sluggish hydraulics

[stavenstumper]

Hi. I have a 2002 SC252 with about 600 hrs. The hydraulics were a little sluggish this weekend. I topped off fluid. I cleaned the area with brake cleaner and exercised the hydraulics but can't see any leaks. There was some fluid present on the battery. Any suggestions to trouble shoot. Thanks...

 

[MOE]

replace hydraulic filter first.

 

[stavenstumper]

thanks Moe. I drained fluid. cleaned the strainer (was not too bad), replaced the filter and added new fluid. The hydraulics to head are working good. The drive still seems a little under powered. Sometimes I have to keep pulsing the lever to get it to climb the trailer. Im using the regular vermeer trailer. Is there anything else along the drive mechanism to check? Side note. Why does Vermeer sell 2.5 gal hyd fluid when the system needs 2.8. I think more when you include the filter. Is anyone using other fluids like universal tractor fluid or Lucas etc.

 

[Steve NW WI]

2.5 gallon is a standard size oil container. It'd be a one-off deal to get a 2.8 or 3 gallon jug made just to fit their equipment, and likely many of their machines have different capacities to start with. Having a spare jug around is a good idea anyway, a blown hose will dump a lot of oil in a hurry.

Any oil meeting their specs (check your manual) can be used, and is probably cheaper than the Vermeer branded stuff.

 

[Plyscamp]

Sounds like your drive belt is slipping. Remove the clutch cover and tighten the smaller belt that runs the hydraulic pump.

 

[CalTreeEquip]

Some SC252's have a drive speed regulator. Its a nob to the left of the controls, check that.
If that is not the problem then you should test the hydro pressure and adjust the pressure relieve valve. Before that check the drive belt and belt tension. If the belt is good and your pressure is good then you have a weak motor or a leaking control valve. If the pressure is low and adjusting the pressure relieve valve doesn't bring it up then you either need a new valve or a new pump.

 

[sb47]

Hydraulic fluid tanks are like fuel tanks, if there is too much air space for the fluid to expand when it gets hot, then you can get moisture condensation in the tank from the humidity and that can make the fluid have too much moisture, and that can cause problems.
Air temp will affect the speed also, but as it warms up it usually clears up.
A leak shouldn’t make it run slow unless its in the feed line going to the pump.
If your fluid levels don’t change after long usage then a leak is not the problem. Unless an o ring seal in a valve is letting fluid leak through the valve and not getting to the pump.

But it could be as simple as a filter clogging up.

Check all the lines and see if one is being pinched off and reducing fluid flow.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

I would listen to Plyscamp or CalTreeEquip if I were you.