Nothing but problems - Euroleopard Foton 404

[mick]

I recently bought a Euroleopard Foton 404 (40HP) tractor, with 4 in 1 bucket. To put it nicely it has been nothing but trouble.

Everything worked fine when I inspected it. I got it off the truck upon delivery and the hydraulics wouldn't work, they eventually 'decided' to work for about 30 minutes then died, this continued, with the last time the hydraulics worked I was 'fortunate' enough to get a day and a half out of them.  Nothing since.

I had a hydraulics person come out to inspect, he diagnosed the problem as the pump.  I installed a new hydraulic pump (not power steering pump, the front end loader/4 in 1 bucket + 3 point link hydraulics), drained fluid and replaced with fresh and replaced filter.  Nothing! Still wouldn't work.  I started to get a little movement out of the bucket (about 3cm) and then all hell broke loose.  The 'tractor' (I'm tempted to use other words) decided to give me a shower of hot black oil out of the exhaust, along with a heap of smoke, with oil dripping from the exhaust stack/exhaust manifold connection pipe.

Before I shoot the tractor and push it into the dam, anyone got any advice?

I rue the day I bought this thing.

[mick]

I think I've identified the problem. It appears that hydraulic fluid is leaking past the pump into the drive unit, which runs off the engine, and then into the main oil system. I haven't pulled it off yet but I'm guessing the main drive is lubricated off the engine's oil system and the two are mixing, which would explain no hydraulic pressure, fluid and smoke coming out of the exhaust and oozing out of the dipstick tube.

Hopefully will be properly diagnosed on stripping the system down and hopefully nothing too difficult to fix.

[ronj]

If I understand correctly, you put a new hydraulic pump on, got little reaction from the FEL and got sprayed with how oil.

It sounds to me like you may have a stoppage somewhere in your hydraulic system which should be free-flowing. If there is a blockage, that should be your first priority.

Do you have a pressure gauge connected to the hydraulic system?

[mick]

Hi ronj,

No I don't have a pressure gauge connected to the hydraulic system. Despite having drained and re-filled the hydraulic fluid tank, I had to add another 3 litres or so after the 'oil blowing incident'. In addition to this, when I take the dipstick out (engine off) fluid oozes out of the dipstick tube, and very light weight fluid at that, which I suspect is hydraulic fluid mixed with engine oil. I suspect there is a seal near the hydraulic pump drive shaft which needs replacing. About to head out there now to pull it down, again.

Thanks for your reply.

[mariner]

Sounds like you might be "deadheading" the hydraulic ump. This happens when one of the quick disconnects partly comes apart - shutting off hydraulic oil flow. Check out the hydraulic quick disconnects for proper operation. Better still, remove the steel balls in the centre of the fittings and this will allow unimpeded flow of oil. The "deadheading" will cause the pump seals to blow - it can also cause the pump casing to split. Oh, and you need to install a pressure gauge so that you can see what is happening pressure wise.

[PJ]

Did you buy this tractor new or used? The problem might have there before you bought it. My 604 I bought new in 2008 has been a jewel around the farm. The front end loader, the back hoe and the tractor in general has given us no trouble whatsoever. It's daily duty is now resigned to pulling a 15 foot bat wing mowing pastures. AC and heated cab, wonderful for what we do here. PJ

[lj]

I was wandering if you got the foton staightened out. I bought a 2006 404 from a guy that the 3pt didn't work so he had set it next to his barn for 4 years. I paid $3500.00 for it. The factory had two lines by the loader control hook up wrong. It only had 50 hours on it. I am as happy as I could ever be with this tractor. I mow, till, split logs (3pt log splitter), run a back hoe attachment, grade drives, plow snow, pull trees. It's really been a good tractor.

[brianb]

Jul 26, 2014 3:22:58 GMT -5 mick said:

I think I've identified the problem. It appears that hydraulic fluid is leaking past the pump into the drive unit, which runs off the engine, and then into the main oil system. I haven't pulled it off yet but I'm guessing the main drive is lubricated off the engine's oil system and the two are mixing, which would explain no hydraulic pressure, fluid and smoke coming out of the exhaust and oozing out of the dipstick tube.

Hopefully will be properly diagnosed on stripping the system down and hopefully nothing too difficult to fix.

Hi, I have Foton 404 with a very similar problem hydraulic oil getting into engine oil. Did you identify the problem as hydraulic fluid leaking past pump into the drive unit etc,.

[mick]

Hi BrianB, It turned out to be a very small rubber o-ring that didn't have the right amount 'crush', in others words it was, slightly, too big. I only identified this by pulling the pump down and checking everything. Fast forward almost ten years from my first post in this thread, I still have the tractor and feel much different about the tractor to what I did way back then. It has been an awesome tractor and is still going strong. It's had it's issues over the years, on one occasion I pushed it too hard and destroyed the left front axle and subsequently rebuilt both left and right front. She starts first go and runs all day. I never thought I'd be saying this, ten years ago, but I love the little blue beast.

[brianb]

May 19, 2023 21:09:11 GMT -5 mick said:

Hi BrianB, It turned out to be a very small rubber o-ring that didn't have the right amount 'crush', in others words it was, slightly, too big. I only identified this by pulling the pump down and checking everything. Fast forward almost ten years from my first post in this thread, I still have the tractor and feel much different about the tractor to what I did way back then. It has been an awesome tractor and is still going strong. It's had it's issues over the years, on one occasion I pushed it too hard and destroyed the left front axle and subsequently rebuilt both left and right front. She starts first go and runs all day. I never thought I'd be saying this, ten years ago, but I love the little blue beast.

Great to hear that. Where was the O - ring as I will try that. Fingers crossed will be same problem.

[brianb]

Hi Mick, Great to hear problem resolved. Can you tell me Where was the O - ring as I will try that. Fingers crossed will be same problem.