importance of position control

[RayfromTX]

Of course not all tractors with position control have slots. Mine is continuously variable with an adjustable stop for setting up a repeatable position.

 

[RalphVa]

Ive been wandering lately what difference position control on the 3 pt. hitch makes. I've noticed that the B seriers tractors now have it, but the bx series still do not. My main use would be box blading or using a land plane to smooth out areas of the yard . I also plan to get a tiller and wasn't sure if it affects that or not. Thanks

I've had both. My 4010 (be called a 2019E nowadays if JD still offered it) had just raise and drop. The 1025R lemon and the current 2025R both had/have position control. I wouldn't get a tractor without it now. With position control, you can set the 3ph where you want it to drop to (with a set knob latch) and be sure that's where it'll end up. On the 4010, I had to just keep punching the lever either down or up to inch it to where I wanted it and had to look back to see where it was. Great for end-of-row quicky turnarounds though, because the lever action is very short.

Ralph

 

[npalen]

Whew! Been trying to get a word in edgewise here for I don't know how long.
The term "closed loop", used a couple times above, probably comes as close as any to describing true position control.

I'm sure that draft control certainly has its place but there is a caveat especially when moldboard plowing (turn plow as some call it) A good job of plowing means having the plow set at the correct depth and keeping it there in spite of how hard it pulls. There is no point in plowing half the field at 4" depth and half at 6" depth.

Draft control can be done manually as well by simply moving the PCL (new acronym?) slightly to adjust the cutting depth. We called it cheating back in the day and the alternative was to shift down a gear if necessary to prevent stalling the engine. If in a hurry to finish the field you simply bumped the lever enough to raise the implement an inch or two. (if Dad wasn't looking)

 

[GirlWhoWantsTractor]

Without position control, the lever is centered and when you raise or lower the 3-point by moving the lever forward or backwards, it continues in an up or down movement until you center the lever again. The distance you move the lever may affect the speed with which it raises or lowers, but not where it stops. So you have to just go by visually watching to stop it where you want it.

I think some folks a few posts back, said position control was something completely different..... Oh well, here we go again! :laughing:

 

[SDT]

I think some folks a few posts back, said position control was something completely different..... Oh well, here we go again! :laughing:

There is considerable inaccurate information in this thread.

SDT

 

[LouNY]

Well that's something completely different then. Thank you for the explanation. It makes sense.

Final attempt. If this isn't it, will give up and face the fact I am too dumb to understand this.

Types of 3PH controls:

1. Old-style control lever typically found on older tractors that can only raise the implement all the way up, or all the way down.

2. Modern control lever commonly found on SCUTS and CUTS that can raise the implement up, down, or anywhere in between. Lever remains in the position set by the operator due to friction. May also have set screws to act as stops. May also have detents to allow you to return to the same height easily.

3. Dual-action lever that operates like #2, but you can also move the lever to the side and bump it against two detents to raise the 3PH up or down 1/4" at a time ("1/4-inching").

Tractors equipped with "position control" will automatically adjust for any hydraulic leakdown, keeping the implement at the height set by the operator.

A separate Hydraulic Flow Knob allows you to adjust the speed at which the 3PH lowers in response to the lever. May also have a "lock" position useful when trailering.

Larger ag tractors also have a function called "draft control" that bumps the rear implement up when it hits an obstacle to protect the rig from damage.

:drink:

Well heck I guess I'll throw my two cents in here,:2cents:

Your #1 I've never seen in almost 60 years of tractor using with 2 or 3 point rear hitches.
Your #2 is the most common system and is what I would expect most people have and certainly most ag tractors have.
Your #3 I've never seen, not saying it's not out there someplace.
Also some older ag tractors had a feed pack rod used with #1 types.
Different types of flow control are available and used by the different manufactures.
Draft control will raise the lift arms in response to an increasing load, it has nothing to do with tractor protection, it is designed to allow the tractor to maintain plowing when encountering a patch of tougher ground, draft control will have a sensitivity or rate of response setting.
Draft control allows a tractor pulling heavy 3 point ground tillage equipment to maintain progress without down shifting which is not recommended when performing such tillage as it would require clutching, shifting, and restarting which will create a rough spot in your field which is hard to remove and will effect all future crop work, planting and harvesting.
Draft control was developed way before power shifts or any shift on the go auxiliary transmission were.

Also as was stated you have position control per your picture.

 

[David Wayne]

WOW, this has become confusing based on different interpretation of the wording. Position control simply means YOU control the the height/depth/position of the emplement via your lever. Draft control will maintain height/depth
automatically based on draft/load. I have driven tractors of all colors for 50 years. And all except 2 and 9n's have position control. Henry Ford added a lever to over ride the draft control on the 8n to give you a choice of draft or position control. Most newer tractors I have seen do not have draft control.

To the OP if I were to level out dirt in an area of my yard I would want draft control, so when the front wheels go over a high spot or in a low spot the blade will maintain the same contact with the ground and not dig in or lift up
causing another rough spot that gets worse with each pass. My Kubota does not have draft control and it can be done, but you are looking back more than forward and constantly adjusting the height.

 

[rScotty]

This is copied from a 16 year old post from another forum. Might it be helpful in understanding this?

"Position control? I'll see if I can give you an explanation that makes sense (I've had a B7100 without it and a B2710 with it).

Without position control, the lever is centered and when you raise or lower the 3-point by moving the lever forward or backwards, it continues in an up or down movement until you center the lever again. The distance you move the lever may affect the speed with which it raises or lowers, but not where it stops. So you have to just go by visually watching to stop it where you want it.

With position control, the slot for the lever is usually numbered (1 to 8 in my case), with 1 being all the way down and 8 being all the way up. If you want to lower it to 4, move the lever there, the hitch stops at that point and the lever stays where you left it. It's much easier to make small adjustments in the height of the hitch, and if you raise it, it's much easier to lower it back to the same height again.

In other words, position control is a VERY NICE feature and I really like it, but it's not absolutely necessary."

I think that is a very neat explanation and worth repeating.
thanks,
rScotty

 

[Turbys_1700]

All of our AG tractors back in the day had both draft and position control. Back then we plowed all row crop ground in the fall. Draft control was an absolute necessity in our ground. Mostly clay with sandy bottom land included.

 

[SDT]

All of our AG tractors back in the day had both draft and position control. Back then we plowed all row crop ground in the fall. Draft control was an absolute necessity in our ground. Mostly clay with sandy bottom land included.

Bingo.

SDT