I'll be making a trip home late next week and will have about a week to try to resolve some of the problems the tractor is having.  You may recall that when I was home in March, I determined that the Power Steering pump wasn't shot, just out of fluid.  No complaints here, the neighbor that uses the tractor to cut our 20 acres since dad passed away and mom moved to a retirment home is a great guy, not many mechanical skills, but a big heart.

The first problem I need help with is the power steering pump spitting fluid out of the cap on top of the hood.  When we were communicating in March you thought maybe there was an issue with the pressure relief valve and suggested inserting a gauge.  So I need a little guidance to diagnose the issue here.  I'm not sure which hose is the pressure hose, maybe it will be evident once I see the pump.  I remember that one hose used to have a small leak at the pump, so I assume it it the pressure hose.  Is there any way to easily identify the pressure hose?  Anyway, I'll disconnect one end of the pressure hose, install a Tee, install a gauge to the Tee, and connect the other end of the tee to a hose or through fittings to the place where the hose was originally disconnected.  I guess I'll have to buy a gauge - what pressure capacity do I need for the gauge?  When I check the pressure, what is normal and what is high pressure?

Second problem I need help with is the engine cutting out under load.  When mowing, after a while, the engine starts cutting out.  I learned that I could pull the choke and make it run better for a while, but eventually it started cutting out again and eventually stalls.  Late last summer, I pulled apart the carb to ensure ther wasn't anything in the carb causing the problem and i didn't find anything; I'm not an expert but I didn't find any sediment or anything that looked out of place.  I reassembled the carb using the existing gaskets because I didn't have any new ones.  I think the gaskets are OK as they are for now.  I ultimately ended up opening up the high speed load adjustment needle valve quite a bit.  I think a lot more than the book mentioned.  But the tractor ran better but eventually still started cutting out , I choked it to get it to run for a while, then it eventually stalled.  I'm thinking a vacuum leak but I'll listen to wise advice.  I recall many years ago cutting late in the evening and seeing the exhaust pipe glowing red.  I suspect whatever was wrong back then continued and may still be causing problems.  Dad had similar problems for years until I had him rod out the radiator and he said that cured the problems.  I doubt the radiator is plugged again but I can look when I get there late next week.

I will only be home for about a week so I don't have the luxury of lots of time for checking,  posting, checking, posting, etc.  I need to try to think a couple of steps ahead to try to make best use of my time while I'm home.  At the farm I don't have connection to the internet.  John, if you still have my cell phone, you are welcome to call me anytime.  I have your phone so let me know if you want me to call you and when is convenient.

Thanks for your help.

Bob
-Buck's550