Joystick float adjustment

[SwampmanLA]

I use my 422 for mowing and am tired of having to hold the joystick forward to keep it in float mode. I've been all through the PT manual looking for how to adjust the tension on the joystick to keep it in float but can't find anything on the subject. Does anyone know 1) can it be adjusted 2) how to adjust it?

From the Swamp

 

[cqaigy2]

When you push all the way forward, on the joystick, it should stay in that position. You shouldn't have to hold it in float.

 

[Jimbrown]

It is held in float by a ball detent inside of the contoller. It is either stuck or broke. There is no adjustment.

 

[cqaigy2]

Maybe spray something in there like wd-40 to loosen things up.

 

[SwampmanLA]

Well maybe I was not clear enough. It goes into float mode and if you just sit there it will stay in float. But start moving and and the first bump it jumps out of float so I have to hold it forward mow in float. I was hoping I could adjust something so that it stays in float without holding it there.

Swamp

 

[KentT]

Well maybe I was not clear enough. It goes into float mode and if you just sit there it will stay in float. But start moving and and the first bump it jumps out of float so I have to hold it forward mow in float. I was hoping I could adjust something so that it stays in float without holding it there.

Swamp

There's no simple adjustment. It's the weight of the long, curved handle causing it to come out of float when you hit a bump.

BobRip has posts here somewhere of a mod he came up with -- basically a shaped piece of 2x2 on a bungee that he uses to brace the rod once it's put in the float position. I also made one, using his ideas. It works, but it's a bit of a hassle if you're constanting needing to lift and raise the mower. If you're mowing wide open spaces, it would work well for you.

 

[SwampmanLA]

Thanks for the info. Now I know I can't adjust something to fix it so I'll craft a bungee based fix for it. It kind of sucks to have to resort to that but at least I am good at that kind of stuff.

Swamp

 

[KentT]

Thanks for the info. Now I know I can't adjust something to fix it so I'll craft a bungee based fix for it. It kind of sucks to have to resort to that but at least I am good at that kind of stuff.

Swamp

Bob's post says there is an "available kit" that's supposed to help, but he hasn't tried it, nor have I. It's likely a stronger spring for the detent or something similar...

It's not cheap though, $50 or more as I recall.

 

[SwampmanLA]

Adding tension to the joystick with a bungee is too crude a solution for me. Also, repairing the control valve to keep the thing in float does not sound appealing to me either. So I came up with another approach. Why not add tension with a spring attached to the linkage assemble in the area of the control valve itself. It would be out of the way and could be easily adjusted by including a turnbuckle. Looks like a trip to Lowe's for parts is in order.

Swamp

 

[ernemats]

I talked to Terry about my joy stick jumping out of float several years ago and I'm sure he told me there was a way to adjust it but I don't remember how he said to do it.

 

[cqaigy2]

Adding tension to the joystick with a bungee is too crude a solution for me. Also, repairing the control valve to keep the thing in float does not sound appealing to me either. So I came up with another approach. Why not add tension with a spring attached to the linkage assemble in the area of the control valve itself. It would be out of the way and could be easily adjusted by including a turnbuckle. Looks like a trip to Lowe's for parts is in order.

Swamp

This is starting to sound interesting. I'm assuming some pictures are on the way as we speak.

 

[J_J]

I use my 422 for mowing and am tired of having to hold the joystick forward to keep it in float mode. I've been all through the PT manual looking for how to adjust the tension on the joystick to keep it in float but can't find anything on the subject. Does anyone know 1) can it be adjusted 2) how to adjust it?

From the Swamp

There is no adjustment as far as I know.

Let me suggest that you take the valve out and take it to a hydraulic technician and let him test the valve, and if it needs cleaning, let him do the job.

If you feel you are capable, you can dismantle the float position and clean or check for rust or what ever is causing it to slip out of detent.

This is a tricky operation, if you have never dismantled a spring loaded assemble. You would have to slowly release the spring, and observe and catch the steel balls, check every thing and put things back correctly.

It takes only about 30 min to take the joystick valve out. Be sure to cap or plug all lines.

