Front Loader Issues

[Ed Strubinger]

I’ve got a Bush Hog 2400 front loader on my 66 Ford 4000. The problem is that the function of the loader is hampered by both the weight and/or position of the 3 point hitch. I’m not a mechanic, please bear with me when I try to explain my problem.

When the 3 point hitch has no attachments on it and is in the upward most position the loader will “hesitate” as I either raise or lower it. The same “hesitation” will occur when I swivel the bucket on its pivot. If I then lower the 3 point hitch position to where the A Arms are about half way down, however, the loader and bucket will work just fine, no problems. When I use the word “hesitate” I mean to say that it’s as if the loader/bucket are catching on something momentarily and then break free.

If I’ve attached a very heavy implement onto the 3 point hitch, however, it doesn’t matter what position the hitch position is in, the loader and bucket will malfunction as I’ve noted immediately above.

I’ve had the hydraulic control valves replaced that operate the loader and that made no difference. I’ve also bypassed the valve under the seat that formerly switched operation between the loader and hitch. Now both the loader and the hitch operate together.

A mechanic said it seemed likely to him that there is an internal hydraulic leak and that somebody needs to tear into the tractor hydraulics and use special hydraulic test equipment to find the problem. The mechanic thinks it’s probably a faulty valve.

Does this seem the right answer and best route to take?

 

[john_Bud]

I am no expert on this. Guys like ZANE, Old or Soundguy are. But, it sounds like the cylinder in the 3pt has a spot where it is leaking. Might be bleeding off pressure ?

Just my guess!

jb

 

[Anonymous-0]

I assume the loader is working of the tractor hydraulics threw auxilary valve. This could be caused by dirty hydraulic oil [crud in the resivor], a bad valve blow by at the pump or maybe blowed O-rings under the auxilary valve. I'm no expert on hydraulics either. Like the other guy Zane or Dell probably know more about it. John

 

[corvetteguy]

It sounds like you are using the tractor internals
for the hydraulic operation of the FEL.
If so I have to chain down both rear lift
arms to the rear end to have the front work.

If you have a front mounted pump that is another issue.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Corvette Guy, you must have a 9-2- or 8N and yes you do have to chain the lift arms down on these to run a frontend loader off the tractor hydraulics. But on Jubilees and larger ford tractors they have live hydraulics and a auxliary valve to run the loaders off the tractor hydraulics and chianing the lift arms is not required. You run your loader off the 3 point lever and the jubilee and larger fords have another valve under the front of the seat to run the loader off the tractor hydraulics. John

 

[RodinNS]

I'm not completly familiar with the valving arrangment on the 4000 internally... I'm much more familiar with the later 10/30/40 series stuff.... so witht hat in mind, take this with a grain of salt.
I would expect that there is an unload valve hanging in there and that is why the response is slow. That could be the result of dirt or grit from something like the brakes going to pieces. I'd start by changing the oil. If that doesn't help, I'd pull the lift cover and go through it completly repairing and replacing anything that looks suspect.
It's hard to suggest much mroe than that without knowing exactly how the loader is plumbed to the tractor. There's several different ways to plumb a loader to these tractors and none of them really any good other than adding a front pump so that the loader has it's own self contained hydraulic system...

I think I would reinstall that Aux Services Control valve (ASC) under the seat again and hook it up so that you can switch back and forth again. It could be quite helpful in trouble shooting this problem too. It would at the very least tell you for certain if the problem is in the loader or the tractor.

BTW, even up into the 10 series or later, if somebody wanted to do a cheap botch job of installing a loader, it could be done is such a way that required chaining the lift arms down and using the ASC valve port to supply oil for lifting while the quadrant lever was raised. You'd have to work hard at being that stupid, but it could be done.

Rod

 

[souNdguy]

John.. there are INDEED times when you can chain the lift arms down on the hundred series to use a laoder. For instance.. say you didn't want to buy an 800$ hyd valve that installs on the lift cover, but instead wanted to use your 120$ log splitter valve. You would tap fluid off the blank option cover on the lift cover, chain the lift arms down somewhwere before they reach macx travel, and then lift the 3pt handle.. oil is then forced out that blank option port plug that yuo have plumbed to your splitter valve. Then the return from the splitter valve can be dumped back into the hyd fill cap by brazing a barb fitting onthe cap and running a low pressure hose to it from the return port ont he splitter valve.. then yuo could use the splitter valve for DA hyds loaders.

If you had a trip loader with SA hyd lift.. you wouldn't need a valve at all.. just plumb that port under the seat to the lift cyl... then pull 3pt handle to lift.. release handle to drop.

I'm with Rod... I'd reinstall that aux service valve and then get to troubleshooting the system.

It's nice to be able to use 3pt AND hydy remotes at the same time.. not either / or.

soundguy