3-Point Hitch 2420D Three-point hitch woes

qualityhardware · Mar 26, 2007

Was running the tractor this weekend when all of the sudden the three-point hitch just stops working. The box blade just sunk to the ground and the piston would no longer lift up the hitch. No bangs, pops or anything. It just stopped.

I have a front loader on my rig, and that works fine, so I know the hydraulic pump is OK. Checked the oil level and it is OK too.

I have been reading that YanMars do have some issues with relief valves sticking. Is this what I may be dealing with?

Is it a manner of pulling the part and cleaning it or do I need to start shopping for a new part?

Thanks.

normde2001 · Mar 26, 2007

You first need to troubleshoot and find out what actually failed. Could be anything either mechanical or hydraulic from the handle to the upper lift arms.

Normmm · Mar 27, 2007

I have a 2020D with loader and the same thing happened to me. I drove the tractor about 1.2 mile to a neighbor who services tractors to fix it. He pushed the loarder control to the float position a couple of times and the lift started working. My theory is that the problem was debris in one of the valves and the heating of the entire system along with the pulse caused by moving the loader control into the float position caused it to dislodge. It has stopped one time after that and I flicked the loader control into float a couple of times and it is fine now.

qualityhardware · Mar 28, 2007

Thanks Normm,

I'll give that a shot. I am stumped.

qualityhardware · Apr 7, 2007

OK. My lift is still not operating.

I drained all the hydraulic fluid from the tractor, flushed with Kerosene for 10 minutes and drained it.

I removed the lift assembly from the tractor and pulled out the lift and draft lever and valve out from the side of the lift assemply. I didn't see anything broken or missing. There was kerosene residue in all of the lift assembly, which tells me that the fluid is getting pumped through the system, but somewhere, something is stuck in an "open" position allowing the pressure out of the lift assembly.

I refilled with fresh hydraulic fluid and the lift is still inoperable.

The front loader works fine, so the pump is not the issue.

Does this sound like a pressure release valve problem? I am really, really stumped.

One more question. What other models of YanMar tractors have the same lift assemblies as the 2420D? I would like to get a service manual from Hoye Tractor to see what else I can find out. Just want to make sure I am comparing apples to apples.

Thanks.

qualityhardware · Apr 7, 2007

Go figure. As I'd hoped, the changing of the oil and all filters worked - over time.

I had to do some loader work today and checked the lift every five minutes or so.

Ultimately, the kerosene flush, fresh oil and fresh filters took its toll.

Whatever was blocking the hydraulic lift finally thinned out and fluid started running through the system again.

kenmac · Apr 8, 2007

sounds great ! Glad to hear that you were able to get it working again.

Jagmandave · Apr 8, 2007

Sorry we weren't of much more help, but I'm glad it's working again.

These kinds of things always puzzle me, I wonder if what I did really fixed it or if it was something else entirely and it's going to come back again........

LMTC · Apr 8, 2007

Jagmandave said:
These kinds of things always puzzle me, I wonder if what I did really fixed it or if it was something else entirely and it's going to come back again........

(bold emphasis added by me)
That's my bet. Tiny piece of debris in the system. If flushing doesn't end the problem permanently, best route is to open the 3 point valve when it stops working...the debris is likely lodged there.