rockshaft / 3-point creeping down

[WinterDeere]

This is a little unusual. My 3-point is creeping down, but this is not the usual "bleed down" we often see, measured on a stopped engine. I mean I raise an implement, and as I'm driving it lowers itslelf, corresponding to the control lever creeping from the raised to the lowered position. If I push the lever back to a more raised position, the machine lifts the implement with no trouble. If I shut off the tractor, the machine keeps the implement raised with minimal bleed-down. But with the engine running the lever always moves and the implement always lowers.

This just started last week. Prior to that I had the hydraulic line crack that runs from my primary pump to the priority flow divider, and lost at least a half gallon of hydro fluid before realizing I was leaking. I did not lose enough fluid to have any issues with functionality, and promptly replaced the line. I will be looking to see if I accidentally loosened anything in the process of getting at that line, and failed to re-tighten it, but I don't expect I'll find anything.

What would cause this symptom? I'm not seeing anything about this in the technical manual for this machine. Tractor is a Deere 855.

 

[WinterDeere]

More reading, not finding anything useful, but I'm beginning to wonder if this is as simple as the hydro that spurted out of that leaking line may have nicely lubed the control lever pivot so it has lost the friction that used to keep it at a setting. Not headed out to inspect it at nearly midnight, but the photo I have of it shows a double nut on the shaft for that control lever. I'm wondering if I just need to clean and re-adjust those nuts. The technical manual for this tractor makes no mention of it, that I can find.

 

[DK35vince]

If the lever is creeping down, sounds like your on the right track.

 

[Tx Jim]

On all tractors I've been associated with the 3 pt control lever has spring actuated friction washers designed to hold control lever in the set position. My guess is if you tighten friction washers your tractors 3 pt lowering problem will cease. I suggest to tighten nut(key 1) a little amount

 

[WinterDeere]

On all tractors I've been associated with the 3 pt control lever has spring actuated friction washers designed to hold control lever in the set position. My guess is if you tighten friction washers your tractors 3 pt lowering problem will cease. I suggest to tighten nut(key 1) a little amount

Thanks for posting that, Jim. This is exactly what I was thinking late last night. I’m going to spray that area down with some brake cleaner to get the excess hydro oil off (previous leak got everything wet) loosen nut 1, and try snugging nut 2 just a bit. I think 2 is the adjustment, and 1 is just a locking nut. Will report back later!

 

[ovrszd]

Yep, you are on track.

Is this on your 855? Don't you have that tractor traded on a new one? Is it getting revenge on you by having petty problems now?

 

[Tx Jim]

Thanks for posting that, Jim. This is exactly what I was thinking late last night. I’m going to spray that area down with some brake cleaner to get the excess hydro oil off (previous leak got everything wet) loosen nut 1, and try snugging nut 2 just a bit. I think 2 is the adjustment, and 1 is just a locking nut. Will report back later!

Your observation is better than mine. I overlooked that nut #1 was merely a jam nut but I'll bet tightening nut #2 will solve the 3 pt creeping problem

 

[WinterDeere]

Is this on your 855? Don't you have that tractor traded on a new one? Is it getting revenge on you by having petty problems now?

That’s been the household conversation, the last several weeks! The starter also failed last Sunday, leaving me stranded quite a distance from the house, I had to interrupt a neighbor’s Sunday evening to tow me home and help me push it into my barn. This machine, which has been darn reliable for as long as I’ve owned it, is suddenly getting revenge on me!

The new tractor was ordered a few weeks ago, and the dealer has it in stock, but the loader for it is on back-order with Deere. Expected mid-December.

Your observation is better than mine. I overlooked that nut #1 was merely a jam nut but I'll bet tightening nut #2 will solve the 3 pt creeping problem

It definitely made an improvement, but not 100% yet. That nut was already pretty snug, so I hesitated to wrench on it too hard. I think those four disc washers designed to maintain tension have lost their spring. I’m going to order a new set and install them next week if I can get them that quick with the holiday, I don’t want to sell the machine to someone if everything isn’t working perfectly, as I’ve always maintained it.

 

[Tx Jim]

Local JD dealer has the washers in stock. PN is 12M6191

 

[WinterDeere]

Yeah, but issue is getting there, as they're only open when normal people are at work. I grabbed the spec's from the Deere parts catalog and ordered them from McMaster-Carr in stainless steel. They'll be here Tuesday!