Update on MF 25 - hey Phil

So I dumped in the oil and dropped the cover back on. All about the PTO was good but I didn't have hydraulics. So for the 5th time, I pulled the cover off to study the hydraulics. Laying on the bench, it appeared that the lower spool was stuck "in" and didn't move when the controls were moved. I pulled apart the spring that runs from the pickup to some linkage near the top of the cover. Then I could get a punch inside the cover. I tapped on the punch a couple of times and the spool popped out. By hand I worked it back and forth until it felt completely free. The top spool was moving with the controls so I put the cover back on.

Upon starting the tractor, I had a long time to get the air purged. After a couple of minutes, the control worked fine in the position control (all I care about).

So this morning, I hooked onto a 5 foot shredder and did some mowing. Not real heavy but some was in the 3 foot range. The 25 handled this job in 5th geat with ease. After lunchtime, I hooked the 25 up to a 6' shredder. It had some difficulty picking the 6' shredder up but it did do it after a bit. I went to a different pasture where the grass and weeds were even higher and again pushed it in 5th gear. The 25 had to grunt a few times but it did the job.

When I took the 6' back, the hydraulics wouldn't lift the shredder unless the engine ran at the recommended PTO speed and then, it lifted very slowly. Sometimes it appeared to lift better if the PTO was running - but I know that makes no sense.

Do you think that I still have an air problem (bleeding)? Is there a way to tell what the pressure is at the pump outlet?

After the workout, the front and rear main seals seem to leak less - took a cup of oil in the 3 hours of work.

Could use an oil filter number as well.

Thanks for your help. I think I'm in the happy ending zone!

Oddly, the first 5 gears have speeds like their numbers. 1st is a little over 1, 2nd is a little under 2, 3rd is a little under 3, 4th is a little under 4 and 5th is a little over 5 mph. High/Low is about 4 to 1 ratio.

Thanks for the temp suggestion.

I guess I am offended by your remarks. Do you burn out the clutches when you run a shredder at 5 mph? Do you bounce around like a bronco on a wild horse at 5 mph?