B2320 3 point binding

[gmryanmcduffee]

Last year I had issues with lifting my mmm all the way up it would bind the 3 point and always be lifting. To lower I would turn off engine and lift repeatedly and the 3 point would slowly lower until it was no longer bound. I adjusted the adjustment arm so that it would limit the up just enougjt to keep the mmm wheels off the ground. In the fall I removed the mmm and noticed the binding up eventually went away.

Today I put the mmm back on and the mower deck would not raise enough to get the wheels off the ground. I adjusted the arm again and it went back to binding.

This is super annoying and I guess not great on the Hydraulics or levers. Has anyone dealt with a similar issue or have any ideas on what to focus on?

Thanks, ryan

 

[HillStreet]

Ryan:
Check the swivels where the check chains attach to the tractor. Sometimes they could bind.

 

[gmryanmcduffee]

Ryan:
Check the swivels where the check chains attach to the tractor. Sometimes they could bind.

Ran out and checked. They are not the bind point. It is in the lever assembly it feels like. I readjusted the limits and it is just at the edge of binding and just enough heights to let the deck wheels clear.

 

[JWR]

I have no magic answer here but ... suggest you check every single part of the suspension of the deck on both sides. Wiggle it around & it should feel equally free, both sides. Do that process with the deck all the way up and then retry with it all the way down. First guess being the suspension linkage and the deck are not QUITE on right -- yet it was that way last year --- hmmm. Maybe the linkage is connected correctly on one side but not other ? Unlikely two years in a row. Close inspection: anything bent ? You have a "clevis" arrangement both right and left just above the spring loaded pins that hold the deck on. One of those clevises bent/squeezed tight to where it binds ? (They should be loose and free to allow vertical movement.)

How about the deck cutting height adjustment knob and related linkage ? With the hydraulic all the way "up" does the adjustment knob turn with reasonable effort ?

What is the discussion about chain ? There no chain involved on the BX2200, 2300 and 2230 I've worked on. "Adjusting an arm?" What arm are you referring to ?

 

[gmryanmcduffee]

I have no magic answer here but ... suggest you check every single part of the suspension of the deck on both sides. Wiggle it around & it should feel equally free, both sides. Do that process with the deck all the way up and then retry with it all the way down. First guess being the suspension linkage and the deck are not QUITE on right -- yet it was that way last year --- hmmm. Maybe the linkage is connected correctly on one side but not other ? Unlikely two years in a row. Close inspection: anything bent ? You have a "clevis" arrangement both right and left just above the spring loaded pins that hold the deck on. One of those clevises bent/squeezed tight to where it binds ? (They should be loose and free to allow vertical movement.)

How about the deck cutting height adjustment knob and related linkage ? With the hydraulic all the way "up" does the adjustment knob turn with reasonable effort ?

What is the discussion about chain ? There no chain involved on the BX2200, 2300 and 2230 I've worked on. "Adjusting an arm?" What arm are you referring to ?

Here are the check chains. Not much of a chain I guess. Also the implement adjustment. I will check the deck alignment but it hooked up easy but maybe it could be misaligned. I have adjusted the cutting height with not much issue to make me think it could be the cause.

Thanks

 

[JWR]

Those are just sway bars/chains for keeping the lift arms positioned left and right and to avoid swinging 3pt implements too far left and right. No relationship to raising/lowering your mower deck.

 

[gmryanmcduffee]

Ok. They were what I looked at and they were not bound up so that works

 

[Dave M7040]

I cannot be certain this image is of your exact tractor.
From looking at the photos you included I do not see one of the 3 pt feedback system so I wonder if you are not considering it.

I further assume your mmm relies on a rod(s) link to the 3 pt lift arms.

Make certain the feedback system is able to operate properly.

I would also suggest you disconnect the lift rods from the 3 pt hitch. You want to make the lower 3 pt arms free floating so they can pivot about their inner end manually.
Place a wood 4 x 4 under the lift arms and slowly try jacking the lift arms up.
If the problem lies with the mmm mechanism it should become apparent during the jacking.

Your goal is to identify where the difficulty arises.

Dave M7040

 

[gmryanmcduffee]

Thanks. I will check this out next opportunity.

 

[gmryanmcduffee]

I cannot be certain this image is of your exact tractor.
From looking at the photos you included I do not see one of the 3 pt feedback system so I wonder if you are not considering it.

I further assume your mmm relies on a rod(s) link to the 3 pt lift arms.

Make certain the feedback system is able to operate properly.

I would also suggest you disconnect the lift rods from the 3 pt hitch. You want to make the lower 3 pt arms free floating so they can pivot about their inner end manually.
Place a wood 4 x 4 under the lift arms and slowly try jacking the lift arms up.
If the problem lies with the mmm mechanism it should become apparent during the jacking.

Your goal is to identify where the difficulty arises.

Dave M7040

The feedback lever binds up. It is 100% tied to this mechanism

 

[Dave M7040]

The feedback lever binds up. It is 100% tied to this mechanism

This is not meant to be anything but helpful so please do not take my next comments wrong.

From a long way a way, it seems like you are focused on the symptoms, but not the cause.

An alternative to my suggestion of manually jacking up the lower arms, disconnect the lift links which ties the upper and lower lift arms together.

If in this condition, the feedback system operates properly, then the problem lies with the MMM.

You can remove the feedback rod and operate the 3 pt system, doing manually what the rod does automatically,.... relieves the application of pressure at the top of the lift arm stroke.

Dave M7040

 

[gmryanmcduffee]

I appreciate any and all help. I dont qualify as a mechanic or shade tree. Just tired of messing with it

 

[gmryanmcduffee]

This is not meant to be anything but helpful so please do not take my next comments wrong.

From a long way a way, it seems like you are focused on the symptoms, but not the cause.

An alternative to my suggestion of manually jacking up the lower arms, disconnect the lift links which ties the upper and lower lift arms together.

If in this condition, the feedback system operates properly, then the problem lies with the MMM.

You can remove the feedback rod and operate the 3 pt system, doing manually what the rod does automatically,.... relieves the application of pressure at the top of the lift arm stroke.

Dave M7040

Ok I was able to get some free time again today. I removed the mmm and the binding continues at full up and full down.

Difference is at full down I can force the lever and it will still raise everything but it has a bind very similar to full up. I will take off all the moving parts one by one until there is nothing that I can rule out.

Thanks for the help and any suggestions keep them coming. No matter how obvious you may think it could be I wont be offended.