3 point lift not working

[hagrant]

Hi,

The 3 point lift is not working on my foton 454 tractor. I have been searching the forum for some suggestions. The 3pt hitch and the arms are "free floating." I can move them up and down with my hands. It worked ok the other day but the tractor sat for 3-4 days and the 3pt. lift gradually dropped as far as it would go. When I went to start it today the lift wont work at all.

I don稚 see a valve that controls the speed of the 3pt motion mentioned in some of the forums ive read. I dont see a knob under your seat or near it to adjust the speed of the 3pt hitch. Is there something simple that I could check? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Sysop]

Sounds like it may have a leak inside the 3pt assembly. My Mahindra had a similar issue where the lift arms felt totally disconnected inside and just moved freely as you describe. When I bought the tractor, they were up. Just after delivery, I took the backhoe off to connect my rotary, the arms lowered, but then wouldn't raise again after having the cutter hooked up. Upon removing the cutter, the lift arms moved freely. I called the dealer, who upon checking things out, found a seal inside the 3pt that was apparently not seated properly during assembly. It was making a good enough seal for raising and lowering the 3pt arms, but as soon as I put a load on it, the seal failed. They were able to properly seat the seal and it has been trouble free for a few years and couple hundred hours of use.

Perhaps you have a similar seal failure inside.

 

[hagrant]

Sounds like it may have a leak inside the 3pt assembly. My Mahindra had a similar issue where the lift arms felt totally disconnected inside and just moved freely as you describe. When I bought the tractor, they were up. Just after delivery, I took the backhoe off to connect my rotary, the arms lowered, but then wouldn't raise again after having the cutter hooked up. Upon removing the cutter, the lift arms moved freely. I called the dealer, who upon checking things out, found a seal inside the 3pt that was apparently not seated properly during assembly. It was making a good enough seal for raising and lowering the 3pt arms, but as soon as I put a load on it, the seal failed. They were able to properly seat the seal and it has been trouble free for a few years and couple hundred hours of use.

Perhaps you have a similar seal failure inside.

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping it may be a seal or something as it sat all winter. Hopefully it isnt an expensive fix. There are no foton dealers anywhere in Canada to my knowledge. I guess I will have to drain the tank and take a look or get someone to look at it.

I don't know anything about hydraulics unfortunately.

 

[hagrant]

Would anyone have a picture or diagram of the 3 point assembly for a foton 454?

 

[BukitCase]

A quick google search on "foton 454 tractor manual" brought up some U-tube vids

Foton tractor maintenance and operation manual - part 1 - YouTube
Foton tractor maintenance and operation manual - part 3 - YouTube
and this
Foton Tractor Parts | ASIAN TRACTOR PARTS

HTH... Steve

 

[hagrant]

A quick google search on "foton 454 tractor manual" brought up some U-tube vids

Foton tractor maintenance and operation manual - part 1 - YouTube
Foton tractor maintenance and operation manual - part 3 - YouTube
and this
Foton Tractor Parts | ASIAN TRACTOR PARTS

HTH... Steve

Thanks

 

[Sysop]

You really shouldn't need to drain the tank. The 3pt is located high enough it should be above the fluid level. Make sure everything is cleaned spotless like new before opening it up so dirt doesn't get into the system, take the cover off, start visually inspecting things. Once you ID and repair the issue and get it buttoned up and tested, is when I'd drain the tank and change the filter. Just to ensure any missed dirt that got into the system gets removed.

 

[Oldpath05]

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping it may be a seal or something as it sat all winter. Hopefully it isnt an expensive fix. There are no foton dealers anywhere in Canada to my knowledge. I guess I will have to drain the tank and take a look or get someone to look at it.

I don't know anything about hydraulics unfortunately.

So where did you get the tractor?

 

[hagrant]

do you mean to take the top cover off of the tank or take the cover off where the lever mechanism mounts to the tank? The base of the lever mechanism is mounted on the side of the tank. I'm wondering if I should take that piece off first. Also, would it be possible that it is my hydraulic filter that is plugged? I didnt check that but I have an idea where it is located. My FEL works fine.

