John Deere 4100 3 point not working

[Jdeere4210]

I am trying to fix my neighbors John Deere 4100. It sat for a couple months this summer and when he went to use it in the fall the three point hitch wouldn't raise or lower. When you move the lever nothing happens. The front loader and power steering work fine. I played with the rate of drop knob and still nothing. I changed hydraulic fluid and cleaned the screen. The linkage is in tact and the shaft going into the case turns when I move the lever but it doesn't seem to have much resistance to it. I took the link arms off to make sure that nothing is binding up. The arms are currently in the raised position. I feel that since there is not much resistance on the raise/lower lever that probably something inside the case must be the problem. I don't know what to try next. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[beenthere]

Is it outside or in a cold shed, or where it is warm temp?

:welcome: to TBN

 

[Egon]

Have all the controls been checked.

 

[Jdeere4210]

I have the tractor inside my garage, 55 degrees.

 

[Jdeere4210]

Egon, what do you mean have the controls been checked? The lever moves up and down freely.

 

[Bigfoot62]

Can't speak for Egon, but if the auxiliary hyd. valve is open, the lift won't operate.

 

[Jdeere4210]

What is the aux hydraulics valve?

 

[DFB]

Well the system relief valve is located underneath the rockshaft housing. There my be an odd chance that some foreign debris or a bad spring cause it to remain open and dump to sump. Fairly easy to remove clean and inspect.

Since you say have neither up or down control.

Then there is also the rockshaft control valve itself located under the seat at the front of housing that also has internal directional relief valves. They also dump to sump. This is what directs flow to raise lower and lock in position the lift arms by movement of the rockshaft cylinder.

Along with correct system pressure their also has to be proper pump flow
System pressure tests are normally run to isolate problems,

And are you saying it was known to be working ok when first parked?

Here's a diagram from JD parts online on the main relief valve

 

[Jdeere4210]

Yes worked perfect when parked and then didn't work when it was used next. Loader and power steering hydraulics work great. This is a gear model.

 

[Jdeere4210]

He has a 60" mowing deck on it. Pretty much just uses the tractor to cut grass.

 

[Egon]

Egon, what do you mean have the controls been checked? The lever moves up and down freely.

All the hydraulic controls & valves are in the proper position as well as quick connects all work properly. Maybe even fuse block?

Easy stuff to check

Anybody have access to parked tractor ??

 

[henksoer]

just to exclude some things....
it is normal there is no much resistance at the lever, so thats seems no problem.
You said the hitch is in the raised position. How do you know it will not raise?
are you sure the valve knob (you mentioned that you played with) is completely open / turned counterclockwise?
may be there is just a lack of weight on the lift links to lower it.

 

[Jdeere4210]

The arms appear to be all the way up. He says when he finishes mowing he raises the deck all the way when he takes it to the barn. I have played with the rate of drop know several times, all the way open, all the way closed, in between. No changes. I know on my 4210 that if the 3 point is all the way up I can pull the lever back just a little farther and it will move it just a little more. No hydraulic sound or movement on this one. I am just over 200 pounds and I put the lever to the down position and jumped on the link arms and nothing moved. I just don't know what to try next.

 

[henksoer]

Did you check the 60" mower deck is not blocked anywhere; for instance caused by a obstruction?
Because the deck is directly mechanically linked at the 3-point hitch

 

[Jdeere4210]

Yeah, we were able to get the deck off before i brought the tractor home. I even took the link arms off the back to make sure nothing was binding.

 

[henksoer]

have a look at this...
View attachment Tm1630 4100 troubleshooting hydraulics.pdf

 

[Jdeere4210]

Thanks. All the things that I haven't tried on that list are internal it looks like. I'm not sure how to go about checking them:

 

[beenthere]

Do you have the service technical manual for the 4100 ? May give you insight on what to check.

Or maybe have to take to a dealer.

Here is the troubleshooting chart for the 4100 from the service tech manual.

 

[henksoer]

see attached the relevant part of the technical manual
may be you have some homework to do (!) or go to the JD dealer
View attachment Tm1630 4100 HYDRAULICS.pdf

 

[Egon]

Don't know if this will help.


[video]http://manuals.deere.com/cceomview/OMLVU12593_F1/Output/OMLVU12593_F15.html#90796[/video]

On the operator control station is the SCV valve and the rate of drop lever properly positioned?
Is the mower lifted by the three point or does it have a separate cylinder?