Hydraulics not working on JD X495 Garden Tractor Deck

[cowgirlup19]

Hello everyone,

I have a 2005 JD X495 Garden Tractor with a JD62c mowing deck that has been working great. All of a sudden mowing the other day, I attempted to lower my deck and nothing but the screeching noise that the lever gives when you press it forward to raise the deck and turn the knob for the height. (dealerships say this noise is suppose to be). That's good because it has always made the noise. We have no leaks anywhere where the tractor is stored on concrete and have changed the hydraulic fluid and filter. Does anyone know what to look for and/or what the problem could be? One JD dealer said the valve might be stuck but suddenly changed his mind when he found it was still making the screeching sound. (Power steering is working great). The dealer said it could run into some major bucks trying to find the problem. (out of warranty) Please help!

 

[beenthere]

I attempted to lower my deck and nothing but the screeching noise that the lever gives when you press it forward to raise the deck and turn the knob for the height.

From that sentence, sounds like you are pushing forward to raise the deck. Pull back (I believe) on the lever to raise the deck.

Maybe that was just a mistatement and you are pulling back.

Just needed to clear that detail up.

Stick with us, as I can't see why it should run into big bucks.

 

[cowgirlup19]

From that sentence, sounds like you are pushing forward to raise the deck. Pull back (I believe) on the lever to raise the deck.

Maybe that was just a mistatement and you are pulling back.

Just needed to clear that detail up.

Stick with us, as I can't see why it should run into big bucks.

Thanks, and yes that is definitely a mistatement. What I should have said is while either pulling back or pressing forward the deck will not raise or lower.

The major bucks come in because noone at the dealership according to their service dept. seems to know what it could be and said it will take several hours to tear it down to find the problem according to the service dept. mgr. Grrrrrrrr. He said "it will cost some major bucks!" So, I'm thinking thousands??? Seems like this happened once before right after I purchased the tractor (moved from that State and dealership) and something froze up, but I can't think what it was or what we did to unfreeze it. (I think stuck is the word but they referred to it as "froze up"). Thanks, again!

 

[beenthere]

Did it have a snow blower or blade on it for the winter time?

Another question...can you see the hyd. cylinder move back and forth when the top lever is pushed and pulled? Should be visible just under the seat from the rear.

 

[beenthere]

Here is a pic of the hydraulics (an earlier model, but am sure yours is very similar). The hyd. cylinder I referred to that lifts the deck is item no. 6. Let us know if it moves when operating the top lever.

 

[mjncad]

Even if you have no intention of doing repairs yourself; I'd suggest you get the 'shop manual', now called 'technical manual' in our politically correct world.

JD writes a good manual with troubleshooting procedures. It may be a simple fix, or if its something potentially expensive you'll have an idea what is involved when the service department tells you it's a $3k repair to fix the whosiwhatsit because the hongo went hinky due to a bad framastat.

Get the CD as its half the cost of the paper manual, and you can print off what you need.

Knowledge is power.

 

[J_J]

Why not put a gage in the lift circuit and see if you have pressure. If you have pressure, and the valve is going into relief, then the cyl and mounting setup is binding, and since the cylinder can't move, it goes into relief. Relief is activated when the pump can not overcome the resistance in the fluid path. You might remove the cylinder, and see if it moves by pushing and pulling.