Three point hitch draft control M4700

[Complete Turf Care]

Okay. I've found the threaded rod. I think mine is slightly different than the one you've shown because mine is a M4700, instead of an MX4700. However, I was able to adjust it and I can easily tell a difference in how things react when I move the levers.
I didn't have a 100lb weight so I tried standing on the lower links. I'm about 200 lbs. I'll do some more adjusting when I have more time. I could not unscrew the upper part of the threaded rod, so I removed the cotter pin and adjusted only the lower part.
It looks like where the lower part of the rod connects, may have gotten bent, which would throw it out of adjustment.

 

[ptsg]

Okay. I've found the threaded rod. I think mine is slightly different than the one you've shown because mine is a M4700, instead of an MX4700. However, I was able to adjust it and I can easily tell a difference in how things react when I move the levers.
I didn't have a 100lb weight so I tried standing on the lower links. I'm about 200 lbs. I'll do some more adjusting when I have more time. I could not unscrew the upper part of the threaded rod, so I removed the cotter pin and adjusted only the lower part.
It looks like where the lower part of the rod connects, may have gotten bent, which would throw it out of adjustment. View attachment 718217

The flat bar piece that attaches the top link bracket to the rod looks twisted to me. If that's indeed the case, then it would throw the entire adjustment off and most likely cause the issue you're getting now.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Here is the linkage in a parts breakdown. The linkage would be parts 190 - 270. I'll work on it more when I have more time.

 

[sixdogs]

The flat bar piece that attaches the top link bracket to the rod looks twisted to me. If that's indeed the case, then it would throw the entire adjustment off and most likely cause the issue you're getting now.

Good thinking. The easiest answer is indeed to check to see if anything is bent before moving on to an adjustment.

 

[JWR]

Sixdogs may be right. He's showing you the diagrams and he has the direct experience with this machine. I do not own one.

Still, before you go through all that adjustment process, go find out why you cannot turn the lowering rate knob. Fix that first. Then if need be you can come back to this process.

 

[sixdogs]

Okay. I've found the threaded rod. I think mine is slightly different than the one you've shown because mine is a M4700, instead of an MX4700. However, I was able to adjust it and I can easily tell a difference in how things react when I move the levers.
I didn't have a 100lb weight so I tried standing on the lower links. I'm about 200 lbs. I'll do some more adjusting when I have more time. I could not unscrew the upper part of the threaded rod, so I removed the cotter pin and adjusted only the lower part.
It looks like where the lower part of the rod connects, may have gotten bent, which would throw it out of adjustment. View attachment 718217

I think that one nut is LH and one RH. I'll bet you are tightening rather than loosening the nut in question. That should easily come loose. Look at the threads and compare to be certain.

Sounds like you are onto a solution.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I think that one nut is LH and one RH. I'll bet you are tightening rather than loosening the nut in question. That should easily come loose. Look at the threads and compare to be certain.

Sounds like you are onto a solution.

You are probably right. I bet I was trying to tighten instead of loosen. I would be more comfortable to adjust with the threaded rod, than to try bending the flat bar back into place and risk breaking it off.

I think we are getting close to resolving this issue. I want to get the 'lowering rate knob' to turn, but I'm afraid to twist it off. I'll look at it again when I get time.

Thanks to all who have offered suggestions. I feel so much better if this is just an adjustment issue and not something much more serious and expensive. I'd hate to know how much this would have cost me if I had sent it to a dealer.....

For those of you who have offered suggestions, I'll buy you a beer next time I see you in a bar. And sixdogs, I'll buy you 2 beers.

 

[sixdogs]

Thanks.

On the lowering knob, put some penetrating oil on it and take your time or you will snap something off. Unless you know when to say when, soak it multiple times and come back to it in a month or two.

 

[JWR]

Thanks.

On the lowering knob, put some penetrating oil on it and take your time or you will snap something off. Unless you know when to say when, soak it multiple times and come back to it in a month or two.

