Tractor Repair: Air in brakes, wheels and axles, clear plastic tubing

Question
I parked my 574 International tractor for the winter and the brakes were working fine. When I started it this spring I had no brakes until I pump them several times and after it sets for a while they fade away again. I think I may have air in the lines and would like to bleed them if this may be my problem.

Answer
Hello,

  Bleeding may help for a while, but then it will probably happen again.  The o-rings on the brake pistons start to leak oil from the brakes into the rear end of the tractor.  There are bleed screws on top of the rear frame where the axles are mounted.  Open the bleed screws, attach some clear plastic tubing to them and rout the tubing into the oil fill hole on the back of the tractor.  Start the tractor and slowly push the pedals to bleed the air out.  When there are no more bubbles showing in the plastic tubing, close the bleeders and you're done.  If it keeps happening after the tractor sits for awhile, the only way to fix it permanently is to remove the wheels and axles and replace the o-rings on the brake pistons.