X739 Snowblower attachment stopped lifting

[Gdarbo6844]

I was using my tractor to remove snow whe the snowblower attachment stopped lifting. I can still remove snow but can not lift the snowblower attachment. The chute turns with no problems and the augers work fine; just can’t lift the attachment. Any ideas why it would just stop working?

 

[ededic]

Disconnect and re-connect your hydraulic hoses.

 

[Gdarbo6844]

Disconnect and re-connect your hydraulic hoses.

Did that and still not working.

 

[leonz]

If you can put it in a warm place or you have a salamander space heater/torpedo heater you should heat the tractor and snowblower for a while to melt any ice buildup under the frame. Hopefully the cylinder is not bent.

 

[Gdarbo6844]

If you can put it in a warm place or you have a salamander space heater/torpedo heater you should heat the tractor and snowblower for a while to melt any ice buildup under the frame. Hopefully the cylinder is not bent.

I had it in my garage all day yesterday and "thawed it out. Still not working after that. I looked at the cylinder and no siggn of it being bent. Prior to it not working suddenly I did not hit anything hard or unusual.

It still has me stumped as to why.

BTW, when I move the lever for the snowblower, I do not hear any sound as if it was trying to move. I looked at all the links and everything is in place from the lever to the snowblower. The chute still works and that is run by hydraulics as well, although a different line.

 

[oldnslo]

Does your X7 have the valve that allows selection of front lift or 3 point hitch? From memory I think this directs flow from one to the other but not 100% positive though.

another thought are you sure the lever is actually moving the spool in the directional control valve?

 

[Deere Dude]

Can you switch hoses around. I mean hook the lift cylinder hoses to the chute ports to see if it is the cylinder or something else. More than likely the cylinder is fine.

 

[Cycledude]

What is a X379 ? Any pictures ?

 

[Gdarbo6844]

Does your X7 have the valve that allows selection of front lift or 3 point hitch? From memory I think this directs flow from one to the other but not 100% positive though.

another thought are you sure the lever is actually moving the spool in the directional control valve?

Not sure I am smart enough to understand the questions you are asking but I will do my best:

On your first question, I believe you are referring with the 3 point hitch, to the ability to attach a mower underneath or for front lift, that is where the snowblower goes. The valve you refer to is under the tractor and you turn it counter-clockwise when you attach the mower and clockwise when you attach the snowblower (front). Yes, I have done that.

On your second question, I do not know how to tell if the lever is moving the spool in the directional control valve. That may be my problem if I understand the purpose of the directional control valve (which I have no idea what it looks like or where that is). How can I tell and how would I fix that?

 

[Gdarbo6844]

What is a X379 ? Any pictures ?

Here is a picture:

 

[Gdarbo6844]

Can you switch hoses around. I mean hook the lift cylinder hoses to the chute ports to see if it is the cylinder or something else. More than likely the cylinder is fine.

I am reluctant to switch hoses around because they are two different types. I am concerned that the hoses to lift the snowblower may be rated for a higher pressure than the ones for the chute since the chute would not take a lot of effort and lifting the snowblower is a lot more effort. Is that s concern I should or should not have?

 

[oldnslo]

Lever moving the spool in the directional control. follow the linkage from the levers down to the control valve. The valve will hydraulic lines running to it also. The chute rotation will one spool and lift lower another. Both of these spools should move similar amount when you move the corresponding lever.

did you check to make sure the selector valve you turned has not been turned by hitting hard snow?

 

[Gdarbo6844]

Lever moving the spool in the directional control. follow the linkage from the levers down to the control valve. The valve will hydraulic lines running to it also. The chute rotation will one spool and lift lower another. Both of these spools should move similar amount when you move the corresponding lever.

did you check to make sure the selector valve you turned has not been turned by hitting hard snow?

On the selector valve, I did check and it was not accidently rotated. However, is it possible that there is air in the line? I ask because after I had this problem starting, I did a few YouTube searches and watched a video about taking off the snowblower and putting on the lawnmower. I had watched it last Spring to make the change over. When I watched it the other day, I saw where the narrator turned that selector valve and I remembered doing that last Spring but failed to do that in November when I switched the attachments. So, I went under the tractor and turned the valve. It was really hard to turn so I used vice grips to get a good handle on it. After trying to turn it clockwise, as seen in the video, and only getting maybe a half a turn, I thought, "well, maybe I am turning it the wrong way." I turned it counterclockwise until it stopped and then tried the attachment again. This time, as the video described "if you turn it the wrong way", you will see the chute move slowly at first and then quickly move to the full stop. I saw that, so I went back under and turned the valve all the way clockwise this time (and it was a lot easier to do it) and went back and tried the attachment again. This the time the chute moved quickly and smoothly, but the snowblower still did not lift. I suspect I did not have the lever completely closed while I used the lawn mower, or, during the service of my tractor by the local John Deere dealership, someone did not completely close the lever (it was serviced with the lawn mower attachment on the tractor). Either way, the valve is completely turned clockwise and the snowblower still does not lift.

 

[ruffdog]

Switch hoses and if the chute still works and it won't lift, lift cylinder seal probably bad.

 

[oldnslo]

Can you look under the tractor and see the lift cylinder and the related linkage? If yes try operating the lift lower function to see if the cylinder moves at all.

 

[ruffdog]

The blower lift cylinder is in the front and mounted on blower mount:

 

[leonz]

Hello Gdarbo6844,

The hoist cylinder hoses are the same size, did you match them color for color when attaching them????

 

[Deere Dude]

I am reluctant to switch hoses around because they are two different types. I am concerned that the hoses to lift the snowblower may be rated for a higher pressure than the ones for the chute since the chute would not take a lot of effort and lifting the snowblower is a lot more effort. Is that s concern I should or should not have?

There is only one pressure.

 

[oldnslo]

The blower lift cylinder is in the front and mounted on blower mount:

My bad you are 100% correct which should make observing the cylinder much easier. Do the hoses stiffen or move at all, etc..

 

[Gdarbo6844]

Sorry to be off this forum for a few days. Turns out the lift cylinder is the problem. I brought the tractor to my local John Deere dealer who will repair it. Fortunately, their Sales guy, who I have known for nearly 20 years, was there and said, "Greg, you are still under warranty for that so you don't need to buy parts and we will fix it." So, as some of you figured, it was the lift cylinder.

I just cannot thank everyone enough for all the great input. This is one of those rare forums for any item that I found actually useful and full of folks willing to help. Thank you all so much for your time and comments!!