How to keep front lift lever in float?

hungry4dss · May 13, 2015

Hello

Lately, the lever that controls the front lift won't stay in 'float'. It pops out of float from time to time while cutting the grass.
I know zero about hydraulic valving and was wondering if anyone knows a way to adjust the detent on that lever. I looked at it and there is no 'obvious' adjustment on it
Thanks in advance.

Raw Dodge · May 14, 2015

The float detention is in the 2 spool valve block under the seat,,bolted to the end opposite where the lever rod attaches...not sure what machine you have but they are all pretty much the same,your spool valve has detents on the shaft that correspond with the positions of float,lift and lower,the end of th shaft is likely worn out where the balls and springs ride on the shaft,there's 2 bolts that hold the spring block on.I replaced the blocks on one of my steiners 3x and have just decided to live with it,they seem to last about 2000-2500 hrs on average,depending on. How much you use the float function. If you pull it apart the 2 springs and check balls that are real easy to lose,these parts are sometimes not sold separately,you may have to buy the whole valve to get them...if you do that make sure you lubricate those parts good so they don't wear out as fast...one thing I've done on my Steiners and you can do if you have a ventrac...we never used the aux hydraulics,we had no attachments that used it,so when I first had a problem I simply swapped the valves and end caps,from the never used aux to the lift and lower ,they are identical on a steiner,not sure about on ventrac...but that doubled the life of the valve for me....

hungry4dss · May 15, 2015

Guess I should of mentioned its a Steiner 430.

I like the idea of switching the valves. My Steiner has 800hrs on it, long way from 2000hrs.

Thanks for the reply.

Raw Dodge · May 15, 2015

Steiner is much easier to get to the valves,there right under the hood.if you don't use the aux just swap the valves and end caps,if your handy.with only 800 hrs,you may be able to just swap the end caps ,just be careful not to lose the springs and check balls.they are under the 8mm headed bots

bindian · May 16, 2015

I have had the joystick rodends on the spool valves come loose and knock it out of float. I have also had a rod end break off. Both ways, it limits loader movement and will not stay in float mode, or pops out of float too easy. Pull the rubber boot off of the base of the joystick and you can see the problem.
hugs, Brandi