Ford 601 Hydraulics died

[swampdog]

Unloaded tractor today with bush hog attached and started cutting and after about 100yds noticed was cutting to low and went to raise the mower and it wouldn't lift. In the end I have no lift at all. I removed the bush hog and can there is no pressure at all on the lifting arms.I can move them up and down freely by hand with the tractor running. I did the obvious and checked the fluid level which is just fine. The hydro was working when I removed the tractor from the trailer. I don't really know what to look for next. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[J_J]

Do you have the 3pt lever all the way up? You may have the 3pt valve in relief, or some tractors use the 3pt lever in the max up position to feed a aux outlet at the rear.

Lower the 3pt lever a little and see if it makes any difference.

Install a hyd gage and use it to monitor and trouble shoot the hyd system.

 

[Soundguy]

here we go:

1, check fluid at the lil dipstick on the left side near the pto engage lever.

if fluid lievel is good, remove bleed plug in top side of hydro pump and crank engine over and see if you get oil there.. if no oil.. go ahead and start up.. but be ready to shut down fast... if oil there, then put plug back in, and remove plug in 3x5 cover under seat and check for same. if there is a valve installed in place of the cover, make sure it is not engaged as that will divert oil away from the 3pt. either a diverter or a remote.. etc.

if oil there, but no lift, try moving lil 3" lever into draft mode and see if hyds now work. if so.. time to buy the 14$ oring and gasket kit for the top cover and take her apart.. use the alt adjustment procedures outlined in the fo-20 manual to adjust the lift. Also.. take a look at the cam follower pin and the cam.. it may be worn clean thru or way down. the pin is preplaceable.. the cam can be welded up and ground back down. usually it wears only in half profile, so there will be a witness edge there as a guide when welding up and grinding down.

ps.. it's 100% normal to be able to lift the lift arms by hand.. they are not hard coupled to the SA lift cyl.. rather a dogbone rides in a cup side of the 3pt lift piston... i also reccomend replacing the piston oring and backup washer.. and all the orings.. etc.

now.. if no oil at the pump when you remove the plug, it may have lost prime.. could be a leak at the suction side of the plumbing.. use an air gun ith a rubber tip and put a few psi air to the dipstick port while the engine is running and the lift control is is in the up position.

lastly.. check to see if the trans is overfull, if you see the hyds sump is low.

post back..

soundguy

soundguy

 

[swampdog]

I had a chance to look at it tonight. First a little history, Saturday when the hydro quit working I did remove the allen screw on the pump and there was no fluid there so I filled it up and still no hydro working. Left it alone until tonight and started up the tractor and everything was working. The only thing was that while raising the lift it would "stutter" on the way up after raising and lowering a few times it smoothed out and everything is working normal. What happened? I guess it lost its prime? How can it do that while I am using it? Is this a sign of a more serious problem?

 

[Soundguy]

the stuttering could have been sticky pistons or repriming. the loss of hyds was likely related.

if it does it again, I'd put new orings in the plumbing between the pump and housing.. the kit is a whopping 13$ for all orings for the hyds..

if that don't help, post back

ps.. what type of oil are you using in the hyds? UTF fluid or??

soundguy

 

[swampdog]

I just replaced all the fluid recently and I am using UTF.

 

[Soundguy]

just making sure not gear oil

 

[swampdog]

Just bought the seal kit($9), and I have a few questions before getting started. Do I have to drain the fluid? Where do I start,There are lots of seals and O rings in the kit. Will it be obvious where they go based on their size? A little upfront advice would help eliminate questions down the road.

 

[Soundguy]

I personally would service AT LEAST the hyds sump if pulling hte top cover as you will likely drop in some debr while cleaning the top deck.

oring sizes will match up...

soundguy