L4200GST 3 pt hitch not moving

[Jay4200]

I was playing around with my tractor yesterday, making sure the things I haven't tried actually work. I have a subframe-attached backhoe on my tractor, so the 3 pt hitch and/or PTO isn't used, and haven't been for at least a few years. I got the PTO spinning (w/o load), so at least it moves, which is more than I got out of the 3 pt hitch. I have seen several recent posts about broken 3 pt hitches on L4200s lately.

The position control lever resides in it's uppermost (toward the rear of the tractor) position. I moved it down and nothing happened. The 3 pt hitch arms are supposed to go up and down, right? I spun the PTO valve knob do-dad in front of the seat with no effect. I think the slot on the selector valve down near the hydraulic filter is close to vertical (I'll have to double-check this later). The control lever didn't have much resistance when it moved - should it? Maybe it is disconnected? I couldn't really see the control lever linkage - it seems encased by the tractor bodywork. Am I missing something? Any suggestions?

Jay

 

[GaryE]

Jay,

If I understand you correctly, you are saying the 3ph is stuck in the up position? Your tractor’s 3ph only has a raise circuit, down is done with gravity. If there is no implement on it you may have to pull it down. Give it a yank! My guess is it is ok.

Good luck,

Gary

 

[Jay4200]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If I understand you correctly, you are saying the 3ph is stuck in the up position? Your tractor&#8217;s 3ph only has a raise circuit, down is done with gravity. If there is no implement on it you may have to pull it down. Give it a yank! My guess is it is ok.)</font>

Thanks - I only learned about the "up-only" last night, though I did suspect. I talked to a friend who has a small JD - he told me that his 3pt hitch will drop on it's own, but only if the speed control is wide open, then really slow. It is probably OK - I'll find out soon enough.

Thanks again - Jay

 

[Jay4200]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I spun the PTO valve knob do-dad in front of the seat with no effect.)</font>

Oops. This sentence is supposed to refer to the 3 pt hitch speed control knob directly below the seat.

Jay

 

[kjb]

The L4200 has a hydraulic block on the right hand lower side of the tractor. Under the brake pedal. With the loader on the center screw needs to be in one position and opposite when the loader is removed. As in 11 o'clock, 1 o'clock positions. This allows flow to the 3pt. Hope this helps