4100 three point intermittent lift problem

[acs55812]

I have a rear blade and noticed a "new" problem with the three point not lifting a couple weeks ago when cleaning up the driveway. It happened a couple times and I didn't think too much about it---it lifted when I backed up (away) from the pile of snow I had accumulated going forward.

Today it did it and it seemed worse, I was thinking I was going to have to drag it back to the shop and back in with it down---finally it did lift.

When it lifts it seems to lift at full speed and height, when its not lifting the front blower seems to lift fine.

Asking for possible cause may be premature---I have not checked fluid level,,,but have no fluid spots under tractor, the fluid was change a couple years ago with less than 50 hours usage since that time.

In past years I have had 900 pound of weight on the rear for traction, with no problem lifting---was it possible that was too much and wrecked a pump? Does the from and rear use the same pump?

Thoughts?

 

[kennyd]

You only have one pump that runes the 3PH and the front loader or snowblower. Using a 900lb weight on the rear is fine, no damage to the pump can occur from that. When the fluid was changed, was the screen cleaned?

 

[acs55812]

Fluid and filter (screen/filter--can't actually remember what it was) were changed either 2 or 3 winters ago, tractor has around 225-250 hours total, so I am estimating 50 hours or less with this fluid in there---I will be looking into it this weekend, I gotta read the manual and figure out for sure what the red adjustment knob at the operators feet is and also can't actually say I have gotten to the point of even pulling the dipstick to check level yet---one pump is what I have always assumed so the front working and three point not certainly got my attention.

 

[deputy11]

The knob at your feet, under the seat, is the rate of drop control. It is likely that your problem centers there.

 

[dcyrilc]

The knob at your feet, under the seat, is the rate of drop control. It is likely that your problem centers there.

+1.

I was going to make the same suggestion to check the Rate of Drop knob. Instructions for adjusting it will be in your owners manual.

 

[kennyd]

The knob at your feet, under the seat, is the rate of drop control. It is likely that your problem centers there.

+1.

I was going to make the same suggestion to check the Rate of Drop knob. Instructions for adjusting it will be in your owners manual.

But that controls the lowering speed, not the ability to lift.

 

[deputy11]

It also controls the flow. No flow, no lift or drop. Had same issue on my 4100. Had not changed the rate for years because I had it how I wanted it. Then started having problems like the OP and couldn't figure what was up. The knob was kind of froze from lack of use so PB blasted it, got it working and opened the valve, closed the valve, did that a few times while working the rockshaft and never had it happen again. Not sure that it will work for the OP but it did for me and it was a very cheap fix.

 

[kennyd]

It also controls the flow. No flow, no lift or drop. Had same issue on my 4100. Had not changed the rate for years because I had it how I wanted it. Then started having problems like the OP and couldn't figure what was up. The knob was kind of froze from lack of use so PB blasted it, got it working and opened the valve, closed the valve, did that a few times while working the rockshaft and never had it happen again. Not sure that it will work for the OP but it did for me and it was a very cheap fix.

Well, I have a 4110, which is pretty much the same machine as the 4100 except for cosmetic differences. I just came in from plowing snow so I tried it. My 3PH can lift my ballast box filled with concrete effortlessly when the ROD valve is fully closed.

 

[dcyrilc]

Kenny,

Mine is the same as yours, but I have read of others who have had this issue and changing the ROD knob has fixed the problem. I figured it was worth noting and trying. I don't know if it will fix the OPs problem, but I was always taught to check the easy stuff first when troubleshooting.

 

[acs55812]

Hmmmm,,,checked the fluid, quantity was fine,,,drained the fluid, a tad darker than I expected, but I don't remember what color it was going in either. Had a small amount (about a 1/4? teaspoon) of metal shavings on the bottom of the screen.

So far thats all I know for sure---now I gotta figure out what fluid to put back in (brand) or strain mine and use it---it was John Deere fluid.

The manual calls for 500 hour change, the tractor has around 250 total hours and probably 50 on this fluid.

 

[acs55812]

Hmmm,,,,strained the fluid and put it back in, cleaned all metal filings off screen, rotated the rate-of-drop knob (it was frozen but freed up fine) and put it back where it started. Went out and plowed snow---verified that when the 3 point wouldn't lift the front still does lift.

The tractor was in a better mood---when I would back away from the snow pile with the rear blade it would lift, I never did get the impression this time that I would end up dragging it back to the shop for failure to lift completely like I had last time.

So if this knob that I thought was a rate of drop knob is actually a flow rate knob---yet the front lifts fine does it control the flow rate separately front and back?

I will send an email to my dealer and see what they suggest.

 

[kennyd]

That knob only control how fast the 3PH lowers, it has nothing to do with the raising speed of the 3PH or anything else...it only decides how fast the fluid can escape the cylinder that operates the 3PH.

 

[Henri88]

That knob only control how fast the 3PH lowers, it has nothing to do with the raising speed of the 3PH or anything else...it only decides how fast the fluid can escape the cylinder that operates the 3PH.

Kenny, I'm sure you are right about this. (I know better than to argue with you) But I wonder if it is the same with the ''cut''. I may be wrong but seem to me that I have tried to lift my 3PH this summer and it wouldn't come up because the control was completely closed. It is true do, that with the control set to lower the 3ph at a slow rate, it does not affect the speed of the raise. I'm on the road today, but will try it tomorrow.

 

[kennyd]

Kenny, I'm sure you are right about this. (I know better than to argue with you) But I wonder if it is the same with the ''cut''. I may be wrong but seem to me that I have tried to lift my 3PH this summer and it wouldn't come up because the control was completely closed. It is true do, that with the control set to lower the 3ph at a slow rate, it does not affect the speed of the raise. I'm on the road today, but will try it tomorrow.

Please do

 

[Henri88]

Please do

Got back this evening from my road trip and decide to check it out, and yes I was right. With the knob completely close, the 3ph will not come up. But as I mentioned in my other post, you cannot adjust the speed of the lift, only the decent. As soon you turn the valve to open the flow the 3ph raises at full speed. Now this apply to the 2305 and possibly to all 2000 series, but I don't know if it is the same for the 3 and 4000 series.

 

[kennyd]

Got back this evening from my road trip and decide to check it out, and yes I was right. With the knob completely close, the 3ph will not come up. But as I mentioned in my other post, you cannot adjust the speed of the lift, only the decent. As soon you turn the valve to open the flow the 3ph raises at full speed. Now this apply to the 2305 and possibly to all 2000 series, but I don't know if it is the same for the 3 and 4000 series.

Interesting, I do stand corrected. For sure my 4110 does NOT operate that way.

 

[RalphVa]

What if the rate of drop knob is fully open?

Could you have lost one or both of the pins between the arms that raise the 3ph?

Ralph