IH3444 said:Same jam nut came loose several times on my NH TC48, I finally completely remove the threaded control lever, cleaned everything with carb cleaner, and then reassembled with "blue" locktite. Problem cured. I had tighten the jam nut several times, but it kept working loose. Now it's fixed, and can be removed if necessary. The block it screws into is aluminum, wish it had been a low grade of stainless steel, say a 304 alloy. May have added $2 to the cost of the tractor. All these manufactures look for cost cutting measures.
If you can still use it its most likley jam nut. Quick fix take finger and squezz boot and hand tighten jam nut, have lever 180%,1/2 turn off, facing back, with jam hand tight turn joy clockwise and you might be lucky and tighten that away. might save time

I know this is probably a dead thread but I have to leave a comment and hopefully someone else searching will find this suggestion.
I had the Kioti loose FEL joystick problem although the float is working. It had turned about 180 so I had trouble operating it while moving snow. I went out prepared for a big, cold disassembly project but decided to try your advice first. Five minutes later I was back inside with the joystick where it belongs.
Thanks for the great, simple suggestion!