Newbie with a "new" (2009) JD3320: 3pt won't quite hold

[Scott Toner]

Hello to all - first tractor and first time on a forum. Purchased a 2009 JD 3320 in beautiful shape (200 hr and cared for) and have been enjoying it beyond words .... Except: for 3 pt hight adjust, I am going crazy. I can get full lift, full drop, and have the drop adjust set for a 2 sec fall (per the book). With rockers shaft lever set anyplace below the #4 mark, the hitch drops all the way down. Above about #5 it's going for the top. I.e., I've got about one inch of lever throw for all the work, and no bottom setting. Fluids are all up to snuff. Local dealer advice is "that's strange. Might need to bring it in to take the rocker box apart." Uh, riiigghhttt.... That your first guess?

I'm handy enough for a lot mechanically, but don't have even the manual to start with. "Feels" like an adjustment or sensor sort of issue, not an instant need for dissection.

All advice welcome! And thanks in advance..

Scott

 

[mddorange]

:welcome:
To TBN Scott. The first place you night want to start at is to get the manual.

 

[Scott Toner]

Didn't mention it: that little ($$$$) is underway. Work to accomplish this weekend, and hoping somebody had seen this before -- the dealer's starting point of "bring it in and tear it apart" just doesn't sit well, ya know? Glad they only give belly aches and don't claim to treat them.

 

[Scott Toner]

Hey again -- still trying to spring for the maunal to avoid bugging others, but in the meantime -- any advice? Sure would be appreciated

 

[Fawken]

Well though I don't have JD I suspect the dealer has dealt with similar symptoms and when I give advice to Ford owners on "lift issues" I usually advise them to start at the lift cylinder (rocker box?) since that is the easiest thing to fix without special tools and gauges. If you can raise the 3-pt then completely close your drop speed, turn engine off and it still drops, the likely culprits are the lift cylinder or top hat valve.

 

[dfkrug]

"Feels" like an adjustment or sensor sort of issue, not an instant need
for dissection.

I don't know if this is obvious, but do you have a heavy implement, like a BB, on the 3-pt? Some
3-pts do not drop all the way without some weight. Open the rate-of-drop valve all the way (CCW)
so you are sure fluid can get thru it. Worry about setting the drop speed later.

As for lifting all the way up, there is a lever-stopper, often missing, that might get in the way,
and the lever does have some mechanical adjustment underneath the sheet metal. Also test
this with a weight on the 3PH. If you move the lever all the way up and you hear the engine
start to strain a bit, you are hitting relief.

 

[Scott Toner]

Many thanks - sounds like a great starting point for some diagnostics while I save for the manual (or service). Will hook the BB up and run some tests. Might make for a rewarding weekend. Thanks again, folks. Scott

 

[Tx Jim]

I wonder what dealer would check if they took control valve(rocker box) apart because control valve appears to be a sealed unit with no listed repair parts not even a seal or o-ring is listed? Have you checked for any looseness in control lever or linkage?

 

[Egon]

Try an online check for operating instructions.

[video]https://www.google.ca/search?q=jd+3320+operating+manual&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari[/video]

 

[Scott Toner]

As a matter of fact, there IS some distinct slop in the linkage which I've found only by having someone moving the lever (power off) while I'm twisted around/up/under. Heading back out today to explore it some more - some minor disassembly to start with. Will post what I find.

Many thanks for ideas and pics.

Scott