case 400 hydraulic problems

[glennster]

helping a neighbor resurect his dads 400 case gasser. sat in the barn for 20 some years. changed all the fluids, a little work here and there, and finally got it running. i believe it is a 410 model as it is a narrow front gas tractor has an eagle hitch and one set of rear remotes. the hydraulic control levers are stuck in the neutral center position. dropped the linkages off and the levers move freely. removed the inspection cover on the rear end above the pto, and the linkage has about 1/4 inch movement either way. no rust in there, pretty clean considering. feels almost like there is some type of stop bolt or safety stop blocking movement. neither hitch control or remove lever will operate. any ideas?? he does have a 2nd 400, identical to this tractor, not running either, and those controls are stuck too.
 

[Adirondack case guy]

Glenster,
I presume you removed the little cover, about the size of a cell phone. The control shafts should be odvious to you, One inside the other and splined on the ends. The little arms on the splines engage the spools and move them left to right. It sounds like they are stuck. Try freeing them. On both sides are the manifolds where the hoses hook. If necessary you can remove the 3/8" bolts and tap on the ends of the spools. The gaskets are waxpaper like, and I assume they are still available. The big vertical Cap Nut houses the relief valve.
Hope this helps.
Loren
 

[glennster]

loren, thanks for the help. he has the original owners manual and an i+t manual, both both were pretty vague. i did have the cover off and saw the little arms. like you said, the spools must be stuck. have to work on them some more. also, when engaging the pto , the shaft has some in and out play in it. about half an inch. is this normal? if need be, he has a parts 400 at another farm we could get the pto out of if need be. tia, glenn
 

[casecollectorsc]

Water in the hyd. oil will make them set up.
 

[Roger S]

I agree it sounds like the spools are stuck. If you remove the swivel couplers, a spring, steel ball, and 3/16 pin,(use a magnet), you can stick a pin punch in the hole and tap on the spool valve. Do this from both ends, and oil the spool inside from the plate you took off. Don"t use the levers to free it, the upper lever likes to break if you force it. Keep the pins you removed in the same location, they are all different lengths. I"ve had good luck getting them freed up this way. Good luck!