Joystick float

[jaybrad]

Well, I just did the same thing, and saw what others have described - no broken springs, not condensation, just a bit of red grease. I tried moving the lever with the cap loose, tried rotating the cap 180 degrees, tried moving the split ring, tried removing some of the excess grease from the spring, and it still doesn't work properly.

I also took a hair dryer to the cap and after it got warm, it *seemed* to work a bit better. I could take my hand off the lever and the front wheels did not come off the ground. But when it cooled back down again, the problem returned.

It's hard for me to believe that the hair dryer would raise the temperature of the cap enough to cause it to expand all that much, but since that's what Mr. Fitzgerald (junior high science teacher) taught us that heat does, I'm wondering if that's the cause?

However, I can't seem to consistently demonstrate that heat solves the problem, so maybe it was a coincidence.

I'm stumped and will call the dealer tomorrow to see if they have other tips. If not, how does the warranty on these things work? Do I have to take the tractor to them? Pay for the at home service call? Or what?

Seems like such a simple thing - and it's interesting that at least 3 of us are having the same problem. Makes me wonder......

 

[nh_husky_driver]

If someone has used their float setting recently and knows that it is works as expected (stays locked in float over rough terrain). Could you inspect your detent cap and let us know if you can see anything out of the norm from the pictures that irvingj posted?

I'm with you on this seeming to be a fairly simple mechanism. Puzzled.

 

[jaybrad]

Irving, what year is your tractor?

Looks like both Husky's and mine are 2008 models, which makes me wonder if there is a manufacturing defect causing the problem?

Jay

 

[thing181]

I am thinking you have moisture in the grease or the manufacturer used a low quality grease that doesn't work so well at cold temps. I would try cleaning out the cap with some degreaser and see if it works better. If it does, I would put in some new grease and see how it holds up. From the pics it appears MF is now using a different float "mechanism", lets hope it doesn't prove to be unreliable.

 

[irvingj]

Jay-- I purchased mine last February; it's an '07 ("S" as second letter in serial #-- "T" represents '08). Now has about 55 hrs on it.

The momentary increased friction on the control seems to be just that; after warming up & driving around a bit, the joystick would come out of float very easily, with only slight hand pressure downward on the stick. Though I didn't actually drop the blower and work it to see (not much snow left on the driveway at the moment ), I suspect it'll pop right out as it has been doing.

Thing-- yeah, I thought about that-- remove most of the grease, add some sandblast grit to the mix-- THAT ought to hold it!!

I think next I may pull that little split ring and see about replacing it with a slightly thicker/stronger one.... In the meantime, I just hold up on the joystick to keep it in float while blowing. Perhaps a different part # for that little ring in some model years??

I suppose one other thing that could be tried would be to reduce the tension of the return spring, though I wouldn't want to compromise its ability to return to the neutral position under normal use.... in fact, the more I think about it, the more that seems like the right way to go.

 

[jaybrad]

Problem solved!

I called the dealer this AM and they sent someone out this afternoon.

When you remove the cap, at the end of the control rod is a bolt like thing that controls the spring tension (see the attached pictures) - it takes the same 5/32 hex key as the screws that remove the cap. In my case, this was loose, which caused the float spring to not center and catch in the proper place. He cleaned the grease off the threads, applied a drop of Loctite, then put it all back together - et voila! It works perfectly.

So a big tip of the hat to David Waterman and the great folks at Waterman Farm Equipment - and once again I am very pleased to be one of their customers.

And even better - more snow is on the way for tomorrow night and again this weekend!

Jay

 

[irvingj]

Wow! That sounds great-- I think I just found this morning's little project! Thanks VERY much for sharing the info, Jay; I'll let you know how mine fares.

First, however, I've got to take the FEL off and re-attach the blower... yesterday afternoon/evening I helped a neighbor remove some large piles left over from plowing his driveway. (He was mightily impressed by the little red beast!) We got a 1" dusting last night.

 

[irvingj]

Well, we have no joy. Took apart again, only to find the socket-head "bolt" on the detent shaft was very tight, not loose at all....

Cleaned off grease anyway, just so I could see it more clearly. The washer on the end of the detent shaft seemed to be centered just fine. Now I can see the groove that the split ring slips into. Perhaps removing some of the grease will help--? Everything else seemed OK.

