Renault/John Deere Hydraulic Problem

Hi everyone,
I understand that some Renault and John Deere models share some of the same ancestry so I'm hoping that someone can help
with some advice on this problem. The tractor is a Renault Ceres 335X. In order to remove a faulty starter the main large bore inlet pipe and manifold to
the dual pumps as per the photo was removed. The pipe that runs vertically to the rear of the pumps was also disconnected. It was the only way to remove the starter. The starter was repaired and refitted. The inlet pipe and vertical smaller pipe were refitted. A minimum of oil was lost when re-inserting the inlet pipe into the rubber elbow below. The oil level was checked and the tractor started and idled for several minutes. The problem is that we have no hydraulic function at all. No steering, no transmission and no front end loader. We suspect that the problem is that the pumps have not yet drawn oil up to them in order to pump it onwards. We have tried to run the engine for as little time as possible. We have even disconnected the outlet pipes on the pumps and primed them with oil, all to no benefit. A brief higher burst of engine speed was carried out without success. There appears to be a very limited flow of air and oil coming from the outlet side of the filter body that is mounted high up on the engine. Is there a venting procedure for this model if the circuit is interupted?
Desperately in need of any advice or procedure to return the hydraulic functions.
Thanks in advance.
DavidP, South Wales

I really don't know the machine you are working on... but what if the filter was filled
with oil before installing it ?
on a mf1030 i had the same problem and just loosening the hose clamp on the suction side/the high point [ not disconnected] of the system was enough to let air out and the pump picked it up
in a about 2 seconds.
Is it possible a rubber seal has dropped into the piping? or a crack in the piping/fittings when
going back together?
You have helped me before, hope i was able to do the same.

No nothing about that tractor but my go to solution for your problem is go to the fill point for the hydraulic cavity, wrap a rag around you air hose and plow low pressure air in there for about a minute then as you continue to blow have someone start the tractor and run the engine at mid range for about one minute. If this fails do not continue to run the engine with the dry pumps.

Morning: Was re-reading your problem, and a long shot thought is ….when the pipe was put back into the short hose could a piece of the interior hose lining have folded over as the pipe was put in?
will be interesting when you do find the reason.

Hi Jim and Phil.
Thanks for your replies. The problem is now sorted. Pressurizing the transmission case would have been the last resort. Started off this morning by dropping the manifold about an inch from the pumps using slave bolts. Hoped that adding oil would fill the pipe and that would solve it. Added 3 litres with no sign of the pipe filling. All we did was to raise the oil level in the back end!!!!!! Replaced the manifold and disconnected the outlet pipes and filled them with oil. Started the engine and ran at fast idle. Signs of aerated oil coming from both outlets. We had faint steering with the front jacked up. Slackened the pipes on the steering ram and a lot of air came out. Steering improved and more air out. Slackened the pump outlets again and more air out. Steering would now work with the jack removed. Tried the loader and that worked. Big test, will it move? Big sigh of relief when it moved normally. We must have allowed around 3 litres of aerated oil to come out. It took a long time but we got there in the end.
Thanks again.
DavidP, South Wales