Loader FEL will not go down.

CelticArmor · Jan 7, 2012

MF 573 with factory FEL. Warranty expired, so this is natural! On Monday I am ordering the repair manual I should have already had.

That being said everything seems to work on the tractor re: hydraulics. The joystick feels mushy when pushed forward (to lower the FEL). Fluid was a bit low. What else to check or do. Will get more fluid on Monday as well to be sure to keep it topped off.

Did I mention the warranty running out! LOL!

MFRED · Jan 7, 2012

sounds live the pivot for the loader handle broke or came loose. Take the rubber boot up where your handle is and take a look, as you move the handle around you should see whats going on.

Don87 · Jan 8, 2012

Check the 'quick disconnects' on the lines to the FEL. One may have come loose.

chopped · Jan 8, 2012

What they suggested both my first concerns...

Fixemall · Jan 8, 2012

Check both of the mentioned items but, please be aware of and stay out of potential pinch points. A little dab of locktite will fix that screw that likely fell out the back of your joystick control.

CelticArmor · Jan 9, 2012

OK, fluid seems fine. Lifted the rubber boot. There are two "cables" that come into the bottom of the joystick mechanism and are connected to two "ball" shaped ends that move in two directions (up and down) to effect the movements of the FEL. I realize this seems basic to some of you, but new stuff for me. The rear most of the ends raises and lowers the FEL. Pulling back on the stick depresses the ball and will rais the FEL. But pushing forward feels mushy and does not lower it. Nothing seems loose in the joystick mechanism itself. Not sure how this actually works the hydraulic valve down below. Is it a coax type cable or does it use hydraulics itself? Where could something be loose? I do not see anyplace for a roller pin or screw that could be loose or lost. Need to down load the Manual from the Agco site and see if I can figure something out.

CelticArmor · Jan 9, 2012

Follow-up. Chased a rabbit on the forums. Found the Nimco-Controls website. Looked at the diagrams for remote controls. I believe it is a cable system. Now to root round and figure what is loose somewhere...

slowzuki · Jan 9, 2012

It is a cable system, sorry I didn't see the post earlier. Chances are you have a quicke loader or the same valve. There is a little keeper in the aluminum block the cable enters at the loader valve. If you watch the cable sheath, when you are pushing forward to dump, the cable is being shoved out of the aluminum thing. Some times there is a circlip thing that goes missing, sometimes you can tighten the 8 mm bolts on either side so it squeezes the collar tighter. Mine has 4000 hrs and was completely ruined including hte bolts stripped out, so in the short term there is a pair of vice grips clamped on the cable and it is wired up to the valve block to keep me going.

CelticArmor · Jan 21, 2012

Finally getting some onsite help with the problem. The cable between the joystick and the valve had broken inside. Parts and manuals ordered. I went ahead and ordered the other cable as well.
Here is what we think is the long term issue:

When the FEL was installed the cables had a sharp bend near the valve (bottom side of everything) that caused premature wear. The cable in question broke at that wear point.

For those with a DL 250 installed how was your controller cable threaded/routed to prevent the reoccurance of this probem?

Planning on moving the joystick and rerouting everything to prevent this from happening again. Many thanks for all the diagnostic help!