MF 2517 hydraulic strength.

[pwallace]

I have a Massey 2517 with backhoe and loader attachments. Just purchased it last August and it has 60+ hours on it. My issue is it does not seem to have the lifting power that the manual calls for. It is rated at 900lbs at the pins for the loader. I purchased a 600lb safe and it would not lift it more than 4 inches. I returned it to the dealer to have it tested and they say it checks out OK. I’m skeptical about their findings. I’m sure that from the factory the pressure is set low for warranty reasons but if the book says 900lbs lifting force then it should easily lift 1/3 less weight. Am I correct?
I know there is an adjustment screw for the pressure, but it being this new and under warranty I hate to make changes but it is limited now in what you can do.
I know it’s a small tractor and it won’t move mountains but it struggles with mostly any even moderately heavy lifting task with both the loader and the backhoe. It just doesn’t have any hydraulic power as it is.
Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue and how you may have gone about correcting it?
THANKS

 

[Roadworthy]

How much hydraulic pressure is it supposed to have? Did the dealer give you a tested number or just check it and say it's okay? Be sure the three point is not in the full up position, that can cause it to go into bypass mode reducing hydraulic power. If that's the case your rockshaft is probably out of adjustment.

 

[oldnslo]

you can purchase a gauge and check the hydraulic pressure yourself. By doing this you will know how the pressure is set vs wondering what is happening.

What was the safe sitting on when you attempted to move it. Clamp on forks, in the bucket, etc.

 

[pwallace]

I had the safe on a pallet and I had purchased a set of 4000lb forks expressly to move the safe. It has skid steer quick attach. I know I over purchased the lifting weight of the forks and they took up a chunk of the weight capacity I was trying to pick up.

All it would do is lift the weight off the back of the truck. The truck raised up to normal height but the safe never left the bed. It would not lift the safe more than that even throttled up over 2000rpm I knew if I drug it out of the truck I wouldn’t be able to carry it to where I needed to get it to. So I didn’t.

I thought I would be able to move another safe I already own that is in another house but that isn’t going to be possible.

I know it’s a glorified lawnmower but I expected if it listed a lifting weight at the pins of 900lb that it would have lifted a 600lb safe

I was able to return the forks so I didn’t get burnt on that one. I would have traded for a 2000lb set but they sold out of them before I was able to return to Rural King.

The tractor just seems weak. Lifting a rock or trying to move a Wooden deck that washed under a bridge during a recent event flood with the backhoe. It is very disappointing as I was expecting to be able to get more use from it.

I need to find a gauge and test it but I have no idea what pressure I’d be looking for. Anywhere I could find that info? I hear that they are not hard to increase the pressure on but with it being new and under warranty I hate to do too much. Would you be able to offer any ideas about how much it might be able to be increased without causing issues?

Not sure how much trust I can put in
what the dealer tells me. I’d like to believe what he says is true but it I just don’t know. I know he’s short staffed but that is not an excuse. I’m just still way disappointed in the performance. Thanks for replying!

 

[pwallace]

How much hydraulic pressure is it supposed to have? Did the dealer give you a tested number or just check it and say it's okay? Be sure the three point is not in the full up position, that can cause it to go into bypass mode reducing hydraulic power. If that's the case your rockshaft is probably out of adjustment.

Could you explain Rockshaft? Never heard of one but I’m new to tractors. My first. I suppose I need to check on the three point I didn’t know that. It’s probably up. I took all of the arms off because I don’t any three point attachments and they were kind of in the way when hooking up the backhoe.
Thanks for the reply.

 

[oldnslo]

3 point and rock shaft are two different names for the same function

Was the back hoe on the tractor when trying to move the safe? Reason for asking is that on some tractors you must install a jumper hose when the backhoe is removed to allow the loader and 3 point to operate properly.

 

[dicktill]

<snip> Be sure the three point is not in the full up position, that can cause it to go into bypass mode reducing hydraulic power. <snip>

When you say bypass mode are you talking about a pressure relief valve? Does this mean you should never have the 3-point hitch fully up?

TIA, Dick

 

[oldnslo]

When you say bypass mode are you talking about a pressure relief valve? Does this mean you should never have the 3-point hitch fully up?

TIA, Dick

Yes on bypass mode = pressure relief valve being activated

3 point hitch can usually be full up but if the feed back link gets out of adjustment the 3 point control will shift back to neutral. This is the reason for suggesting lower the 3 point a little to see if it helps system operation.

 

[dicktill]

Yes on bypass mode = pressure relief valve being activated

3 point hitch can usually be full up but if the feed back link gets out of adjustment the 3 point control will shift back to neutral. This is the reason for suggesting lower the 3 point a little to see if it helps system operation.

Thanks. Ah, fortunately my puny tractor doesn't have a feed back link!

 

[pwallace]

3 point and rock shaft are two different names for the same function

Was the back hoe on the tractor when trying to move the safe? Reason for asking is that on some tractors you must install a jumper hose when the backhoe is removed to allow the loader and 3 point to operate properly.

No the backhoe wasn’t on. when I was trying to get the safe out of the truck. Not sure about the jumper you mention. It has quick misconnect hoses and I’m sure you know already that they have to be reconnected when you remove the backhoe. They were connected.

I would have thought with me having an issue and taking it back to the dealer for testing that he would have mentioned about the by-pass issue with the three point. He didn’t. Your mention is the first time I’ve heard this.
Thanks