3 pt load dropping

/ 3 pt load dropping #1  

rtd

Member
Joined
Feb 17, 2012
Messages
49
Location
Athens, Ohio
Tractor
Ford 3930 - Kubota L3430 - Kubota B2150 - YM155D
A moderate wt load (approx 300# yard rake) after being raised to max ht on my 155D will drop to the ground in about a minute. Ten, or even five minutes might be tolerable but the current rate is not.

I suspect that the seals in the internal cylinder are leaking. Is this a difficult job? Are seals available; I can check with Hoye. Is it better to replace the cylinder?

Thanks
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #3  
i don't have that model, but speaking in general, if a tractor drops a load on the 3pt hyds after shutting the pump down, it's a leak on the cyl siside.. usually a safety / relief valve or the piston rings.. latter most often.

soundguy
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #4  
You can either have a leaky valve or cyl oring. There is a thread here by JD...... where he did it with pics in his like 186 or something. Its an easy job. But you need to make sure its the cyl. No you dont buy the whole cyl, its an assembly for the top of the trassmission, sure you can buy the cyl but the oring is the problem usually a cut in it. You need to close your know under your seat and see if it still falls. If so its the leaky piston oring if not its the valve under the pressure line that the 3pt lever controls bypassing.

The oring ( for the cyl)costs less than the shipping to get it to you from HOye.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #5  
Is it dropping while running or after you stop the engine? Did you check to make sure it's not simply the hydraulic lift control handle sliding down? That's a pretty common problem...
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #6  
Sounds like as the engine is running. Which i consider to be the valve, but not sure?
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #7  
It sounds like the cylinder o-ring. It is a thick o-ring ~3" in diameter and only costs about $15. You'll be deceived when you first remove it, as it will look brand new. My o-ring looked brand new, but the 3ph couldn't lift anything, when replaced it would lift the front end of the tractor off the ground.

The only other possible issue not mentioned by others is the self leveling mechanism (if your tractor has one) may be mis-adjusted and is slowly lowering the 3pt when it is level already. But it's probably the o-ring.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Thanks for your replies. Here's an update:

I performed an informal test without the previously mentioned load but no other change:

1) with engine running - stood on the lift arms with the arms in the maximum lift position - with my 160 lbs it dropped about 1" in a little under a minute.

2) with engine running - closed the 'drop-rate' valve and stood on the lift arms as before - I could see no obvious drop after about a minute.

I need to repeat the closed valve test with the heavier load and a stopwatch.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #9  
Why bother running more tests? It's not working correctly. With a new o ring mine doesn't drop more than an inch per week with a 7'grader blade on it.

The entire point of the three point system is accuracy. Imagine leveling a driveway with multiple inches of difference between one side and the other due to your implement dropping on you as you drag it.

Or mowing a field where you start at a cutter bar height of two feet high and end at it sitting on the ground chopping rocks.

it's your tractor and time. You can go to a lab to get your drop rate certified if so inclined.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #10  
Why bother running more tests? It's not working correctly. With a new o ring mine doesn't drop more than an inch per week with a 7'grader blade on it.

The entire point of the three point system is accuracy. Imagine leveling a driveway with multiple inches of difference between one side and the other due to your implement dropping on you as you drag it.

Or mowing a field where you start at a cutter bar height of two feet high and end at it sitting on the ground chopping rocks.

it's your tractor and time. You can go to a lab to get your drop rate certified if so inclined.

Because with the results he said its NOT the O ring on the piston. If you close the valve under the seat this takes out the valve on the 3pt and only leaves the piston O ring. IF like he says he closes the valve off and stands on it and it dosent drop any than that means the 3pt valve that controls the lift height is the problem. its either internally bypassing or has trash stuck in it.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #11  
And did you check to make sure the hydraulic lift control handle isn't slipping?
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #12  
If it is the hydraulic seal it isn't to hard to replace. Do be aware that Deere does not supply the O-ring, I went down to Kubota and they had them in stock. It was a $3 repair that took me about 2 days to figure out. Once I knew it was the O-ring it only took a few hours to get everything disassembled. :) I have attached a link to my thread about the repair, it should be very helpful. I also highly suggest draining your hydraulic fluid and cleaning the hydraulic screen while you are at it, inspect your transmission while you have everything opened up. :2cents:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/yanmar/202252-169d-3-point-hitch-weak.html
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #13  
If it is the hydraulic seal it isn't to hard to replace. Do be aware that Deere does not supply the O-ring, I went down to Kubota and they had them in stock. It was a $3 repair that took me about 2 days to figure out. Once I knew it was the O-ring it only took a few hours to get everything disassembled. :) I have attached a link to my thread about the repair, it should be very helpful. I also highly suggest draining your hydraulic fluid and cleaning the hydraulic screen while you are at it, inspect your transmission while you have everything opened up. :2cents:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/yanmar/202252-169d-3-point-hitch-weak.html

Jake was who i was referring to, when i mentioned the thread about dissasembly and picture documentation. I just could not remember his user name. I just never remember the JD # after Johndeere.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #14  
Because with the results he said its NOT the O ring on the piston. If you close the valve under the seat this takes out the valve on the 3pt and only leaves the piston O ring.

I don't see your logic on this one.

with engine running - closed the 'drop-rate' valve and stood on the lift arms as before - I could see no obvious drop after about a minute.

Doesn't closing the drop-rate valve create a vacuum?

If so, then with or without a bad o-ring there will not be a drop. I see that rate valve as closing off the top of a drinking straw with liquid inside it.. whether or not you have the bottom blocked, no liquid is going to escape.

If this isn't the case, sorry for adding confusion.

Also, I saw no mention of depth control so I guess that is not on this model tractor, but mentioning it again just in case it is and was missed.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #15  
The stop valve just closes the port for the fluid. It is the intake and the exhaust for the cylinder, so the only route for fluid (barring a crack somewhere) is past the lift piston seals.

The principle is akin to a hydraulic jack's screw valve. The lift control valve normally lets fluid in and out, but closing the stop valve blocks its output, which risks damaging the pump.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping
  • Thread Starter
#17  
Thanks for all the responses.

I've been busy with other projects so this one has been on hold. I'll be back to checking it again, perhaps tomorrow. I want to be almost certain of the cause before I start buying parts or taking things apart.
 
/ 3 pt load dropping #18  
Thanks for all the responses.

I've been busy with other projects so this one has been on hold. I'll be back to checking it again, perhaps tomorrow. I want to be almost certain of the cause before I start buying parts or taking things apart.
From your description it is not the seal in the lift cyl, but something upstream of it - like the position control valve. It is not maintaining position as it should even if there was some leakage. How does the fluid look? I would be tempted to try a fluid flush, esp if its been a while since you changed it.
.. Do you have Draft Control on the tractor?
larry
 

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