Have to make quick decision on tractor

[AndrewKing]

Hi All,

This is kind of an emergency (last minute atttemmpt to get info before buying a tractor or not)... .



I am looking at what the owner says is a Ford 4010

industrial loader... . It as a 3 pt hitch and PTO and a platform for a backhoe attatchment...



The tractor leaks in 2 places... The power steering pump and underneath the tractor around mid way there is a hole with what looks like a bent cotter pin in it... . when you move the pin in the hole a bunch of fluid leaks out... . Fluid leaks are bad but what could be causing this? ... . I assume the fix would be to split the tractor and see what is leaking but is this a big concern?..... Interestingly I looked under my 8N and it too has a hole with a bent cotter pin in it... . but on mine no leaks... .



The tractor seems to work OK except for the 2 leaks... . I suppose power steering pumps are easy to come by or rebuild?... . It has a 4 cyl diesel and seems very powerful..... Owner is wanting $2350 for it..... I really like the unit but the leaks worry me... . esp the one through the cotter pin... . Also, the hyd fluid looks a little milky... . I guess this is from water??



Thanks for any and all help.

Andrew





PS My Email address is "Andyinchvill@earthlink.net"

 

[rkressg]

How many hours on the tractor. Is it an original engine, driveline, recent rebuilds/replacements. Look for evidence of work to it.



Sorry, but I am not familiar with Ford tractors.



Hydraulic fluid can get nasty if you are changing out attachments frequently, especially if the equipment is abused. If the rams have leaky packing seals, you can get liquids in that way. Look at the backhoe attachment, check the rams, look for evidence of fatigue cracks that have been welded (I just rebuilt one for a friend of mine yesturday). Do the bushings look like they have been well greased (grease should be comming out). Is there excessive slop in the joints of the machine?

 

[Elite1]

I'm not sure about your leak, but I believe the 4010 is a JD, not a Ford. Does it look something like this old one? http://www.tractorshed.com/contents/adpic485.htm

 

[Alan Reagan]

I can't remember what the power steering pump configuration is on a Ford. On my MF, the leak was simple enough to fix. There is a large O-ring that seals the reservoir to the actual pump. After several years the O-rings disintegrate causing the leak. On mine, it cost about $2 and an hours work to slip off the reservoir and change out the O-ring.



The hole midway back with the cotter key is a drain hole (hence the key). Sounds like the rear main might be leaking.