 

[jaybrad]

Well, we have no joy. Took apart again, only to find the socket-head "bolt" on the detent shaft was very tight, not loose at all....

Cleaned off grease anyway, just so I could see it more clearly. The washer on the end of the detent shaft seemed to be centered just fine. Now I can see the groove that the split ring slips into. Perhaps removing some of the grease will help--? Everything else seemed OK.

Major bummer.

Does it seem like there is any play in the control? Prior to being fixed, mine was tight side to side, but there was a fair amount of play up and down. The latter was causing my problem.

I'll be interested to hear what fixes your situation.

Jay

 

[fireguy1451]

I have the same problem on my machine as well and when I asked the dealer they said the "whole" controler needed replacing. makes me wonder what they would do with my money if I had opeted for them to "replace" it. Its the first time I am not happy about Northwood power and equipment after reading this thread.

 

[jaybrad]

Update

I finally had a chance to give the FEL a normal test, and it failed.

My initial problem was that the "float" position was not working properly and causing downward pressure to be applied, but now a new problem has emerged: the control will not stay in the float position. It will go into float, but at the first bump (or less), it pops out and the control returns to the neutral position.

Looks like another (warranty) service call.

I'm pretty disappointed, but at the same time know that the dealer will take care of it - and that it is still covered by the 1 year warranty.

Although I still find it very interesting (disturbing) that it seems like several of us are having the same problem.

I'll post the results, once I have them.

Jay

 

[Eagleview]

I have never seen a tractor or machine that the float position is lockable . All the ones i have been around must be held in that position with force , they should then spring back to neutral when the force is relieved .

 

[jaybrad]

I have never seen a tractor or machine that the float position is lockable . All the ones i have been around must be held in that position with force , they should then spring back to neutral when the force is relieved .

Really? On my tractor, the lever does lock into a float position, until it hits a rough spot (which doesn't take much) and *then* it pops into the neutral position.

Maybe I've lost my mind, but it seemed like this past summer it would stay in that locked float position while I was spreading fill.

OTOH, it does seem like summer was a very long time ago, so maybe I'm remembering wrong.

 

[dirtworksequip]

Any machine lever or joystick SHOULD stay in the float position by itself, although a bump will sometimes knock it out. If it won't stay in detent by itself its not working correctly.
Seems like a weak design. Now you need to do a slight redesign yourself by getting a little creative or inventive.
Sincerely, Dirt

 

[Eagleview]

Really? On my tractor, the lever does lock into a float position, until it hits a rough spot (which doesn't take much) and *then* it pops into the neutral position.

Maybe I've lost my mind, but it seemed like this past summer it would stay in that locked float position while I was spreading fill.

OTOH, it does seem like summer was a very long time ago, so maybe I'm remembering wrong.

No it's not your mind , i was just dead wrong about these valves . The machines i have been on are either different or they too were not working .

 

[irvingj]

Yep, sounds familiar-- I've just gotten used to holding the lever in the float position. Most of the time that's not a problem, though it sometimes I have to let go for steering in tight places. Still VERY glad to have that blower, however!

 

[bobzap]

Just my $.02 but my float position stays locked every time I use it. 2310 TLB BTW

 

[irvingj]

Bobzap-- don't suppose you'd be interested in taking the cap off the float control and taking some pics like the ones I had earlier & reposted below? I'd really like to figure out what the difference is between one that works and one that pops out. (Last year mine seemed to stay in OK, or at least I don't remember it popping out so easily.) Thanks-- WBB in NH/irvingj

 

[rtdiggr]

I have the same problem on my machine as well and when I asked the dealer they said the "whole" controler needed replacing. makes me wonder what they would do with my money if I had opeted for them to "replace" it. Its the first time I am not happy about Northwood power and equipment after reading this thread.

It sounds more like a car dealer. Replace only no repair [on parts].

Shane

 

[J_J]

The float operation is another function for the spool being held in position by using a grove in the spool, and a ball and spring. Some may be adjustable, but otherwise, clean the area of any trash or debris, and either replace the ball and spring, or cheat a little and put something over the spring to compress it a little more. Water, rust, ice, dirt are just some things that will interfere with the float position. A bungee cord will work if nothing else.