Front-End Loader JD 521 Loader control problems

   / JD 521 Loader control problems #1  

Mike VS

Silver Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Messages
121
Location
Hillsboro WV
Tractor
JD 5300 w/ 521 Loader & JD X749
Hello everyone,
I have a JD 5300 tractor w/ a 521 loader that I bought a few years ago. Upon learning to use the loader I found that the joystick worked as follows: Pull back to raise the boom, push forward to lower the boom, move the stick one click right to tilt bucket up and push further to the right to tilt bucket down. Now I always thought that this was a stupid set up but lived with it until reading the manual that says it works in a standard format (joystick LEFT for bucket up, joystick RIGHT for bucket down). It also shows that there is a "quick dump" feature that is activated by pushing the joystick furthest right (what I am doing to tilt bucket up). I checked the hose connections and it appears they are correct. Also, it will not allow me to push the joystick to the left at all, only right those two clicks. Whats up? Thanks in advance!
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems #2  
I can't think of a single joystick that works that way.

If the joystick was set up correctly, the fwd motion cause loader arms to go down and if you push further, you go into float.

If you pull back, the loader arms raise.

With no hands on, the lever should be in neutral.

If you push the lever to the left, the bucket tilts up.

If you push the lever to the right, the bucket dumps, and if you have regen, you will have less pressure, less power. which is to the far right, . Some loader valves have the regen at the first position to the right, and slow dump to the far right.

Can you take off the boot and look at the linkage and move the lever and see if things are logical.

I am guessing someone screwed up the linkage.

You might look at the linkage on another JD-521 loader setup.

What is the name and model # on the valve?
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Thanks JJ,
My controls do everything you have mentioned except the stick moving left to move the bucket down. I agree with you that there is a problem with the linkage but when I remopved the boot everything looks fine. There are two cables; One for the arms and one for the bucket. The cable that controls the bucket only moves in an "up" direction and will not go down. I'm thinking that this is the problem, but it is not in the controler and must be in the control valve (that is buried under the tractor).
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems #4  
I agree with J_J as I've never seen a loader hyd valve that operates as you describe yours does. It would be interesting to know brand & model # of valve.
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems #5  
Try disconnecting the cable for the bucket at the valve. Then see what kind of movement you have with the joystick, will it move to the left? The right?
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Try disconnecting the cable for the bucket at the valve. Then see what kind of movement you have with the joystick, will it move to the left? The right?

Yup, did that. I took it all apart and the stick itself moves very freely. When I watch the cables themselves, the cable for the arms move up and down. The bucket cable however just moves up and further up. I think this is normal beacause of the "fast dump" feature, but I think the cable is also supposed to go down as well. The next thing is to check the valve where the cables attach and try to move it there...No easy job getting to it!
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems #7  
Mike VS,

Can you post a video of you operating the joystick lever?

If you remove the cables from the joystick , can you push the tilt spool into the valve and pull the spool out an equal amount. Of course the regen will have more movement.
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems #8  
Yup, did that. I took it all apart and the stick itself moves very freely. When I watch the cables themselves, the cable for the arms move up and down. The bucket cable however just moves up and further up. I think this is normal beacause of the "fast dump" feature, but I think the cable is also supposed to go down as well. The next thing is to check the valve where the cables attach and try to move it there...No easy job getting to it!

Will the joystick move left without the cable attached?
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Will the joystick move left without the cable attached?

Yes, very easily. It is the bucket cable that prevents it from going left.
 
   / JD 521 Loader control problems
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Mike VS,

Can you post a video of you operating the joystick lever?

If you remove the cables from the joystick , can you push the tilt spool into the valve and pull the spool out an equal amount. Of course the regen will have more movement.

Sorry JJ...I dont know how to do that. All it would show is me trying to push the lever left without success and the open/close of the bucket when I push right. As for the other question, what is a "tilt spool" and a "regen"? The two cables have a metal socket on each of their ends and the joystick has two opposing balls that fit tightly into those cable sockets (like a ball joint).
 
Last edited:
 
 
Top