Tractor Had the Hiccups

[aledobud]

I bush hogged about an hour this morning on my 1533 and after I finished, I was idling a little before cutting off the tractor. The tractor started doing a little jump every few seconds. Both the cutter and the loader would jump. It didn't matter what RPM. I seems more like some kind of hydraulic surge rather than an engine miss. I cut off the tractor, re-started and the jumping stopped. Any idea what causes this? I googled the symptoms and all I read was a little different from what I was seeing. I have a video, but couldn't upload it. If it repeats, I'll contact the dealer.

 

[Sysop]

Best bet would be to upload it to youtube or similar, then provide the link here.

 

[aledobud]

Here is the video:

 

[kthompson]

Wife's family had a Ford 601, 1962 year bought. Those tractors had this so common think it was like about 12 a minute was called normal. Do not remember the exact reason other than the issue was with the seals for the 3 pth. It is possible an issue with the lift cyl seals. Have you checked your oil level?

 

[Spanner]

Watch the rear implement and notice it drops slightly then the tractors position control activates to reset the lift you have selected.
I think if you set the mower down on the ground the hiccuping stops?

 

[k0ua]

Yep, you have a problem with the 3pt leaking down, and it is a bad one. The position control returns the cutter back to the original position after the leak down.

I have seen this in a lot of old tractors with worn out 3pt valves. BUT your tractor is near new. It should not do this. It might be a piece of debris caught in the valve. In any case, this tractor needs to be loaded on a trailer and returned to the dealer.

 

[Sysop]

^^ what he said...

 

[aledobud]

Would it be the position control valve that is leaking, which I think is external, or a bigger problem inside the case? Also, any idea why it would have stopped doing this after I shut off the tractor then re-started?

I'm going to use the tractor until it consistently repeats before I take it in. My experience with dealer shops is they have to make it happen to believe there is a problem. I had to take my 3 month old Toyota Tundra in three times to convince them my idler pulley needed replacing.

 

[k0ua]

Would it be the position control valve that is leaking, which I think is external, or a bigger problem inside the case? Also, any idea why it would have stopped doing this after I shut off the tractor then re-started?

I'm going to use the tractor until it consistently repeats before I take it in. My experience with dealer shops is they have to make it happen to believe there is a problem. I had to take my 3 month old Toyota Tundra in three times to convince them my idler pulley needed replacing.

are you sure it has stopped? Did your raise the 3pt with the cutter (weight) on the 3pt?

Perhaps maybe a piece of debris has passed thru the valve and it is OK now.. All hydraulic valves leak. It is just a matter of how much. The job of the position control is to maintain the position of the implement on the 3pt as the valve or the single acting cylinder bleeds down and the 3pt lowers slightly. The feedback mechanism of the position control opens the valve to apply flow to the cylinder to bring it back to where it was. This maybe occurs once every few minutes in a good new system. So rarely that you don't notice it. But your video seemed like in 5 seconds there was enough leakdown that the position control was operating the valve to restore position. And that ain't good.

 

[k0ua]

Also the problem would likely be worse after the oil is hot, not when the oil is cold. Hot oil is thinner and metal to metal valves would likely leak a bit more when hot. As I said above they ALL leak, but it is a matter of degree.

 

[k0ua]

Next question, Do you have "mixed draft" controls? Do you have a draft control as well as a position control lever? If so is the draft control all the way forward in "deep".

 

[aledobud]

This tractor only has position control, no draft. I have the lower stop set for the shredder and I leave it where it is between uses, so the lift is never completely "released". I have done that on other tractors, so I assume that shouldn't cause any issues. I am hoping it was caused by some type of debris. As I had mentioned earlier, I killed the tractor, then restarted, and it wasn't jumping anymore. I may change the hydraulic fluid just in case. I am a long way form the recommended 50 hour first change. If it does start doing it again after the next use (probably next weekend) it's off to the dealer.

 

[Spanner]

This tractor only has position control, no draft. I have the lower stop set for the shredder and I leave it where it is between uses, so the lift is never completely "released". I have done that on other tractors, so I assume that shouldn't cause any issues.

Ummm I was taught that you should always set your implement down on the ground when the engine is turned off.

:2cents:

 

[clevalley]

Like K0ua said - It looks like the 3 point is leaking down and resetting to the raised setting.

With the cutter raised turn the tractor off and see if it starts to lower on its own. If you stand there and watch it drop this is what's going on and have the dealer fix it. It WILL leak down over a period of hours and the cutter will drop but not over a period of seconds or minutes, especially on a new tractor.

If it is not leaking down with the tractor turned off, name is Christine and call the dealer, something else is going on.

 

[clevalley]

Ummm I was taught that you should always set your implement down on the ground when the engine is turned off.

:2cents:

Same here. You also quickly learn to raise them before you take off! :laughing:

 

[aledobud]

Thanks for the reply's. I'll do a more thorough assessment this weekend and post an update.

 

[Wagtail]

Same here. You also quickly learn to raise them before you take off! :laughing:

Yeah, until you do it again. :duh:

Fortunately I've only ever done this with my ballast-box; which does make a nice, impromptu, walking path... I guess.

 

[kthompson]

Ummm I was taught that you should always set your implement down on the ground when the engine is turned off.

:2cents:

I will let the implement down, cut off the tractor and raise the lever to the up position before getting off the tractor. Realize that puts some load on the tractor cranking but, no more dragging implement.

 

[aledobud]

An update on the 3PT Lift. Checked the fluid before using and was full. Shredded for a while with no issues, so whatever happened has not recurred. I had a new annoyance today though. I was turning on a slight down hill and the tractor felt like it was sliding in mud. I looked down and the right wheel was not responding to steering input. Upon inspection, the tie rod had popped out. That should NOT happen. Either there was no castle nut put on or no cotter pin. Thankfully no damage to the tie rod as far as I can tell. Went to the dealer and of course they don't have the nut, M16, in stock. Ordering one. I should have asked that they take one off a tractor on the yard. Not happy with Mahindra right now.

 

[rider7767]

It seems your load sensing valve is out of adjustment or defective. I would show the video to your dealer. I had a different brand of tractor which did almost the same thing. It it got worse with time.