m6800 water in hydrolic fluid and having lift and steering problems

kyshawn

New member

Equipment
m6800
Aug 2, 2015
1
0
0
berea ky
Just bought this tractor and tried to mow hay today and after a couple hours lift wouldn't work pto stops and steering got stiff checked hydraulic fluid and found water in it would this be causing my problem??? If you let sit for a half hour it will work for a short time till it gets hot again. I believe the entry point of the water is shifter boot being torn.Any help would be a great help..Another thing the previous owner just had all fluids changed at dealer couple months ago. Thanks in advance Shawn
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
34,093
9,283
113
Sandpoint, ID
Yes that could be your problem, I would buy a couple 5 gallon buckets of cheap universal fluid drain fill run for a short time and drain and refill again, it will take a couple times to get all the water out.;)
 

Wesley Conwood

New member

Equipment
M6800, LA1001, RTV500
Aug 26, 2016
4
0
0
Lockhart, Texas
If I didnt know better, I would swear this is my tractor! I have a 2000 M6800 we bought used at 1200 hours, about 3 years ago. Its been a hard worker with no complaints.
This spring, in a space of about 3 weeks, three of the four hydraulic cylinders on the boom and bucket began leaking. I tore them down and all seals were seriously deteriorated, even though it worked fine. I'll tear the fourth one down when I get a chance.
What I did notice, however, was the fluid was milky, not the amber-clear I am used to. I added about a gallon of universal oil since I lost quite a bit during the cylinder overhaul.
When I put it back to work again (shredding), about 3 hours into it, foamy fluid blew out of the dipstick boot. I washed everything down and put it back to work.
Today, while shredding about 3 hours, the power steering went completely out. The FEL works fine (LA1001). The oil appears to be full but the dipstick has about 1/8" of milky stuff on the bottom.
I dont know where its coming from, or where to drain it. I dont have any service manuals. I am a retired auto instructor, hydraulics and repairs dont scare me too much.
 

rbargeron

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L5450, L48, L3250, L345 never enough attachments
Jul 6, 2015
1,183
260
83
western ma
Wesley and kyshawn: Must be the hot summer - two reports so similar. Sounds like classic boiling of excess water in the hydraulic fluid. It flashes at valves and fittings when the fluid is up to full working temp. Same as a car's brake pedal getting soft from flash steaming of absorbed water in hot calipers. The answer is getting rid of the water. As Wolfman suggests above do a couple changes to get it all out.
 
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