Loader Any MF 1260/1246 owners willing to lend a hand?

jpat34721 · Apr 13, 2011

I have discovered that my FEL (1246) is connected incorrectly on my 1260. The previous owner mickey-moused the connection, teeing into the 3PH/draft control return. This is causing some dangerous interactions between my FEL and 3PH operation (if I raise the bucket and forget to disengage draft control- which is also used to put implements in transport position, the joystick control locks and the bucket keeps rising. I have to turn off the tractor tyo get the joystick to release.)

I believe the mis-wire is also the source of my spool valve leakage which only seems to occur when the DC is engaged. I had the spool valve repaired ($300

) and after about 5 hours it started leaking again.

Looking at the loader manual I see the FEL connection is not supposed to be tee'd in. Instead, the factory configuration has to be modified for the 1260 as follows (from page 31 of the FEL manual):

Install 1/2 NPT (F) x 3/8" reducing coupling and female half of supplied coupler to hose. Install 3/8" NPT x 2' nipple followed by male coupler to manifold block

This is all pretty much greek to me. Can anyone tell me what I need to buy (and from where) to get to the factory recommended installation? If anyone with this combination could take a picture of the connections that would be a big help.

Thanks as always.
Jeff

JerryG · Apr 13, 2011

It depends on which valve you have. What brand, model and location.

jpat34721 · Apr 13, 2011

Its a nimco FEL mount. Don't know the model #.

JerryG · Apr 13, 2011

Do you have a backhoe?

jpat34721 · Apr 14, 2011

No backhoe - no rear remotes. And I stand corrected on the valve. It's a Cross.

jpat34721 · Apr 14, 2011

attached is a close-up of my hydraulic connection. #1 is the manifold block which is weird because the part book only shows a single port. This one has two. The back port is connected via #3 to the pressure input of the loader valve. The front port is teed (which I know is incorrect, I talked to a MF service guy who said there shouldn't be any tees.) the bottom of the tee is connected via hose #2 to the loader valve return.

Last night a diesel mechanic buddy of mine came over to try and straighten this out. He removed the tee and plugged the front port of the manifold. He replaced the NPT fitting (#3) with a QC and added a QC to hose 2 which is now connect to the main return QC which used to go to the tee.

With these changes it acts different but still not right. With draft control disengaged the bucket works perfect and is smoother and faster than before. However now when we engage the DC, moving the loader valve to the drop position (forward) results in the bucket rising :confused2: and the curl doesn't work at all.

We're flummoxed. The draft control seems somehow to be causing back flow through the loader. Am I missing a check valve or something?

tj200 · Apr 14, 2011

I also have the fel mount nimco. Since it is not raining out today I will get out there and snap a photo for ya when I get out of work.

redleicester · Apr 14, 2011

Seems a needlessly complex system. On my 1235 I have a front loader with an extra service for grab/4-in-1 bucket, and a two pairs of rear spools, but none of them seem to be teed off each other, all completely independent.

jpat34721 · Apr 14, 2011

redleicester said:
Seems a needlessly complex system. On my 1235 I have a front loader with an extra service for grab/4-in-1 bucket, and a two pairs of rear spools, but none of them seem to be teed off each other, all completely independent.

The TEE is definitely incorrect. But like I said, when I removed it and connected directly to the main return, the bloody thing still misbehaves when the draft control is engaged. Does your 1235 have draft control? Aslo, does your FEL return hose connect to the main return (the hose that runs under the seat and goes to the top of the 3pt sump?

redleicester · Apr 14, 2011

I'll have a look in the morning, I'm afraid it's tucked away in an unlit shed tonight! The FEL is a Lewis quick-attach job, so is likely to be rather different to the standard Massey one though...

Will see if I can dig up some pics in the mean time...