Help with 3-pt hitch won't raise/lower

[livemusic]

I have a Mahindra 5010 with a mower on back, Woods HC Heritage mower. Not hydrostatic, has traditional gearbox. (I think it has a common reservoir for hydraulics and transmission.)

Tractor's been sitting for months. Time to clip the pasture, FEL raises/lowers normally but the mower will not budge up or down. The lever seems unusually 'stiff' to me, almost like I am, literally, bending the lever but surely not, I might be imagining things. If I had another person, I could have him move the lever and maybe I could underneath there if the workings are moving? Anyway, how could I troubleshoot this?

Lastly, this is probably a dumb question but is there a way to raise the mower up a little bit? I would mow if it would raise it up a few inches, it's all the way down. PTO is functioning.

I have a hydraulic leak, it's been leaking out of axles. A dirt dauber wasp built a nest in a relief hose/line, I got it cleaned out I thought, but it still slowly leaks from the axle if it sits hours/days. Maybe it affected the seals inside the axle? But I put more fluid in and as I said the FEL functions normally, I can raise it fully to the top. Beats me, but a mechanic told me that if the FEL raises all the way up, it indicates there is sufficient hydraulic fluid to do something as mundane as clipping a pasture. But it's too low.

If something is going to require repair, I can do most pretty simple repairs but if the problem is above my or my shade tree mechanic friends' pay grade, I'd have to go to a shop. Which I sure don't want to do if possible. TIA!

EDIT:

First, I wonder if there might be enough hydraulic oil in to run the FEL but not the 3pt hitch?

Ok, I found this! Now I gotta go back to pasture and look! Heck, I didn't even know about this valve lol!

=


Yes, the Mahindra 5010 tractor has a
3-point hitch lowering speed control knob, typically located under the operator's seat or between the operator's knees.


This knob (also referred to as a flow control knob or slow return valve) allows the operator to adjust the speed at which the 3-point hitch and attached implements lower to the ground.

• Turning the knob in (clockwise) restricts the hydraulic fluid flow, slowing down the lowering process and preventing heavy implements from slamming down.
• Turning the knob out (counter-clockwise) opens the valve, allowing the hitch to lower faster.

If the 3-point hitch will not go down, it is likely that this knob has been accidentally turned all the way in (closed position), effectively locking the hitch in the raised position

 

[SPYDERLK]

I have a Mahindra 5010 with a mower on back, Woods HC Heritage mower. Not hydrostatic, has traditional gearbox. (I think it has a common reservoir for hydraulics and transmission.)

Tractor's been sitting for months. Time to clip the pasture, FEL raises/lowers normally but the mower will not budge up or down. The lever seems unusually 'stiff' to me, almost like I am, literally, bending the lever but surely not, I might be imagining things. If I had another person, I could have him move the lever and maybe I could underneath there if the workings are moving? Anyway, how could I troubleshoot this?

Lastly, this is probably a dumb question but is there a way to raise the mower up a little bit? I would mow if it would raise it up a few inches, it's all the way down. PTO is functioning.

I have a hydraulic leak, it's been leaking out of axles. A dirt dauber wasp built a nest in a relief hose/line, I got it cleaned out I thought, but it still slowly leaks from the axle if it sits hours/days. Maybe it affected the seals inside the axle? But I put more fluid in and as I said the FEL functions normally, I can raise it fully to the top. Beats me, but a mechanic told me that if the FEL raises all the way up, it indicates there is sufficient hydraulic fluid to do something as mundane as clipping a pasture. But it's too low.

If something is going to require repair, I can do most pretty simple repairs but if the problem is above my or my shade tree mechanic friends' pay grade, I'd have to go to a shop. Which I sure don't want to do if possible. TIA!

EDIT:

First, I wonder if there might be enough hydraulic oil in to run the FEL but not the 3pt hitch?

Ok, I found this! Now I gotta go back to pasture and look! Heck, I didn't even know about this valve lol!

=


Yes, the Mahindra 5010 tractor has a
3-point hitch lowering speed control knob, typically located under the operator's seat or between the operator's knees.


This knob (also referred to as a flow control knob or slow return valve) allows the operator to adjust the speed at which the 3-point hitch and attached implements lower to the ground.

• Turning the knob in (clockwise) restricts the hydraulic fluid flow, slowing down the lowering process and preventing heavy implements from slamming down.
• Turning the knob out (counter-clockwise) opens the valve, allowing the hitch to lower faster.

If the 3-point hitch will not go down, it is likely that this knob has been accidentally turned all the way in (closed position), effectively locking the hitch in the raised position

But didnt you say the 3ph would not go up from a low position? That knob does not affect upward motion - only downward.

 

[CH4Ohio]

If it feels like there's a lot of resistance on the lever and feels like you must be bending something when you move it, then most likely the valve or linkage is frozen from sitting so long. Need to follow the lever and linkage down to the valve and see what's not moving and focus on getting it freed-up.

This seems like the most obvious simplest place to start based on your description of the problem.

 

[livemusic]

But didnt you say the 3ph would not go up from a low position? That knob does not affect upward motion - only downward.

You're correct, good catch.

I didn't know, hoped it would be a simple solution like that! Nope, I went and tried again. Still wondering if it requires more hydraulic oil in the system for the 3pt hitch than the FEL. I have a terrible time reading the dipstick. Going to see if I can use my permanent marker ink pen thingy to paint the silver dipstick. All I have is red but maybe that will work.

 

[SPYDERLK]

If it feels like there's a lot of resistance on the lever and feels like you must be bending something when you move it, then most likely the valve or linkage is frozen from sitting so long. Need to follow the lever and linkage down to the valve and see what's not moving and focus on getting it freed-up.

This seems like the most obvious simplest place to start based on your description of the problem.

Yes! You are probably trying to rotate a shaft that is stuck. When you find it, heat will probably be a necessary tool, along with Kroil penetrant. Up to boiling will definitely not damage seals. DO NOT use flame. A hair dryer all night might be enough. - Lots of metal and oil to warm.

 

[newbury]

Going to see if I can use my permanent marker ink pen thingy to paint the silver dipstick. All I have is red but maybe that will work.

another method is just lay the dipstick on cloth to see where it wets the cloth.
Also - carry a squirt can of lube - I've had linkages bind up and I just spray it, tap lightly and it's good for years.

 

[livemusic]

I put some penetrant on everything I could see that has to do with the lever and I'll be darned if it didn't move a little. It never did get normal but it got enough to where the mower rose up several inches such that I could mow.

And then after I had mowed a little and went for lunch, came back and, two totally separate issues cropped up. Getting tired of my 11 years old tractor.

 

[livemusic]

FWIW, a dealer told me to check the remote lever, that if it got knocked either way, the 3pt hitch will not move. Mine was in neutral, so, that wasn't it.

I have a short or loose wire, I found some kind of box under the right rear wheel well. Wonder if this is a solenoid. One of the issues is that my tractor wouldn't start, I mean, totally dead upon turning the key. If I jiggle the wires to that box, I can luck up and get it to start. I am wondering if this box, whatever it is, also has some kind of safety control thang going on with the PTO. This 'box' has two hydraulic hoses going into it and another hose/cable about a half inch thick that I'm not sure what it is, was too dark when I looked, hard to see.