Can't hurt to try that but it is probably a mechanism buried below the knob that is frozen/stuck, not the knob or shaft it is mounted on itself. And yes, don't create new problems by putting too much force on it and breaking it off.

 

[sixdogs]

Did this have a happy ending and is the problem fixed?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Did this have a happy ending and is the problem fixed?

Sorry, I have not been able to get back on it. It will probably be a couple of weeks before I can work on it, because I leave Friday for a week of hunting in Texas

I will certainly update when I do get it resolved.

 

[sixdogs]

That you. Hopefully an easy fix.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

I was able to work with it a little yesterday. I have not resolved the issue. Sixdogs was right about the threads being left handed on the upper side of the threaded rod.

I adjusted the threaded rod to several different positions and I even bent the flat bar a bit, but I was never able to get the 'position control' lever to move anything. I finally adjusted it so that when the draft control lever is all the way up/back, I do not hear a strain on the tractor hydraulic system. I'm not sure if this is the best adjustment, because I did not have an implement attached.

I did not try doing anything with the 'lowering speed knob' yet.

 

[sixdogs]

Try the 100 lb weight on the 3pt lift arms as shown in the instructions I sent. I don't think you can guesstimate a close enough position. I can't recall but think I tried. Most front weights for tractors are 100 lb and I just tied mine to the lift arms.

 

[Complete Turf Care]

Just to update everyone, I still have not resolved this issue. A few days ago, I hooked this tractor up to an 8' disk which is fairly heavy. It would not lift off the ground, until I adjusted the linkage a bit. Then I could get it to go up and down and used it for a few hours.

The position lever still does not do anything.

I never did get the "lowering speed knob" to turn. I never did try turning it.

 

[JWR]

Thanks.

On the lowering knob, put some penetrating oil on it and take your time or you will snap something off. Unless you know when to say when, soak it multiple times and come back to it in a month or two.

And you need to see if there is a load or something putting stress on that lowering knob. Until you get to the bottom of that you are just tiptoeing around ways to twist it off. It may be difficult to get to where you can see the cam or whatever the lowering knob is trying to turn.

 

[sixdogs]

Just to update everyone, I still have not resolved this issue. A few days ago, I hooked this tractor up to an 8' disk which is fairly heavy. It would not lift off the ground, until I adjusted the linkage a bit. Then I could get it to go up and down and used it for a few hours.

The position lever still does not do anything.

I never did get the "lowering speed knob" to turn. I never did try turning it.

You might want to be careful tinkering without reading the instructions. I don't know much but when I installed my draft control I was able to get the hydraulics to make that pressure squeal. That means something is not right and something could get damaged. As I worked through the instructions everything came out fine.

If your position control doesn't do anything, something is not right and I know there is a relationship between draft and position control. When I installed mine, my position control did not work as I was first adjusting things but it worked right by the time I was done. Be careful you don't screw something up by just guessing.

 

[JWR]

Just to update everyone, I still have not resolved this issue. A few days ago, I hooked this tractor up to an 8' disk which is fairly heavy. It would not lift off the ground, until I adjusted the linkage a bit. Then I could get it to go up and down and used it for a few hours.

The position lever still does not do anything.

I never did get the "lowering speed knob" to turn. I never did try turning it.

So has this machine ever been to a dealer or Kubota mechanic while you owned it?

 

[Complete Turf Care]

So has this machine ever been to a dealer or Kubota mechanic while you owned it?

No it has not. It is one of 3 tractors that I currently own and it is used the least of the 3. I am using it lately on a bigger job I'm working on, but it will mostly be used to pull a dump wagon and not for the 3 point hitch.

 

[JWR]

Understand... it is useful, has a 3pt lift issue but is not your highest priority.

As I had said earlier once you get the "lowering speed knob" unstuck and that fixed I'm betting the Position Control and Draft Control situation will be much different. I had a similar problem (lowering speed control stuck) on a BX2200 smaller Kubota, took it to a very close-by dealer service dept and they had the thing loose and lubricated with less than an hour labor. They were able to put it up on a lift and rummage around underneath in ways I just could not at home.