hydraulic valve lever pops out of float- need help

[Anonymous Poster]

The 22-year-old hydraulic valve on my Power King tractor controls the 3ph and mid mower. The lever on the valve has 4 positions: 1) Full out raises the hitch. 2) Neutral holds the 3ph in fixed position. 3) Pulling the lever in lowers the hitch. 4) Pulling the lever in past the resistance point floats the hitch or mower. I always use the float position for mowing and plowing. The problem is that the lever now longer will stay in float, but pops out to the neutral position almost immediately. Needless to say it is a pain using the tractor when I must continually hold the lever in float. My question is: Is there a simple fix (apart from bungee cords!), or must the entire valve be replaced? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[kubmech]

Two things, either the loader control linkage is worn out (wont let the float detent fully engage) or the float detent is worn. Either one can be repaired with new parts, not including a new valve. That is as long as parts are still available.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: hydraulic valve lever pops out of float- need

Thanks much for responding. In this case it is the float detent that is worn. How would one go about replacing this? There is a large round head nut on the front of the valve which I assume would have to be removed in order to access the innards of the valve. I have never taken a hydraulic valve apart before. Is this a job for an amateur?

 

[kubmech]

Re: hydraulic valve lever pops out of float- need

Berryman, without seeing the valve (not familiar) I'm going take a shot at it: The spool that operates the boom/float circuit (that's the rod in the valve that moves when you move the control lever) probably has a cap on the end held on with 2/3/4? bolts/screws, if the cap has two plugs in it they should be removed first, probably has a spring and a ball in each hole take these out to. Remove the cap and you should see a compressed spring, the detentnt rod screws into the spool and compresses the spring if that's worn or the balls or springs look worn you may be able to get a detent kit to replace the worn parts. If you can get some pictures of the valve it may help or you may be better off removing the valve as an assembly and taking it to your dealer/ hyd. shop and have them do it. Some of those valves can be kind of tricky.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: hydraulic valve lever pops out of float- need

kubmech, thanks a ton! Your description of the exterior of the valve was right on. For the record, after scraping some paint, I found that it is a Victor 1.75 gpm valve and I also found a part number. I think that, since it needs some new parts and not just an adjustment, I will take it off and see what my local hydraulics shop has to say. Thanks again for your help.