JD310E parking brake problem

[bactrachac]

New owner here in SE Arizona. JD310E got vandalized by packrats and now the parking brake is fouled up. Sitting still in neutral the parking brake works fine (Turns on and off properly), but put it in forward or reverse and it'll move a bit and then engage the brake. Then wait for a few seconds and it'll disengage. It does this at random shorts intervals, so that I can't move it very far. No apparent problems using the hoe. I've replaced some of the wiring, but I don't understand the operation or the circuitry. Any help, especially a wiring diagram, would be greatly appreciated. And any recommendations to keep the packrats from doing this again would a big help.

JD310E 1999, open rops, 2wd

 

[mg2361]

Make sure your transmission oil level is correct. Low oil level will give you and intermittent park brake. If oil is OK then since you had wire gremlins eating your wires make sure the E02 white wire that goes to the starter is OK. That wire supplies the ground for the park brake control circuit. Also check the J27 Tan wire from your park brake switch to your park brake solenoid (top left side of trans, middle solenoid).

 

[bactrachac]

Trans fluid and filter were changed 30 hours ago, but I will check that first. Wiring is the likely cause and maybe a mostly eaten away wire that will not carry sufficient current. The lousy critter sat on top of the trans and had himself a buffet. I will check the E02 and J27 wire the next time I'm out at the property, which is my remote "getaway" ranch property.

 

[aighead]

Ha! You mean real packrats, like the little critter? I thought you meant punk kids!

 

[bactrachac]

Yes, actual desert packrats. Had the tractor on the property for 6 months without an issue. Now I'll have to be vigilant from this point on to make sure that they don't do anymore damage in the future. I'm starting with solar lights and moth balls for the time being.

 

[Tarhe Driver]

Wiring covers often contain soy, from soy beans, and are irresistible to rodents.

 

[bactrachac]

Update after recent visit to my property. MG2381 nailed it. The transmission level didn't even read on the stick. I added 1.5 gallons and everything cleared up. The wiring/packrat issues were minor and maybe even left over from the previous owner. They had chewed into the wires for the clutch switch and I was able to repair that without problems. The thing that bothers me now is that all the fluids and filters were changed 30 hours ago at the JD dealer, so I would assume (?) that the levels were correct. If I remember correctly from other posts, the likely situation is that a seal could cause the fluid to migrate to the rear axle. I pulled the plug on the backside/center of the axle and the level was an inch below the fill plug. So where did it go. While I was under the tractor I check around, particularly the axle wheels area and no leaks were found. Any other place it may have gone??

I bought this backhoe from a private estate where the relatives didn't know much about the history. The wear edges and pins show only a small amount of wear and the JD dealer while doing a valve adjustment found that the engine looks to be in good shape. The digital hour meter was severely sun damaged and no hour reading could be determined, so we're guessing it has 2-3000 hours on it. I mention this so that any discussion that would pertain to a high hour machine can be averted; however, it is possible that sitting for years in the Tucson summer heat was not kind to the seals.

1999 JD310E 2wd shuttle trans

 

[mg2361]

Sounds like somebody didn't fill the trans after the service. If you lost 1.5 gallon of oil from the trans the only place it could go would be the rear axle or the ground. I would make sure the levels were correct and just keep an eye on your levels to see if anything changes.

 

[bactrachac]

Thanks, MG2361 for your prompt responses. I am disappointed in myself for not having checked the transmission level, but I will certainly keep an eye on it and the axle oil level from now on.