Tractor Problem - Ron A.?

[mcbirdman]

Hi Ron or anyone that would know:

I know you know the other kind of tractors. I did something stupid. In Retrospect the cap looks the same as the others but still - easy to do but bad.....

I tried to help my father while he was gone on vacation. He has an ingersol 4020 hydriv. I accidently put about a quart of gas in the hydrolic resivor. It wasn't until after I mowed his 2 acres that I realized I had done this. I drained the oil and filled and drained it 2 more times after circulating it in the system.

I don't know how serious this problem is, nor how many times I should fill and drain. Are the same hoses and seals made out of the same material that would be used for gas hoses? I hope it is and wouldn't be surprised that everything is ok since the oil and gas are petrolium based. Is there anyone that can tell me if I need to do more?

Also it says a certain oil for winter and 20/40 for summer. I am assuming this is regular engine oil - or is Hydrolic fluid coming in different viscosities?
Thanks in advance - I am worried about this more because it isn't my tractor. If it were mine I would feel like I did everything I could but I want to know I didn't hurt HIS tractor. jtm

[scottessex]

If you drained it and filled it with fluid and drained it again, there isn't much more you can do. The big problem is running the pumps and motors with out lubrication. The o-rings and seals should have been fine for a short period of time. How much does the resivour hold? I imagine if it holds 2 gallons, and you put a quart of gas in it, you would have dilluted the fluid, but not ruined anything.

I work on Jetliner hydraulics, so I am not familiar with the tractor fluids, but they operate basically the same.

[mcbirdman]

Hi Scott,

I found out that it holds 6 qts. I may have added to that by 1 qt gas.
I talked to a couple tractor shops. They said just drain and fill. If it still smells gassy do it again. I think you are right about it just being dilluted a bit. Probably just fine for this use but for long term use - use full strength.

With all the other fluid in there it wasn't like I was just running gas. My only other concern was if the gas somehow ate at seals or something - even though they are both petrolium products.

Thanks scott, I have been worried about this and with you taking the time to answer and the 2 shops saying I wasn't the first - I feel a lot better. I also feel like everything is ok. I can tell my dad I talked to a guy that is familiar with jet hydrolics and 2 lawn machine shops and everyone feels that no harm done. Well, maybe I will just have to offer him an extended warrenty....lol.

Then next thing is finding Ingersoll oil 20/40. I stopped at a Cub Cadet place and they said they only sold what is Certified for Cub and don't know what specifications yadda yadda..... Off to go hunt some down somewhere.... Thanks again ! , jtm

[Aussie_Paul]

The gas will eventually evapourate. Aussie Paul.

[GyroRon]

James most of the hydro units I have dealt with use plain jane motor oil 20w-50 for the fluid. some of them use 15w-50 synthetic oil as my old toro did. I wouldn't be too worried if the system still had plenty of oil in there. Just drain and re fill a few times. Be sure to drive it a little between changes to make sure to circulate the oil.

I have to ask.... why did you put gas in there anyway?

[Aussie_Paul]

Ron, because he did what you did by flying an unairworthy aircraft, he stuffed up, like we all do from time to time!!!!!!!!!!! LOL :D

Aussie Paul.

[GraemeMonro]

I once stuck the air hose on the bearing buddy nipple on a wheel bearing instead of the tyre valve stem and blew all the grease out of the bearing. It was a silly thing to do and I laughed about it latter and woundered how I could do something like that. I wont tell you about some of the other silly things I have done.

[GyroRon]

Well usually the hydro filler cap is a bitch to get off, and there is usally a lot of grime and crud around it too. and usually somewhere on the cap or nearby there is a sticker or label saying what type of fluid to use!

I know stuff happens... It is not like I don't screw up too!

[mcbirdman]

Hi Ron,

Just got back home from projects. My parents went on vacation and we are pouring them a new porch and patio. It is going to be tinted and textured. I knew that being gone for 2 weeks that they would be coming home to a jungle. Growing up we had a Bolens tractor which is now used for the kids to pull the tractor around. In fact, in my spare time the last couple weeks I have been building the kids a sailboat about 1/2 the size of the other ones so they can take care of it.

Anyway, I told the kids to pull the trailer out (with the boat on it) so I could do some more expoxy work. The Bolens stalled and sounded like it ran out of gas. You know how it leans out and then quits.... I was on my Dad's mowing tractor and ran up and got the can. I opened the hood and filled the kids up. Seeing a little left in the can I thought - Hey - put the rest in the Ingersoll to finish it off. I opened the hood just like I did for years before and poured it in. The cap is exactly what is used for the gas cap on both tractors and only after looking at the tractor closer later - did I realize the tank is under the seat, nowhere near the spout I put it in. Simply, out of habit, same place as I grew up and mowed for years I filled it up the same as the white tractor without even thinking. It only took about a quart.

Tonight I had to drive a 40 minute trip to the Case/Ingersoll store where apparently it is the only place I can get 20/40 oil. I did get to go into the huge shop in back and talk to the mechanic. He said I wasn't the first and he actually knows someone that has now brought it in for the 3rd time, same reason. He said main thing is to just get it out. Guy with the 3rd misfill mistake lost seals because of it. It is actually easy to do now that I look at the top, no label. I have to be on one side of the tractor to read a small tag at the bottom portion of the tank to see the markings to use 20/40 summer.

It was just plain stupid and a matter of an unusually hectic week that included trips to emergency room in the middle of the night to daily blood tests for one of my sons. My sister was hospitalized with a blood clot in her leg, and and all the things I want to do interspersed with the things I have to do. I didn't want to give anything up so I tried to do it all and help others also. At 5.65 / qt and 7 qts I got to get my dad's lawn mowed, oil changed with cheap oil first, then the right oil and spend a couple hours draining, worrying and then the trip to get it. It's great, I got it mowed for about 50 plus dollars.

Anyway a stupid mistake and I did my best to remedy it. My brother said to remember the phrase - The more I hurry the more I get behind. My brother is 9 years younger but today sounds 9 years wiser.

Thanks Ron, P and G. Can you believe I got more from this forum than a tractor forum I posted in today? After their responce and wanting to get me to PAY to be a member to read any replies I appreciated this forum even more. After their responce I thought heck - we have a car dealer, various mechanics, experts, and lawn care specialists that are always eager to try to help so I thought why bother even looking somewhere else for the info? Anyway, just wanted to share results and how I was able to make something so simple - complicated. Thanks again, jtm

[GyroRon]

Glad to hear it all worked out for the good Birdman!

[mcbirdman]

Update, so my parents come home, find out we had a cement mixer truck come out and fill the forms we made for the new porch which we stamped and dyed to look like fieldstone, and added a pad on the deck in back. My dad comes back there after seeing what we did, totally unaware we were going to do it and says..... Do you know you just covered up one of the drainfield covers?....... OMG

Anyway, we said no, they are back farther and we dug them to show to him we were fine, all the while knowing my dad built the house, but hoping he just wasn't remembering correctly... Then after all that I said okay, about your tractor.....

After I told him about the advice given here, the trip and phone calls to the dealer he laughed and said that was too bad. I said what? He said yea, he just changed the oil in the hydrolics 2 weeks ago.....
I felt better for telling but in a way worse.... lol Sometimes it's just the way things work out.

Tonight though the doctor said my son's platlets dropped too low. Wife is staying overnight in the hospital with son while he is getting an 8 hour infusion. A different part of blood test says something high and if it tests tommorow high again they are going to do the Marrow test. I am sure everything should be ok but I hate to see 7 year olds go through all these tests and stress. Well, take care, jtm