Getting prepared for winter

[Timj]

Got a little time to start getting the 4118 ready for winter. Some of this stuff should have been done a while ago, but just got done with mowing/leaf clean up last weekend. bagger and vac are off, 3pt back on, lift plate for blade on, list of items to order from Bob, list of things to get done now and over winter. Blower and blade ready to go.
I've had an increasing oil leak, so today I dropped the belly pan to get a look. Ingy is a dirty mess. Found the problem,

Just the return hose coming off the filter is loose, so loose I can't believe it just dripped. Can't get at the hose clamp to tighten without removing the cross member. Another thing to get done when I have the hydraulic system drained.
Didn't realize I had this much to do till I made a list. And I almost bought a project tractor last week.

[DavidBarkey]

Wow tight fit in there . I have not had a chance to work on the newer ones . What the rest of it like to work on ?
Dave

[Toolslinger]

Fortunately, or unfortunately, I didn't need the 444 for anything this summer, so the blower I put on just before the snow ended last season is still in place. Tractor started up just fine a couple weeks ago, so I'm good there. Most of the snow work is done by the Ford 8N, and JD300 industrial, which both got their chains 2 weeks ago. Only failing this year at the farm is I haven't gotten to the leaves due to a bunch of family medical crap...

Believe I'm ready at my house... Walk behind started no problem a month ago. Shovels are ready, and I've got 150# of CaCl on hand.

My folks house will be covered as well... JD 140 wears the blower all the time, and is always reliable. Need to check tire pressures, and move it to the front of the garage. Trying to get that place ready for sale now, so that machine will be moving either to my house, or PA once that's gone...

Both 646's are good to go. The BH is out in PA, so is way outclassed by the other machines, and is highly unlikely to see snow this season. The second is at my house wearing forks currently. May need that at my folks to clean out/move things, so it may not be available for snow, but I'll have to see how the season progresses. When I need a loader at my house, I really need it...

[Timj]

Wow tight fit in there . I have not had a chance to work on the newer ones . What the rest of it like to work on ?
Dave

@DavidBarkey on the All Hydraulic tractors they put the filter to front between the frame. That cross member is the one that the mid lift cylinder anchors too. (Didn't know if you could tell from that pic). On the other 4 digit series they put the filter in the tower.

The filter up there puts a couple of extra hoses and tubes in a tight spot.

The rest of the tractor is pretty similar to the rest.
I think I'm going to try to just put a hose clamp on the end of the hose I can get at before I take the cross member loose.

[Timj]

Knocked a few things off the list tonight. Figured I better get a little done while it's warm.
Oil change done.
Got a hose clamp on the leaker, we'll see how it goes, but can tell it's helping. Sure hope it's good, just getting it fished around and reconnected was fun.
Replaced both hydraulic hoses to the 3pt. Believe it or not, my local Advanced Auto had the Jic-5 fittings in stock and made them up in minutes.
Tim

[Eugen]

Good progress there @Timj . Always a good feeling to be surprised by the local sources. My 644 gas a tiny leak on one hose right at the pto where the fitting is clamped on the hose. The fitting has a long 90F degree elbow. Note it's not Celsius! Bothers me a little, this leak.

[Timj]

Good progress there @Timj . Always a good feeling to be surprised by the local sources. My 644 gas a tiny leak on one hose right at the pto where the fitting is clamped on the hose. The fitting has a long 90F degree elbow. Note it's not Celsius! Bothers me a little, this leak.

It may go for a long time just leaking a little bit, but I think I would get it on the fix list. Blowing it in the garden will be a mess and will happen when you really need it.
Those guys are always my go-to for hydraulic hose repair. If they don't have a fitting they usually have it the next day. Was just surprised by the jic 5, it's really rare and odd. $12.00 an end. so I had $80 in the two hoses, but gotta have them.

[Eugen]

It may go for a long time just leaking a little bit, but I think I would get it on the fix list. Blowing it in the garden will be a mess and will happen when you really need it.
Those guys are always my go-to for hydraulic hose repair. If they don't have a fitting they usually have it the next day. Was just surprised by the jic 5, it's really rare and odd. $12.00 an end. so I had $80 in the two hoses, but gotta have them.

When my lift cylinder burst while plowing the garden some oil obviously leaked out, before it burst. The bigger burst happened just as I wanted to lift the plow at the end of the row. I went back and got all the soil that had drips of oil from the garden, and dug quite a large area of about 3x3 feet on the turf where it burst. Nasty stuff for sure. Yeah, I'll start looking for a replacement hose before the Spring.

Oh wow, pricy hoses, but you'll be good for many many years now!

[Timj]

Started mounting the new to me ahsb48 on the 4118. I say started, because, of course, there has to be an issue. Should be a 5 minute job, not
See the issue?

The lift arm does not clear the hydraulic cooler support.

Cutting the chute rotating rod support and moving it will not be a big deal but I don't think the lift will clear either.
Kind of a the blower came off of a 4120.

[DavidBarkey]

Is there enough on the front of the lift to reposition the lift rod to the right ? What do you need , about an inch ? Maybe have to add a little to the end and "adjust the angle " at the bend a bit. Never simple is it .

Dave