3-Point Hitch 3-pt. jumps up and down with Post Hole Driller

[tractornewby]

I borrowed a 3-pt post hole driller (phd) this afternoon and attached it to my Mahindra 4500. When lifting the phd, the 3-pt went all the way up and appeared to get stuck there. I pushed the lowering level all the way forward to lower the phd, but it stayed lifted. I eventually found that if I pushed the phd left and right, I could get it down onto the ground. At times, though, the 3-pt. would bounce up and down all on it's own. I've been using my tractor as recently as yesterday with a box blade, lowering and raising it, with no problems at all. Any idea on what's causing this now that I put a phd on the 3-pt? I have about 15 holes to drill but trying to use this phd while my 3-pt bounced and gets stuck lifted and won't lower is crazy.

 

[hawkeye08]

Could it be your PTO shaft is too long and binding?

 

[tractornewby]

Good suggestion, but the 3-point bounced up and down even before I connected the PTO shaft to the tractor. In other words, I connected the phd to the 3-point, and then I tried adjusting the height of the phd to make it easier to get the PTO shaft connected to the tractor. While doing this, before connecting the PTO to the tractor, it exhibited the problem. Another strange thing is that I've borrowed this same phd before...several years ago, and didn't have any of these problems with it.

 

[tractornewby]

Problem resolved...I read the manual and learned about the other lever, "Draft Control", to use when lowering and raising a 3-pt implement. I've always kept the DC lever in place and used the Position Control (PC) lever to raise and lower my implements. After reading the manual this morning, I went out to my tractor to see where my DC lever was set. It was all the way back, which provides maximum lift height. When I was connecting the phd to the 3-pt. yesterday, I had my son on the tractor working the controls. I now have to wonder if he pulled the DC lever all the way back when I asked him to raise the 3-pt, rather than using the PC lever to raise the 3-pt. Anyway, after moving the DC lever forward a few inches, the 3-pt with the phd attached now responds as it should, going up and down when I pull/push the PC lever.

 

[Rickstir]

Thanks! I am getting ready to use my PHD for the first time. Good advice

 

[hawkeye08]

Problem resolved...I read the manual and learned about the other lever, "Draft Control", to use when lowering and raising a 3-pt implement. I've always kept the DC lever in place and used the Position Control (PC) lever to raise and lower my implements. After reading the manual this morning, I went out to my tractor to see where my DC lever was set. It was all the way back, which provides maximum lift height. When I was connecting the phd to the 3-pt. yesterday, I had my son on the tractor working the controls. I now have to wonder if he pulled the DC lever all the way back when I asked him to raise the 3-pt, rather than using the PC lever to raise the 3-pt. Anyway, after moving the DC lever forward a few inches, the 3-pt with the phd attached now responds as it should, going up and down when I pull/push the PC lever.

Glad you got it figured out without cost or injury, always a good thing.