JJohnson-HT
New User
Hey guys,
I just joined today but ive been checking in here off and on for the past month or so.
I just moved from a small neighborhood out into the country and I now have 5+ acres to maintain. My plan was to get a small tractor and a bush hog and finishing mower for the upkeep as to not abuse my riding mower. I also want to have a garden and just need a small tractor for general utility as well. I came across an older gentleman who had a Yanmar YM1500 with a 4 ft bush hog. We agreed to a trade of an old golf cart I had for the tractor and bush hog. So far, the tractor has been great. Mechanically, it runs like a top. I even just ordered and received today the water pump conversion kit from Hoye because it gets hot here and I want to avoid any issues. I'm good with engines. I grew up in the country and my dad always had tractors and I'm pretty familiar with them, but I don't know anything about hydraulics and I've run into an issue.
My 3 pt lift has suddenly become weak. Without a load, the arms lift real nice without any issues. With a load, not so much. If I stand on the arms, it will not lift me, though it's trying to. The engine does feel like it's under load, but there are no noticeable noises from the pump or control valve. If I give it a little head start by supporting my own body weight (200lbs) it will lift me all the way up when I drop all of my weight down on it just after it starts moving.
I can pinpoint when it happened. I was lifting the bush hog because I wanted to get it on my trailer. I lifted it with the intention of backing my trailer under it. I closed the lock valve thinking it would help to hold the weight of the bush hog and I didn't turn the tractor off. I don't remember bringing the lift arm lever down and back up with the tractor running, but I've convinced myself that I must have and maybe I dead headed the pump. (Ive learned all of this about the hydraulics since my issue arose and I've been reading about it.) I was strictly naive about hydraulics before this. Anyway, I got the bush hog loaded, parked the tractor and came back to it a couple of days later. I hooked it up to a box blade and it wouldn't pick it up.
Ive pulled the relief valve and as far as I can tell, nothing is wrong there. I pulled the hydraulic pump today, because I convinced myself that I sheared the pin, but nope, everything looks and feels perfect. If I lift the arms and close the lock valve and turn the tractor off the arms will support my weight without leaking down, so I feel the piston and seal are in good shape.
What should I be looking at next?
I just joined today but ive been checking in here off and on for the past month or so.
I just moved from a small neighborhood out into the country and I now have 5+ acres to maintain. My plan was to get a small tractor and a bush hog and finishing mower for the upkeep as to not abuse my riding mower. I also want to have a garden and just need a small tractor for general utility as well. I came across an older gentleman who had a Yanmar YM1500 with a 4 ft bush hog. We agreed to a trade of an old golf cart I had for the tractor and bush hog. So far, the tractor has been great. Mechanically, it runs like a top. I even just ordered and received today the water pump conversion kit from Hoye because it gets hot here and I want to avoid any issues. I'm good with engines. I grew up in the country and my dad always had tractors and I'm pretty familiar with them, but I don't know anything about hydraulics and I've run into an issue.
My 3 pt lift has suddenly become weak. Without a load, the arms lift real nice without any issues. With a load, not so much. If I stand on the arms, it will not lift me, though it's trying to. The engine does feel like it's under load, but there are no noticeable noises from the pump or control valve. If I give it a little head start by supporting my own body weight (200lbs) it will lift me all the way up when I drop all of my weight down on it just after it starts moving.
I can pinpoint when it happened. I was lifting the bush hog because I wanted to get it on my trailer. I lifted it with the intention of backing my trailer under it. I closed the lock valve thinking it would help to hold the weight of the bush hog and I didn't turn the tractor off. I don't remember bringing the lift arm lever down and back up with the tractor running, but I've convinced myself that I must have and maybe I dead headed the pump. (Ive learned all of this about the hydraulics since my issue arose and I've been reading about it.) I was strictly naive about hydraulics before this. Anyway, I got the bush hog loaded, parked the tractor and came back to it a couple of days later. I hooked it up to a box blade and it wouldn't pick it up.
Ive pulled the relief valve and as far as I can tell, nothing is wrong there. I pulled the hydraulic pump today, because I convinced myself that I sheared the pin, but nope, everything looks and feels perfect. If I lift the arms and close the lock valve and turn the tractor off the arms will support my weight without leaking down, so I feel the piston and seal are in good shape.
What should I be looking at next?
