60 Rockshaft Piston Housing Blown-Again

So I have posted on here before that my 60's rockshaft piston housing had blown a gasket between the pressure port and the cylinder (see picture). Last spring I repaired this and it has done it again. I believe I found the culprit this time? It appears that the bolts that bolt the housing on were not tight. When I disassembled the piston housing I found the bolts holding it on were less than 20 lbs. My book said they should be 150lbs!! Perhaps the loose bolts helped the gasket blow out. I tried to check the pressure out the side ports of the power troll, but all I was getting was 35PSI. I don't have the open plugs to hook a hydraulic gauge into.

In the past when I have had problems with the rockshaft getting damaged it is usually after using a heavy piece of equipment on the 3 point. I have an odd set up with a International 2 point lift as the lower portion of what would normally be a three point. I also have a 45 loader on the tractor which is plumbed out the side ports.
My question are: Did the 60 have a weight limit on which to use on the three point? My issues come usually after using and international 311 mounted plow or using a heavy built 7 foot box blade? I believe that I could be overusing the capability of the 60's 3 point hydraulic capabilities and should stick to pull type implements such as the old pull type plows, brush hogs etc. Your thoughts are appreciated.
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So did you leave the bolts loose ? or did they stretch ?

Appears to be an o-ring around the port and a gasket ? Did you machine it for an o-ring ? if so if machined to proper depth no gasket should have to be used. some of those rockshaft cyl. had a factory groove in them but it was not for an o-ring it was to let the gasket indent in there to hold it better.
And a pressure test is MOST important with all these failures ! Doesn't matter where you take the pressure from the rear or the side ( unless your gasket is blown ) However from one of the rear ports with proper adapter would be the best as you can test pressure without straining on the rockshaft gasket until you get the pressure corrected.
 
Interesting - some of the rockshaft cylinder bolts on my JD 50 were only finger tight, but the gasket was not blown. It was leaking powertrol oil into the differential area. Were your bolts safety wired? Mine were not - I guess someone had been in there before I owned it and left them unwired. If your bolts were wired, wouldn't that have to mean that the bolts stretched?
 
That rockshaft was only made to pick-up a cultivator or a corn picker or such. I bet you are overloading it so you will continue to have problems .
 
Yes mine were wired. I had been in there before and re-wired them. the gasket was blown between the pressure port and the rockshaft cylinder so leaking hydraulic fluid goes back into the hydraulic reservoir.
 
I believe I left the bolts loose but cannot remember for sure since it was last April when I tore this down before.

That is the original rockshaft piston housing so I believe it was that way from the factory. The replacement gasket for the cylinder does not show an o-ring for the 60 in the 60 parts catalog from John Deere-only the gasket, Unless there was a newer publication that I was not aware of and do not have the part number for the oring???

With the gasket blown I wasn't getting much of a pressure reading but will try again after repairing.
 
Take the cylinder to a machine shop and have a proper groove for an o-ring machined in it, then throw away the gasket. If you want to keep the gasket then throw away the 3pt hitch.
 
Just for 'S&G', was your first pic of being stuck in the mud/field? I got my '60 stuck up to the frame at the TOP of my field and took 2 days to dig, shove planks, jack, and dig to get the sucker out - no other equipment or neighbor available - Ahhh, the good old daze !
 
Get the plugs to test out the back. This way you can set the pressure without putting that gasket at risk until it is set.
 
If you set the pressures correctly then it won't matter what you put on that hitch. If too heavy it just won't lift it and by-pass at the relief valve.
 
It doesn't "bounce" per say, but it does tend to float if the implement being used goes over a bump or something like that?
 
I had cleared a road in the woods with a dozer and had gone back behind the dozer with the 60 and a blade to smooth things out a bit. The dozer cleared off all the vegetation and the topsoil underneath in this area was like quicksand. It took me sinking several logs pieces of concrete and other things to china before I could put enough junk under there. Then sadly it took a farmall C to pull me out. The C was doing wheelies the whole time and the old man who offered to help me I couldn't thank him enough. Oddly I have tried to repay him in cash, jobs, food, whatever and he wouldn't take anything. Super nice guy!
 
I will check that. I have it put back together mostly now. Never caused me problems unless I used something heavy on the 3 point?
 

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