3pt hitch drops too low, gets stuck.

[shaeff]

:laughing::laughing: Harry Ferguson's team thought of everything I guess! :thumbsup: Even the TE series and related models - 8N & 9N etc had that feature included on a very similar centre housing, although a shouldered version was used. I think it's shown in Bareco's pic. Non-genuine pins are very low-cost - just like most parts for these legendary models.

Yep I guess so! Smart bunch of engineers! It's too bad my originals are gone, eventually I'll have to set it up like that again.

The hinged area locates neatly in the centre mounting hole - deliberately wider to maintain the pin's strength. It should be tethered with a chain to a tag on one LH axle housing bolt, as should its lynch pin on the RH side. A pair of set-length stay-bars to hold the lower link arms at a set height - usually used with a nine-or eleven-hole flat drawbar - also mount there. I'm also puzzled at why the 3PL gets stuck down. I'm also surprised someone hasn't chimed in with the solution, usually from also having had the same issue. That said, I've never heard of it before.

After I realized why the pin is supposed to be hinged, I also noticed that the center eyelet is wider and assumed it was to support the hinged section. It was one of those "aha!" moments!

I'm still at a loss why it gets stuck down, I'm going to read through the service manual to see if anything jumps out at me. I was going to spend an hour or so yesterday morning fabricating some brackets for the limiter chains but we got a 6" drop of snow. Even if it doesn't prevent my issue the limiter chains will make it easy to drop the hitch to the same height while plowing every time without messing with position control too much.

On a side note, I drive out my right side main loader arm bolt in the dark last night, it wouldn't take grease. The hole was well plugged to the point I couldn't even see it. I cleaned the bolt with some solvent and a brass wire brush, found the hole, cleared it, and put it back together without too much of an issue. Takes grease perfectly now and took 30, yes 30 pumps of grease when finished!

 

[PatrickS2222]

I'm still at a loss why it gets stuck down, I'm going to read through the service manual to see if anything jumps out at me. I was going to spend an hour or so yesterday morning fabricating some brackets for the limiter chains but we got a 6" drop of snow. Even if it doesn't prevent my issue the limiter chains will make it easy to drop the hitch to the same height while plowing every time without messing with position control too much.

On a side note, I drive out my right side main loader arm bolt in the dark last night, it wouldn't take grease. The hole was well plugged to the point I couldn't even see it. I cleaned the bolt with some solvent and a brass wire brush, found the hole, cleared it, and put it back together without too much of an issue. Takes grease perfectly now and took 30, yes 30 pumps of grease when finished!

You're lucky! At least you have a manual to read! I can't get AGCOPUBS to work for me - must be that I'm outside the USA.

The chains will help, that's true, an adjustable stop on the quadrant will achieve the same thing, but most I've seen are link mine - seized up!

I know what you're saying there too! :thumbdown: Whilst preparing to build that dam, I struck several pins on the tracked loader that were blocked with dried grease. I also had to drive them out, clear the passages and refit them. Then I could re-introduce them to grease. :laughing:
Now they're full of grease, it's a quick and easy job to give each pin a couple pumps of grease once in a while. It isn't necessary to purge the old grease out - as long as some is in there, it's Ok. :thumbsup:

 

[shaeff]

You're lucky! At least you have a manual to read! I can't get AGCOPUBS to work for me - must be that I'm outside the USA.

If you want, I can order them for you then ship your way, let me know!

The chains will help, that's true, an adjustable stop on the quadrant will achieve the same thing, but most I've seen are link mine - seized up!

I know what you're saying there too! :thumbdown: Whilst preparing to build that dam, I struck several pins on the tracked loader that were blocked with dried grease. I also had to drive them out, clear the passages and refit them. Then I could re-introduce them to grease. :laughing:
Now they're full of grease, it's a quick and easy job to give each pin a couple pumps of grease once in a while. It isn't necessary to purge the old grease out - as long as some is in there, it's Ok. :thumbsup:

The adjustable stop on the quadrants were seized when I got the machine, I was actually able to very carefully loosen them and now they're all adjustable once more. I tried setting the quadrant stop too, but like the chains, didn't really help. I'm sure once I get this problem figured out that either the chains or adjustable stop will do what I need them to. I didn't bother purging any of the old grease that was still viscous. I just got rid of the hard clumps that wouldn't push through. My thought was that old grease worked back then, it'll work now! :laughing:

 

[PatrickS2222]

You were indeed lucky to loosen them - being only 1/4" thread, they usually break off.

BTW, Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all, as well as their loved ones. :thumbsup:

 

[shaeff]

You were indeed lucky to loosen them - being only 1/4" thread, they usually break off. BTW, Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year to all, as well as their loved ones. :thumbsup:

I hear that, I used careful application of heat and penetrating oil. Worked them back and forth very slowly!

Thanks, Patrick! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours as well!

 

[shona13]

The only way the lift arms can touch the axle housing is either the cast cam arm that slides onto the lift shaft is cracked or broken and has allowed the upper arms to Turn on the shaft OR The lift arms are on the wrong side that is the right arm is on the wrong side you cannot turn the arms on the splines there is a master spline on the shaft.
Happy days.
Hutch.

 

[shaeff]

The only way the lift arms can touch the axle housing is either the cast cam arm that slides onto the lift shaft is cracked or broken and has allowed the upper arms to Turn on the shaft OR The lift arms are on the wrong side that is the right arm is on the wrong side you cannot turn the arms on the splines there is a master spline on the shaft. Happy days. Hutch.

Hi Hutch, haven't seen you around in a while! Hope you're doing well!

That really narrows it down for me, I'll have to look at the lift arms, as that's the easiest remedy as of right now. With my luck, something is cracked or broken inside, but now that I'm pretty familiar with it and have a newly acquired shop press, even fixing that shouldn't be too difficult. Thanks for chiming in, much appreciated!

 

[shaeff]

Hutch, quick question if you're still following: If that cam was cracked and allows the hitch to drop to the axle, would that cause the control valve on the pump to stick?

Under normal operation I've had no issues with the hitch, until I put a modified snow plow on it that has very low pin attachment points. Problem is that every so often, the hitch will sink to the axle and won't come back up using the position control lever.

If I remove the side cover and manually press on the control valve, it'll unstick and all is good again. Thanks again for the insight!