FEL knob removal?

e-wa · Feb 3, 2018

Installing my 3rd function knob on my XG3135H, how does the stock FEL knob come off?

mslisaj · Feb 3, 2018

I'd say just twist it off. In the instructions for installation they talk about lock-tite so that is what you're up against. But that's how I would attack the problem if I was in your situation.
Hope this helps.

e-wa · Feb 4, 2018

Thanks for the reply, tried twisting and felt I was going to break it. I will put some heat on it to loosen the Locktite

mslisaj · Feb 4, 2018

Well you might break if is the heat doesn't do it but then you can put a new custom one on with the "proper" jam nut!! I ran into this on my backhoe controls and decided to work around the knobs for now as I read about the Locktite. Good luck!

hturner12 · Feb 5, 2018

You should be able to back the jam nut off and unscrew it. Mine loosen itself up all the time

mslisaj · Feb 7, 2018

That's the issue. It doesn't have a jam nut. Locktite from the factory assembly is what is used instead of th jam nut.

hturner12 · Feb 7, 2018

Does it have wrench flats? Have you tried vice grips? I would avoid heat each line has a coated washer on each side of the fitting, plus there maybe orings on the internals

George2615 · Feb 7, 2018

If your joystick looks like the one pictured on the LS site for an XG3135 you have to cut the zip tie at the bottom of the rubber boot and lift the boot to expose the locking jam nut.

hturner12 · Feb 7, 2018

Mine does not have that boot it just a stem with a black knob.

Doofy · Feb 7, 2018

e-wa said:
Installing my 3rd function knob on my XG3135H, how does the stock FEL knob come off?

If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy your 3rd function switch and is it part of a kit? How difficult was installation? Never been good at puzzles. Thanks

ovrszd · Feb 7, 2018

I've lost track of the times I've struggled to get a knob off, ultimately destroying it, then realizing the simple solution..... I hate that.......

Same with automotive electrical plugs...... No two safety latches are the same....

Good luck with your project, looking forward to seeing it completed!!!!

deanocraft · Feb 7, 2018

I just had to take the knob off of my loader valve also. It had been locktited at the factory. Mine is a Massey, but may be similar... I ended up taking the boot off to expose a lock nut holding it to the valve. Loosen the lock nut and it unscrews from the valve. I put the handle in a vise to unscrew the knob. It was tight!

e-wa · Feb 7, 2018

No lock nut, but formed on the shaft. Shaft has 2 holes in it for the plastic to go into when formed. Heated it up and twisted back and forth and it finally came off, of course tearing the pins in the process. Only way I could get it off.

Rock Crawler · Feb 8, 2018

Is there not a tiny hole in the top dead center? If so, you use a blower on your airline and pressurize the rubber to expand it and it will slide right off. Do the same to re-install. That is how my Kubota knobs come off. Without air, there is no way your getting them off of mine.

Doofy · Feb 8, 2018

Rock Crawler said:
Is there not a tiny hole in the top dead center? If so, you use a blower on your airline and pressurize the rubber to expand it and it will slide right off. Do the same to re-install. That is how my Kubota knobs come off. Without air, there is no way your getting them off of mine.

That is a most interesting concept. Never would have crossed my feeble mind. Kudos!

Rock Crawler · Feb 8, 2018

Trust me, I'm not that smart. Jeff or somebody on this forum had mentioned this in a previous post. I had read that and retained it and when I needed to get my knobs off it came right back to the surface and I used it and it worked amazingly well. Of course at first I tried figuring out how to get it off with using my hands, and I realized then unless you have the strength of a pissed off orangutan there was no chance of getting that Knob Off. But at some point it resurfaced in my brain what I had read and I grab the airline and they just about flew off of the steel rod. I was a bit skeptical about using the air pressure while pushing them back on, but that as well worked very very well.

ssbogger · Feb 11, 2018

Doofy said:
If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy your 3rd function switch and is it part of a kit? How difficult was installation? Never been good at puzzles. Thanks

I'm not sure if your tractor would be like mine but installing the kit is not that hard. I had some trouble but it was because they sent me a hose that was 12" too short. Besides that, my biggest issue was figuring out which hose was the power beyond hose. The LS tractor manual does not say and neither did the loader manual. Internet searches were useless. I ended up calling the folks at everything attachments and Rick helped me sort it out. See the thread here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/391368-wr-long-third-fuction-ls.html

Now my last issue is that the new knob will not fit over my stock loader handle. The stock plastic nub on the top is too big. Is this what you ran in to e-wa?

Doofy · Feb 11, 2018

ssbogger said:
I'm not sure if your tractor would be like mine but installing the kit is not that hard. I had some trouble but it was because they sent me a hose that was 12" too short. Besides that, my biggest issue was figuring out which hose was the power beyond hose. The LS tractor manual does not say and neither did the loader manual. Internet searches were useless. I ended up calling the folks at everything attachments and Rick helped me sort it out. See the thread here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/391368-wr-long-third-fuction-ls.html

Now my last issue is that the new knob will not fit over my stock loader handle. The stock plastic nub on the top is too big. Is this what you ran in to e-wa?

Thanks for the info. Everything Attachments seem like a very good outfit to deal with, with superior customer service. I will definitely go with them when ready to buy my 3rd function.

PILOON · Feb 11, 2018

LOL, one of my CUT knobs simply pulls off usually at the wrong time.
I discovered that it was simply pressed onto a somewhat barbed lever arm so I injected hot glue and re installed.
No more problems.

Heat from a hot air gun might be your friend, Get the plastic knob soft and pull.
(depending on the kind of plastic used)

ssbogger · Feb 13, 2018

Hope this helps anyone that finds this thread. Apparently you are supposed to remove the old knob in order to put the new handle on supplied with the WR Long kit.
To do this I removed the joystick shaft and put it in a vise. You can then use a utility knife (razor blade) to make several passes down the length of the old knob. Once you are down to the metal the knob will be loose enough to screw off. Takes less than 10 min from removing the joystick shaft to having the new handle on. See pictures.