JD5400 Float Position

[wkpoor]

Recently bought a 5400 and discovered I can't get the joystick to go into float. Both the manual and JD says its a feature thats on the tractor but no luck getting it to work. Can the SCV really have a stuck spool? Has anyone one else ran into this problem and if so how did you correct it? Bill

 

[slaveToHorses]

How much experience with joy stick loaders do you have?
With the two that I have had (and most that I have used) you have to push the stick forward very quickly. I just hit it forward with the heal of my hand. Try it a few times with the bucket just touching the ground so you don't slam it The first time I used a joy stick it took me a while before I had the knack.

I figure that if the rest of the scv functions work fine then the float works too. You could take a quick peek at it to see if all the linkages look to be in order.

 

[JB4310]

Agree with what Slave said except I think it's easier to engage float with the bucket off the ground say a foot or so, it can be a little intimidating if it's your first experience with a bucket loader as the machine will buck a bit if your are not deliberate with the stick (and the bucket is on the ground) the front end will lift and you'll let off. you have to push the stick harder than normal to get past the detent especially the first few times from my experience.
You are not the only one who's had trouble with the float feature, there has been long threads on this subject.
IMO the most important use of float is when using the front bucket for snow removal, I had no trouble in figuring out how to use float but I didn't realize how useful it was for snow removal and was trying to clear the yard with normal functions, unless you are on smooth level surface it's very difficult with out letting the bucket float over the contour of the ground just like a truck mounted plow.
Another thing, I'm not sure on your machine but there may be a lever under the seat that has to be set to allow you to use float, not sure of this as I may be mixed up with the regen feature witch lets the bucket dump quicker. Good luck ,

 

[em14]

Slave is absolutely correct ... and you will be using this feature a lot as you get more use to it!
Leo

 

[kennyd]

I agree with what was said already, it can take more force than you think to get into the float detent.
But, if the previous owner never used it, the linkage may need some lubrication.

 

[minimax]

The float detent balls may be froze up in the SCV.

minimax

 

[wkpoor]

First off I must say if I tried any harder it will surely break. I've banged it to point of bending the stick. I've also repeatedly applied kroil to the valve while exercizing the spool. Next I went to the dealer and tried one there and found it rather easy to engage so I know what I'm looking for and how to enagage. Its stuck, or its not there at all! Puzzling thing is after removing stick cover I don't think there is any more travel past where it currently goes, and where it goes is only down pressure.

 

[slaveToHorses]

ah, that changes things. I will be surprised if it doesn't have float.
What loader does it have? Look it up on the deere site, they may have a manual on-line (some are, some aren't). On the parts site, you should be able to bring up an exploded view of the parts.

 

[wkpoor]

I've got a 520 loader on it. The manual to the tractor says its there and so does the dealer.

 

[JB4310]

I've got a 520 loader on it. The manual to the tractor says its there and so does the dealer.

Not familiar with your model but with mine the loader has it's own separate manual, something doesn't add up everything says it should be there but you can't get it to work?????
How old is the machine? Did you buy it from a dealer or private owner?