Draft Control on 4500

[tractornewby]

I'm reading my Operator's Manual for the 4500-6000 tractors. On page 38 is a description of the operation of the draft control. I don't use any ground-engaging equipmet, unless a shredder is considered ground-engaging. When I move the draft control lever all the way forward and all the way back, I see no movement of my shredder. Should I see any movement? The manual states that the draft control lever in the forward position will deepen the ground-engaging implement and moving it rearward will shallow the ground-engaging implement. This sounds sort of like it should tilt the implement to make it go deeper in the ground when the lever is moved forward. Is that what it's for? Should I see any movement of my shredder when I move this lever?

Regards,

Tractor Newby

 

[Fredex]

Newby: By ground engaging equipment they mean tillage implements like a 3 pt plow, disk, cultivtor, etc. Tillage implements are pulled by the lower links of the 3 pt BUT push back against the tractor through the top link. The top link attachment point on the tractor is connected to a hydraulic valve inside the hydraulic unit which works to keep the draft (pulling) load on the tractor even despite changes in soil texture, etc. Put simply, it raises or lowers the implement to keep the load at the setting. The "draft control" is used to set the initial depth (load) at which the tractor & implement operates. This is with the "position control" down. According to the book for my '03 6000, the position control is ALWAYS used to raise the implement out of the ground. Thus the draft control is only used to establish the tillage depth/load.

For other equipment that just hangs on the 3 pt or moves along at ground level, such as a mower, my book says to put the draft control AND its small quadrant all the way down and lock it. Use the position control to raise, lower and control. Apparently the hydraulic oil gets overheated if the draft control is used to raise and lower the attachment.
Hope this is helpful.
Fred

 

[tractornewby]

Thanks. I'll make sure my Draft Control is set to the "down" position. I have no idea what a "small quadrant" is, but I'll try to figure that out and set it to the "down" position as well.

What's the difference between a category I and II three point linkage?

Regards,

Tractor Newby

 

[Fredex]

Don't worry about the small quadrant or sector. It will move down with the draft control. It also, I believe, has the wing nut for locking the draft controll assembly in position.

Cat. 1 vs. Cat. 2: defines the size of the 3 pt. connections on the equipment and the ball swivels on the ends of the 3 pt links on the tractor. For my 6000, the top link is cat. 1 on one end and cat.2 on the other with cat.2 on the lower links. To hook to cat.1 equipment I use bushings made for the purpose. Any tractor or implement dealer should have them; also TSC and similar outlets.