Rear 3pt arms drop quick

[rkadish]

Hello to all, I have a Farm Pro 2425, got it used. It runs great. I have found, however, that the 3pt arms will drop in a few minutes if left raised with an attachment on it.

How do I fix this?

 

[MF243RedTop]

Typically that's the pump with either leaky seals or needs to rebuilt.. I'm assuming you've checked the fluid level in it

 

[ovrszd]

Assuming you mean with the tractor engine shut off??

If so, it's the valve or the cylinder. The pump is out of the equation at this point.

Most likely the valve.

So imagine. The cylinder extended when the 3pt is lifted. Valve is good with no leak. The cylinder cannot compress. There's no place for the fluid to go. Even if the cylinder gland is removed, the cylinder cannot compress.

So for the cylinder to compress and expel fluid it has to go thru the valve.

If your 3pt cylinder does not compress to lower, we can discuss those options. Please clarify this.

 

[Tx Jim]

I agree with ovrszd. 3 pt lowering is normally caused by faulty control valve & not hyd pump related

 

[pokey1416]

Isn’t there an adjustment knob or lever under the seat that controls 3PH drop speed?

 

[pokey1416]

Disregard my last it’s if the tractor is running.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I've never owned a tractor that didn't have some cylinder/valve related bleed down on the 3pt over time. From my experience, this is normal to a certain extent. As others have said, complete bleed down in a short period of time suggests seal wear in the valve or cylinder.

 

[rkadish]

The tractor is running when it drops. I will lift the implement to move to a different area, matter of feet mind you, while moving the implement will drop down. I have mainly used a landscape rake. I will rake a section, 200ft, lift the rake to move back to the start and the rake will drop in that time. I usually need to keep my hand on the lift lever if I am going further than that.

It also drops when not running, I do not remember how fast that is.

I will try to remember to time both of them and post it later.

 

[ovrszd]

Disregard my last it’s if the tractor is running.

That control knob works whether the tractor is running or not. It's simply a restrictor valve that slows the release of fluid when the lever is lowered.

 

[rScotty]

The tractor is running when it drops. I will lift the implement to move to a different area, matter of feet mind you, while moving the implement will drop down. I have mainly used a landscape rake. I will rake a section, 200ft, lift the rake to move back to the start and the rake will drop in that time. I usually need to keep my hand on the lift lever if I am going further than that.

It also drops when not running, I do not remember how fast that is.

I will try to remember to time both of them and post it later.

Well, since it lifts OK but then drops on its own while running that's a little bit different from the 3pt hitch dropping that we usually hear people dealing with.

It sounds like it is either a leaky 3pt piston/cylinder - or a bad 3pt control valve. My vote would be that it is the piston/cylinder. Instead of rings, a 3pt lifting piston usually has one or more O rings. Those can go bad.
Most tractors have a knob adjustment for 3pt rate of fall located just below the front of the seat. If yours does, then it is easy to test to see if your 3pt piston/cylinder is good or leaking.

To test, trigger the 3pt to lift up your implement and and while holding it up turn the 3pt fall rate adjusting knob all the way in - usually clockwise. What you are doing by turning it in is to shut a needle valve which traps the fluid in the 3pt piston/cylinder and will theoretically hold the implement up forever.... or at least for 5 or ten minutes. Turn the engine off. Don't touch the 3pt control lever. The implement should stay up.
If it won't do that then it is time to renew the 3pt lifting piston seal.
I guess it could be the 3pt lifting valve itself...but probably not. Do the piston seal first.

rScotty