3-Point Hitch MF-4608 Lift Arms will not move and dash light is steady on.

[Eskippathiki]

Am in need of info. on MF-4608 lift arms operation. The lever for the lift isn't doing anything. The round knob that is also related to lift arms also doesn't seem to do anything. The knob in center below seat only turns 1/4 turn and has no resistance in either direction. As I'm not familiar with modern, electronic operations, I need all the help I can get! Any help/assistance will be appreciated!

 

[JWR]

So call your dealer for sure. BUT FIRST,, and Meanwhile is the Draft lever all the way up and locked? On Massey tractors the Draft lever needs to be all the way up to put the Position lever in control of things. Even then the system only desensitizes the Draft system. They actually sell a kit to defeat the Draft sensing nuisance (which is only useful when plowing, etc.) Don't need the kit unless you have very heavy things dangling on the 3pt. Are you trying to lift some very heavy load?

The control knob (for speed of down lowering) does not seem right being loose. Run your Draft control lever up and down a few times and then leave it UP. Hopefully that is all that's "wrong."

 

[Eskippathiki]

jwr, I think my draft lever is a knob that goes 1-8. Is beside the PTO button on this model. The lever that raises/lowers arms has 1-5. And you are correct! Running the lever up and down with draft knob OFF has solved the issue. Dash light went out as well. On occasion I move some cars with a boom pole which can be fairly heavy, depending on age of vehicle and if I'm heading up the "hill". Thanks a million! I've been researching, fiddling, etc... to no avail for 2 weeks. As I'm new to modern machines, I was getting totally lost in solenoids and such issues.

 

[JWR]

jwr, I think my draft lever is a knob that goes 1-8. Is beside the PTO button on this model. The lever that raises/lowers arms has 1-5. And you are correct! Running the lever up and down with draft knob OFF has solved the issue. Dash light went out as well. On occasion I move some cars with a boom pole which can be fairly heavy, depending on age of vehicle and if I'm heading up the "hill". Thanks a million! I've been researching, fiddling, etc... to no avail for 2 weeks. As I'm new to modern machines, I was getting totally lost in solenoids and such issues.

Wow! So glad to hear that.

I have a 9 year old MF2660 and several people including senior mechanics gave up on the hydraulic system as dead. A very senior parts man tipped me that the Draft control lever being UP only desensitizes (but does not totally turn off) the Draft control mode. I tested and sure enough I just had such a heavy load on the 3pt that it was driving the "big spring" on the top link into Draft Control. Bypassed the Draft control and solved my issue. Later bought the kit from MF to cleanly disable the Draft control. That kit is just a mechanical clevis arrangement that takes the "big spring" Draft control plunger that disappears into the chassis totally out of the picture. You actually remove the pin connecting the top link to that plunger/spring. MF has had this Draft control system essentially unchanged for more than 50 years and was, at one time, famous for the feature.

I'm assuming your 4608 has top-link draft sensing. Some newer machines use lower link sensing. Same function either way.

Another Oh By the Way-- your red light on the dash would be worth investigating to see which red light it was. Probably in the confusion you were at times going into "regen" (having the position lever so high that the fluid was forced past the relief valve.) On mine that produces a whine or noise but no red light.