• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

140m hydraulic question????

JOHN140

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
42
Location
LUBBOCK, TX
I operate a early model 140m. The hydraulics usually don't feel quiet right feels like the cylinders are drifting a little bit most of the time, but then sometimes seems to go away and work perfectly.. The hydraulic pressure in the messenger window will jump back and forth from 500-2000 psi while just idling and hands off the controls.... Is this normal??? I have noticed lots of air bubbles in the hyd. tank on the surface of the oil, checked it many times at different times of the day and their are always lots of bubbles on the surface of the oil in the tank.... Operators manual says to check suction hose and clamps for this how many suction hoses are their ??? and how many pumps does this blade have??? Their are four hoses connected to the bottom of the tank.. A large rubber hose with hose clamps from tank to pump maybe 1' long, a smaller (maybe 2'') o-ring type hose goes down and out of sight , then two normal size o- ring hoses(like would be on your cylinders) connect to a y fitting on the bottom of the tank.. The fittings on the bottom of the tank for the smaller hoses are loose where they screw into the tank. Can be moved by hand, could this let the air into the hyd system.. Where the hyd. pump bolts to transmission their is a little bit of old oil with dust caked over it, but not wet maybe a very slow leak over a long time..
 

JOHN140

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
42
Location
LUBBOCK, TX
Thanks nige.. Would a fitting have to leak oil to leak air?? No fittings leaking oil that I can see, but can feel some of the fittings are loose..
 

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
28,977
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
The suction of the pump is a lot stronger so you wouldn't necessarily see oil leaking out when the machine was stopped from that location. Basically tighten every fitting between the tank and the suction side of the pump whether it looks like it needs it or not, then see how you go. Be aware it may not be a loose fitting but something like a damaged o-ring seal on a fitting (which tightening won't cure) but you have to start somewhere. Post the 3-letter Serial Number prefix (it'll be something like B9D or B9G) so I can have a look at the hydraulic lines arrangement.
 

Gavin84w

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Messages
554
Location
Australia
Got all the latest flashfiles in it? you can also tell it what grade hyd oil you have in it so the brains can compensate for it through control of functions etc.
 

JOHN140

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
42
Location
LUBBOCK, TX
It should be current on the flashfiles but not sure about that.. Do you think the hyd. oil selection makes much difference , will it affect how the machine feels... It says 10 weight in the messenger display but when we changed the oil about 1 year ago we put 15-40 in it.. We didn't flush the whole system just drained and changed filters..
 

JOHN140

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
42
Location
LUBBOCK, TX
Does anyone know how many of the hoses are suction and possible have a diagram showing these hoses.. I would like to change O-rings and tighten all of these hoses.. The airbubbles in the tank need to go..
 

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
28,977
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
Send me a PM with your exact Serial Number and your e-mail address.

15w40 is going to behave totally different to 10. If that's what oil you're running the machine really should be set up for it.

What are the hydraulic controls set up for on Messenger - fine, normal, or coarse..?

With Cat upgrading the software approximately weekly I seriuosly doubt you have the latest in there.
 

JOHN140

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
42
Location
LUBBOCK, TX
I will have to get the serial number when I get back to the job in a couple of days.. I like the normal setting and usually run it their, fine seems to be to fine and coarse way to coarse. Does the fine, coarse, normal setting affect all of the hydraulics( including steering and articulation)? I am working about three hours from the cat dealership so will have to catch them next time their on my job.. Is there any way to check for the latest updates without having cat hook up the computer to it?
 

JOHN140

Active Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
42
Location
LUBBOCK, TX
Can you change the hyd. oil type in messenger, or will you have to have the computer hooked up to change it? The transmission oil type can be changed in messenger but have not figured out how to change hyd. oil setting..
 

Nige

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
28,977
Location
G..G..G..Granville.........!! Fetch your cloth.
Answers to your questions: -

1. The fine/medium/coarse setting ONLY affects the blade lift cylinders. All other functions work at the same speed all the time.
2. The hydraulic oil type is only programmable using Cat ET so it needs a dealer tech with a laptop to do it. IMHO 15W-40 is too heavy an oil for an M Series, I would personally use an SAE 10W (ISO 32) hydraulic oil. If you insist on using a multi-grade engine oil then I would suggest to use a 5W-20, but you will most likely find that the hydraulic oil is cheaper so why would you bother..?
3. When I get your Serial Number I can look up what are all the latest software files for it and send you the numbers by e-mail. It does not require the services of a dealer tech to plug into the machine to determine the latest software, however it will need his services to upload the latest files to the machine.
 

Gavin84w

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 29, 2007
Messages
554
Location
Australia
If your machine has product link and you are set up to view it via visionlink you can check what flash files the machine has sitting at your PC. Should they not be the latest you will still need the dealer to update them.
 
Top