LA853 Float Position

JRobyn · Jun 1, 2004

I noticed this weekend that the float position on my LA853 does not seem to work. There is supposed to be a detent on the joystick, past which point the bucket will float under it's own weight, right? There does not seem to be any detent on the stick/control valve. Pushing it forward lowers the boom/bucket. Pushing it farther forward does exactly the same, to the point of lifting the front wheels. Everything else seems to work properly. Hoses appear to be correctly routed and connected. Do I have a bad control valve? Should I have to push fairly hard to get past the detent? I didn't want to force the stick.

rdam · Jun 1, 2004

I have the LA723 whick I assume works the same. Lower the bucket till its about 2 inches off the ground. Then from the neutral position, SMARTLY push the lever forward. I do mean smartly, quickly, and with some force. The bucket should drop quickly. The float "detent" is well outside the normal square pattern of the joystick. My dealer demonstated it for me prior to delivery. If he hadn't, I would probably be in the same boat as you.

Incidentally, that is how I park the tractor after the days use...with the bucket "floating".

Bird · Jun 1, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Should I have to push fairly hard to get past the detent? )</font>

Yep, like Rick said, give it a pretty sharp shove and I'll bet it'll go past that detent.

grandad · Jun 1, 2004

I'm thinking the 4 way valve for the LA852 loader on my tractor is pretty similar to what's on your LA853... may even be the same. There is a definite detent past the standard 'down' position of the 4-way valve and, starting from the neutral center position, you have to give the lever a quick, sharp movement to snap past the 'down' position. If your movement of the control is too gradual, the valve simply goes into the 'down' position as you describe and never gets to the float position.

One technique I figured out the hard way was to lower the bucket to make light contact with the ground, ease off the lever to let it return to neutral, then quickly press it to the float position.

dos_perros · Jun 1, 2004

I had the exact same problem initially on my LA853 - not going into float function. It turned out that the fasteners on the base of the joy stick control unit were all loose. As a result, even though the other FEL functions worked properly, it would not float. I took the plastic cover off the control unit, checked the assembly versus a parts schematic, reattached the cover, and retightened the control fasteners. The float then worked readily and easily. It does not require any special effort at all.

JRobyn · Jun 2, 2004

Thanks for the replys, guys! I'll try the suggested techniques, and check for proper assembly. You've saved my dealer a call!

Is this forum great, or what?