JD 4300 Won't lift as much

[tateballard]

I have a 99' John Deere 4300 with a 300x loader on it. I lifted up a Befco finish mower to bring up to the house to work on it. Lifted it up no problem then I shut the tractor off and when I tried to pick it up again it was having trouble lifting it. It was straining pretty bad and the only way I could get it to lift was raising the rpms. The loader normally lifts stuff like that up no problem. Any input would really help.

 

[k0ua]

I have a 99' John Deere 4300 with a 300x loader on it. I lifted up a Befco finish mower to bring up to the house to work on it. Lifted it up no problem then I shut the tractor off and when I tried to pick it up again it was having trouble lifting it. It was straining pretty bad and the only way I could get it to lift was raising the rpms. The loader normally lifts stuff like that up no problem. Any input would really help.

This may seem off the wall, but try taking off all 4 of your quick connects to the loader and putting them back on one by one securely. Give it a try, it doesn't cost anything and it just may fix your problem. I would think a Befco finish mower would not weigh more than about 500 lbs. and you loader should lift a lot more than that.

 

[tateballard]

This may seem off the wall, but try taking off all 4 of your quick connects to the loader and putting them back on one by one securely. Give it a try, it doesn't cost anything and it just may fix your problem. I would think a Befco finish mower would not weigh more than about 500 lbs. and you loader should lift a lot more than that.

I tried it and didn't change anything.

 

[Wagtail]

What's the level of hydraulic fluid and when was the last time it was changed?

 

[tateballard]

What's the level of hydraulic fluid and when was the last time it was changed?

The reading on the sight glass is half full. It has around 800 hours and it was serviced at 400 hours by a John Deere dealer.

 

[Wagtail]

The reading on the sight glass is half full. It has around 800 hours and it was serviced at 400 hours by a John Deere dealer.

Well then it sounds like it's time to change the hydraulic fluid and change the hydraulic filter. It's probably due for a change at 800hrs anyway.

Your Owner Manual will show you the procedure and the amount of fluid required... suggest getting an inexpensive LARGE plastic 'storage bin' to catch all of the old fluid.

 

[dirttoys]

Don't know your specific tractor. Check no lever is locked (detent). Make sure the 3 point arms are not trying to lift.

Best,

ed

 

[oldnslo]

If I looked at correct parts diagram this model has a gear pump so dirttoys has a good suggestion on checking the 3 point lever position or ever lower 3 point some and see if makes a difference.

on some valve models there is a fitting that is used for power beyond. This fitting has an o-ring that can fail allowing oil to bypass to tank at reduced pressure which would limit your lifting capacity. I do not know if your model has this feature or not.

do you hear any noise like oil flowing- squirting when you attempt to raise the loader? Any portion of the loader valve get warm quicker?

Does curl also has reduced force?

 

[LD1]

Yup. Try slightly lowering your 3PH.

Sometimes when the lever is all the way up, it is still drying to raise (Deadheading) and makes a slow and weak loader as a result. If thats the case, the feedback linkage needs a slight adjustment

 

[tateballard]

If I looked at correct parts diagram this model has a gear pump so dirttoys has a good suggestion on checking the 3 point lever position or ever lower 3 point some and see if makes a difference.

on some valve models there is a fitting that is used for power beyond. This fitting has an o-ring that can fail allowing oil to bypass to tank at reduced pressure which would limit your lifting capacity. I do not know if your model has this feature or not.

do you hear any noise like oil flowing- squirting when you attempt to raise the loader? Any portion of the loader valve get warm quicker?

Does curl also has reduced force?

It sounds like the pump is deadheading when I attempt to lift or curl. It's weird, sometimes it will lift normal and other times it won't.