Now, if you have bucks to spare, trailer the unit to a hydraulic shop, and let them test the unit on the machine, and do what is necessary to correct the situation.

 

[kmaz]

Hey swampman, ...If you click on my name , go to my public profile, look at threads ive started for a post entitled 425 mods and you should see a clean and simple solution.

Kris

 

[KMA]

Hey swampman, ...If you click on my name , go to my public profile, look at threads ive started for a post entitled 425 mods and you should see a clean and simple solution.

Kris

Or click here...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/99637-pt-425-mods.html

 

[SwampmanLA]

Or click here...

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/power-trac/99637-pt-425-mods.html

Thanks, I found the link and like what you did very much. I think I might go that route as it is easier and easier to build and control.

 

[toy]

I am glad that my float stays in when I use it, but I was looking at my valve[never took it apart] and noticed that when you look at the spools when you pull the lever on the quick attach and the curl I noticed that there was a flat cap on the other side of the valve in line with these spools. Now on the valve with the float spool I noticed that the cap on that one extended down a little, enough so that when you put it in float the end of the spool would go down in that cap. I also noticed that there is what appears to be two bolts screwed into the side of that cap and the bolts were straight across from each other. If I was having the problem of my machine kicking out of float I would call Terry and ask him if the springs that hold the detent in was under those two bolts. If that is where the springs are which I beleive it is, I would ask him what to expect if I took those two bolts out. If it is as I expect it is I would clean out the deck of my machine real good and put a clean rag over the floor to catch anything that might fall out to make it easier to find the parts if I dropped one. Some have said that the part that is pushed into the detent is a ball bearing, but I have seen them that looked like an arrow except the point is rounded and the spring pushed it into the detent. Remember that I said that I haven't took mine apart but from the looks of it I beleive that the springs fit around the two bolts and up against the part that goes into the detent. I would see if I could get some thin shims to put between the spring and the head of the bolts to put more tension on the spring to make it more forcefull to push the ball bearing or pin into the detent. Since I haven't had that problem and have never taken mine apart I can't say that this is how to fix the problem but this is where I would start if I was wanting to fix the problem. Another thing might work is to stretch the spring slightly. If it has two springs one on each side I would try to shim it equally on each side to keep the tension from being one sided and causing wear on the spool and valve block. Terry might send you some shims if my thoughts is right or you might get some shims from an auto parts place or ag store.

 

[J_J]

Toy, Swampmanla

Go to this site and click on parts manual for the LVR loader valve. This valve has float and shows the parts. LVR loader valve, parts manual, page 7 It should be similar to the PT joystick valve.

Hydraulic Loader Valves

 

[toy]

Toy, Swampmanla

Go to this site and click on parts manual for the LVR loader valve. This valve has float and shows the parts. LVR loader valve, parts manual, page 7 It should be similar to the PT joystick valve.

Hydraulic Loader Valves

jj I looked at the picture of the detent on the valve. I have dial up and it is so slow that my computer and I both go to sleep waiting on it to down load, you lucky folks that have high speed internet. I long for the day that I learn to enjoy watching paint dry or we get high speed internet. Enough of that now JJ on the valve that you show it has an oval sleeve, on the valve that is on mine at least, there is a bolt going into both ends of that oval [not talking about the two bolts that bolt it to the valve block] if you can find one that looks like that on the net could you post it I beleive the two steel balls are pushed in by springs that are under those bolts it would be interesting to see if that is true. JJ I enjoy reading your posts I beleive you said once that you were in the Navy my brother was in the Navy served on Uss Constellation during Vietnam War. If you can find one that might tell us what brand valve block they used on ours and seeing how the parts fit together would help. Thanks.

 

[woodlandfarms]

JJ and everyone else

Are you surmising that PT uses Prince Valves for its joystick control? I ask only to have a parts source and such.

Carl

 

[J_J]

JJ and everyone else

Are you surmising that PT uses Prince Valves for its joystick control? I ask only to have a parts source and such.

Carl

Carl. No, I don't think they are using Prince valves. Probably some Italian valve they got cheap. This picture was to show how a detent might work. There is no adjustment, you just have to clean or replace parts for it to work.