I bought the tractor in New Brunswick, second hand. Not sure how he acquired it.

thanks

 

[Oldpath05]

How old is this tractor and how many hr on it?
If the FEL works fine, dont think there's a filter issue because the FEL hydraulic fluid goes through that to, but if it has 400hr on it might need to changed anyways. My L3400dt says every 200hr on filter, and 400hr on transmission fluid. To me the 3 point no lift problem sounds like something in that area only.

 

[hagrant]

thanks, I will have to get someone that knows more than I do about hydraulics to take it apart.

 

[hagrant]

Forgot to mention the tractor is a 2010. I did check the hydraulic filter and cleaned it. The fluid that came out of it was super clear, not dirty at all.

 

[hagrant]

Another update, after about 5 hours I got the cover off. the cover was obviously put on before the cab..lol. I had to drill some holes in the cab to get some of the bolts up through.

So, here is what I figured out. Like i mentioned earlier I dont know much about hydraulics. With the cover off I moved the 3 point arms up and down and could see the rod moving in the piston. I put my hand in the cylinder and the rod was lying against the cylinder wall. At the end of the rod I could feel the end and it felt like there was a threaded hole there. Im not 100% sure on that but shouldnt it be connected to something? I will have to drain the rest of the fluid to see better I guess. I am hesitant to disassemble too much more at this point.

Any suggestions/ comments would be greatly appreciated. I will attach a pic.

 

[jabelding]

On 3 pt hitches the rods are never usually connected to the piston, there is usually just a ball on the end of the rod that sits in a socket on the piston, it allows the arms to float.

 

[hagrant]

On 3 pt hitches the rods are never usually connected to the piston, there is usually just a ball on the end of the rod that sits in a socket on the piston, it allows the arms to float.

thanks I will keep looking, going to drain the rest of the fluid today.

 

[Oldpath05]

("I am hesitant to disassemble too much more at this point.") <<<<<<I know that feeling, guess you have to come to a decision, am I going to make it worse if I keep going, or am I gonna to find the problem if I do keep going and most important will I remember how it goes back together, check mate would be you have it apart but still know what the problem is, but the tractor still works, just no 3 point lift.

If it does go south, at last resort you can mount a 12v 10,000lb winch with remote on the ropes to lift the 3 point lift, that's what I did 8 years ago to lift my pto winch, mine is a little on the weak side when I have 5-ish- 6-8" trees on it.

 

[jabelding]

I would be willing to bet it is a control valve problem there is not much inside the 3pt hitch that can go wrong most times it is the valves or the tractor hydraulic system. Do you have a loader or any other point you can check hyd flow and pressure?

 

[hagrant]

("I am hesitant to disassemble too much more at this point.") <<<<<<I know that feeling, guess you have to come to a decision, am I going to make it worse if I keep going, or am I gonna to find the problem if I do keep going and most important will I remember how it goes back together, check mate would be you have it apart but still know what the problem is, but the tractor still works, just no 3 point lift.

If it does go south, at last resort you can mount a 12v 10,000lb winch with remote on the ropes to lift the 3 point lift, that's what I did 8 years ago to lift my pto winch, mine is a little on the weak side when I have 5-ish- 6-8" trees on it.

I am floating it to a tractor mechanic. I will update the status...hopefully he can fix it and it isnt too costly.

 

[hagrant]

yes i have a loader so the pump is fine. Ken, from Asian tractor parts figures its probably a valve. He is really good to deal with! Gonna take it to get it checked out.

 

[hagrant]

I took a few pics just before I took it to a tractor mechanic. Once I drained all the oil out of it I could see that the lift lever when in the down position touches a plunger that goes in, in the full down position. When I put the lever in full lift position the plunger goes out half way. Basically from 3/4 to full lift position the lever isn't touching anything which I wondering if the plunger is stuck?? I am attaching a few pics.