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MULCHER PROBLEM !!!! HELP !!!! Cat 289 with FAE mulcher flow problem.. maybe...

Tones

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Mar 15, 2009
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3,059
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Ubique
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Ex land clearing contractor, part-time retired
You can do them yourself easy enough. Take the input hose off the block, take the pressure gauge off the block the couple the two. Start the Cat, engage the hiflow and rev the engine to max RPM's. That should then give you the benchmark. Recouple the hose and pressure gauge to there original places. Then place a block of wood under the rotor so it remains stalled, engage the hiflow and rev to max RPM's. The second reading should be 10% lower than the Cat. If the pressure is any lower then the problem is in the hydraulics in the mulcher NOT the Cat. Seeing as the hyd motor has been serviced the control box may not have been and that is the first place I'd look. Adjust the pressure relief valve and see what difference that makes. Your FAE operator manual should explain how to do this. If there's no change it may only a O ring problem a cost maybe $20 to do yourself. I assume the Hydraulic motor service has some sort of warranty so if it's any more that what I have explained then it should go back to the last fixer and you are armed with some facts.
 
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Pair of Hounds

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Dec 27, 2014
Messages
52
Location
United States
Thanks so much! Trying to find a manual... taking it to CAT dealership first thing in morning sonce they are willing. Maybe they'll find a quick smoking gun
 

pafarmer

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Feb 4, 2010
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Somewhere in the woods !
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Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
Thanks so much! Trying to find a manual... taking it to CAT dealership first thing in morning sonce they are willing. Maybe they'll find a quick smoking gun

Finally !thank goodness....blown o rings and used up pumps on the mulcher is my guess.....
 

Tones

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Mar 15, 2009
Messages
3,059
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Ubique
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Ex land clearing contractor, part-time retired
OK Pair of Hounds, fess up. What is the verdict?
 

Pair of Hounds

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Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
52
Location
United States
Okay, I just found out today that my 289d has major hydraulic failure. Even after a new pump and throw flush at dealership they are still metal fragments getting into the hydraulic filter. I now have a loaner 289d that runs the Mulcher very well although the 289 is a bit undersized for the FAE 150 head.
 

lantraxco

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2009
Messages
7,704
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Elsewhen
Well, at least you know... sorry to hear about the mechanical failure though, sounds like it might get a lot more expensive :(
 

pafarmer

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 4, 2010
Messages
883
Location
Somewhere in the woods !
Occupation
Land clearing, demo, site prep etc. Ex Pro Motocro
If still under warranty this is not a big deal, if not, this is about to put a very serious dent into your wallet. We have been running 299XHP with mulching heads for the last few years and also hung a few mulchers off of 289D and the 259D with no machine failures at all like you describe here. Something had to be seriously wrong or very neglected on this tractor. Can I ask how many hours of your 289 D ? Also for what it is worth the 289D is too little HP and flow for the 190 mulcher IMHO. Yes, it will operate it but not nearly how it should or can....wishing you the best on this matter..
 

mdr

Member
Joined
Mar 30, 2017
Messages
7
Location
nc
I just bought a 2017 cat 299d xhp and a afe eco mulcher the mulcher will never go back on any job we do . but my machine is throwing tracks andonly has 33.7 hours on it i pump grease and in four hrs or less they are ready to pop off again any help would be app.
 

KSSS

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2005
Messages
4,316
Location
Idaho
Occupation
excavation
What are your issues with the AFE mulcher?
 
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