1996 T5C Terramite

[2Terras]

I'll try posting in hope of getting some ideas. My 96 Terramite has very weak hydraulics to the hoe portion. The loader is fine I can get the loader hooked on a tree and try lifting the loader and actually pick the rear wheels off the ground. When it comes to the hoe, If I get a bucket tooth hooked on a tree root about an inch in diameter it runs out of steam and won't rip through. My other T5C would rip up a tree root with no problem. Someone suggested that the previous owner turned the hydraulic pressure down to the hoe. My question is DOES THIS SEEM POSSIBLE AND IF SO WHERE IS THE ADJUSTER TO TURN IT BACK UP? I am frustrated that I can't dig a hole with the hoe. Thanks all. Oh, it has 1450 hours on it.

 

[roadhunter]

There should be an adjustment on the hydraulic valve. I am not familiar with that particular machine thought. Maybe the valve on the hoe has been adjusted down and the valve for the loader has not. I believe it's' some sort of spring overload that is adjustable.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/242560-hydraulic-pressure.html

 

[Jay4200]

Just about every control valve has a relief valve - some are adjustable via turning a simple screw, and yours is probably adjusted to some low pressure. Here's a picture of a valve - relief adjustment is the little thing on the right of the joystick:
2 SPOOL COMPACT 1 GPM JOYSTICK CONTROL VALVE
You'll need a gauge and some way to connect it to set the pressure correctly.

 

[2Terras]

Thank You for the reply, I will check tomorrow

 

[2Terras]

I've looked and looked and asked a friend to look and neither of us found anything resembling an adjuster screw. Anyway I'm kind of getting used to the hoe not working at full ability. You just leave yourself more time to get jobs done. If you are using a Terramite you can't be in a hurry at all. I read people that are haters of the T5C but I like them. For a home owner machine its grrrreat.

 

[2Terras]

Maybe the teeth on my bucket are shot? Can I sharpen them with a grinder?
I could weld a bead on the tips and grind them sharper?

 

[Fallon]

Always get a pressure gauge & use it before you start messing with relief valves or you can blow stuff up. Find out the max pressure & make sure you need to try & adjust or shim relief valves before cranking on things. Not sure how the Terramite is plumbed, so there may be more than 1 circuit & multiple relief valves in play.

If I recall the Terramite loader is rated to lift 2,000lbs & weighs 4-5,000lbs with the hoe. My L3200 was only rated to 1,200lbs of lift on the loader & could easily do that on a 3,500-4000lbs machine + 1,000lbs of ballast quite a ways back. So your curl test isn't necesarily a good indicator at all.

I helped a firend track a Teramite down. Not a bad little machine. Slow as **** & tops out at a fast mosey, maybe a jog tops, but has a stout loader on it for its size. Haven't had a chance to borrow it to see how it digs though. Borrowing a friends old full sized hoe this weekend to dig some 6' deep post holes for a ranch arch. I'd rather be borrowing the Terramite for the much better manuverability & transportability. Most machines have thier place, A Terramite won't bust out a ton of work, but its convenient & easy to use at a nice price point. More stout than a SCUT with a hoe by a large margin.