gard is much newer...sometime in the mid to late 1980's or so. I remember buying the last 5 gallon can of JD 'hydrostat fluid'(red stuff..think it was essentially type A or type F ATF)...anyhow...my employer wanted genuine JD hydro fluid for his 6600 and all the nearby dealership had was Lo-Vis which superceded the old red hydro fluid...my boss sent me to another JD dealer to clean that dealer out of hydrostat oil

Deere 310B Loader slow/low power lift

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