Lots of very good suggestions here and a final fix. Good results for the forum!
My comment on control valves in general, based on fixing quite a few similar problems, is that valves in good condition have very dry spools with little oil on their exterior sections. Fine rust will build up on the spool in positions which are not used often, like the float. When the spool IS moved to that position, the rusted area may jam in the the valve body. The rust will be so fine it is hard to see. To fix, disconnect the linkage and find a way to tap the spool back out.(Or in either direction out of center, if it is stuck centered from lack of use of the circuit) Polish the area with crocus cloth(very, very fine abrasive), carefully wipe the grit off, and lube the spool shaft with a drop of oil. Cycle it until it operates smoothly. To free the spool, always disconnect control linkage, don't hammer on the lever as it is easy to bend lever and linkage which are not designed for strong forces.
To prevent this happening, make a habit to cycle the control valve through all functions when you get on the tractor each time before you start up. If you find stiff movement, put a few drops of light oil on the spools and cycle the valve till it frees up. I live near the ocean and always put WD 40 on control valve spools and grease any exposed hydraulic rods before a machine is parked for more than 20 days.