Sticking Hydrostatic Pedals MF1533

Man from Crooked River · Nov 10, 2010

Has anyone had problems with sticking hydrostatic pedals on their 1500 & 1600 series tractors. It happens when the tractor is under load, such as pushing into a dirt pile with the loader or driving up an incline. You have to be ready to hit the reverse pedal to stop pushing.
I just had my 1533 to my dealer for a check over before winter. I talked to the mechanic that worked on my tractor and he says he lubricated the cables and linkages but everything seems just fine. He also said the sticking is just a delay in the hydraulics and is normal. I explained to him, the delay, if that is what it is, is pretty excessive. It was more like, maybe there was springs or something that are too light, in the valve body.
Anyway, while I was loading the tractor onto my flat deck trailer to take it home, the tractor nearly loaded itself. Once it was on the ramps and going up hill, I could take my foot off the forward pedal and it just kept going until it was nearly loaded and I hit the reverse pedal to stop the tractor. The mechanic just happened to be outside working on a Peterbuilt, so I called him over and reloaded the tractor to show him what it was actually doing. He was a little dumb founded and a speechless, anyway he said he was going to search Massey Ferguson websites, etc. for any data on this problem.
Any info that I can take to my dealer, would be appreciated. This problem could be an issue with both 1500 and 1600 series tractors, as they use the same hydrostatic transmission.

MFRED · Nov 11, 2010

Is there a spring detent & neutral adjustment procedure? That should be done first, then I think there is a pivot underneath that doesn't have a grease fitting. It needs to be disassembled, cleaned and lubed.

Tractor will center itself while just driving around, but under a load the hydraulic resistance and sticky pivot are too much.

Nobody likes to do things twice, that's how I found out.

Man from Crooked River · Nov 11, 2010

Thanks for the reply
I know about the pivot point with out the grease fitting and when I took the tractor to the dealer, we had talked about what was to be lubed and how. This pivot was mentioned and was to be dissasembled, cleaned and lubed, as you stated. So I would think and hope it was done.

In regards to the detent adjustment, I don't know if anything was done. I kind of doubt it, because all we had talked about, was the lubricating of cables, linkages, etc.

The tractor has been doing this from day one, so I kind of wonder about the pivot lubrication and when I bought it, it only had a few hours on it.

When it first did it, I was putting some freight onto a loading dock, with the forks and there was a incline to the dock and when I took my foot off the forward pedal, it wasn't stopping. Being new with the tractor, it scared the crap out of me, I was fumbling around trying to figure out what to do, I hit the brakes but realized after all I had to do was tap the reverse pedal. I didn't hit anything but it was close, now that I now what to do, it's not a big deal. But anyone new getting on the tractor could have the same scare.

I will have to bring it up to my dealer, thanks again

Dakota_male · Jun 13, 2014

My 1635 has the same problem just like your, mechanic looked at it and slacked the cable, but still sticks under load just like your.
Did you ever get it repaired?

irvingj · Jun 22, 2014

My 2310 also does this. I just live with it, knowing it can happen, and keep my foot ready to tap the go-pedal in the opposite direction. (It will also do this in reverse.)

I suspect this issue may be inherent with hydrostatic drives, though mine seems to have gotten better with age. It also makes a huge difference when the oil's still cool; much less of a problem once it's fully warmed up. It would be nice to know if anyone has ever really discovered the cause of this and a possible solution. In the meantime, I just keep myself ready for it.

Dakota_male · Jun 22, 2014

My sticks more as the load increases to the point I have to hit the other peddle and ride the brake. Friday I moved a lot of soil and found it so hazardous when working other vehicles and backing up near building , nearly hit my garage. I have only 10 hrs on my 1635. I suspect it is like others here have claimed the hydro trans needs replaced, something to do with the pump? I think.

radrock · Jun 24, 2014

Mine is sticking sometimes too. I have found that it does not seem to be as bad if I work in low range versions mid range. It would be nice if anyone has a solution.

Dakota_male · Jun 25, 2014

My peddle sticks with any load or driving range, I actually have 175 hours on it and warranty is off it now as I've had it for a few years, it can be a real safety hazard at times.

radrock · Jun 25, 2014

I have learned to watch mine. It would be nice if anyone knew about it. I tightened my return spring a little but that didn't seem to help.

Egon · Jun 26, 2014

Any chance of adding some grease zerks and maybe some return springs.

Note: I'm unfamiliar with your tractor but not unfamiliar with your problem.

radrock · Jun 26, 2014

Egon said:
Any chance of adding some grease zerks and maybe some return springs. Note: I'm unfamiliar with your tractor but not unfamiliar with your problem.

I would think that yours and mine are pretty much the same. Mine is smaller is all. Pretty sure they are both side by side pedals. I have had mine apart once. It already has grease zerks on the pedal shaft and there is a rocker with a sealed roller that goes into the transmission. There is a return spring and also a little shock absorber to keep it from returning to neutral to fast. I thought maybe that was the problem but it didn't change it. If I remember I will scan the parts book on that and post it for you tomorrow

Egon · Jun 27, 2014

radrock said:
I would think that yours and mine are pretty much the same. Mine is smaller is all. Pretty sure they are both side by side pedals. I have had mine apart once. It already has grease zerks on the pedal shaft and there is a rocker with a sealed roller that goes into the transmission. There is a return spring and also a little shock absorber to keep it from returning to neutral to fast. I thought maybe that was the problem but it didn't change it. If I remember I will scan the parts book on that and post it for you tomorrow

OOp's, again I didn't properly clarify myself. The tractor I had problems with was a Kubota B7100 HST. The roller would not stay on the v shaped centering mechanism all thanks to a branch that got jammed in it. Bent things slightly and I was never able to fix it. The Kubota shop did though.

radrock · Jun 27, 2014

Egon said:
OOp's, again I didn't properly clarify myself. The tractor I had problems with was a Kubota B7100 HST. The roller would not stay on the v shaped centering mechanism all thanks to a branch that got jammed in it. Bent things slightly and I was never able to fix it. The Kubota shop did though.

Haha yup that might make a difference!

Dakota_male · Apr 26, 2015

Another year has gone by and the stalling, close calls continue. I asked the dealer just this month has these problems been fixed. He said the new tractors don't stick anymore. You would think a safety recall would have occurred by now!

radrock · Apr 26, 2015

Dakota_male said:
Another year has gone by and the stalling, close calls continue. I asked the dealer just this month has these problems been fixed. He said the new tractors don't stick anymore. You would think a safety recall would have occurred by now!

Well mine was sticking still and I crawled under it and tighter up the tension spring some more and it works like a charm now. Almost to good as it will come to a stop rather fast. It is not very easy to get to though.

radrock · Apr 26, 2015

Oh but you are talking about your Kurosawa huh?

EDIT: spell check on Ipad.... Kubota...

Dakota_male · Apr 26, 2015

My tractor 1635 . Once The mechanic came to my house under warrantee and slacked the cables off and now it coast some while he was there, although it wasn't under a load, but what you did I may try because if I pushing it into a pile it will stall if I don't tap the reverse peddle.

radrock · Apr 27, 2015

Dakota_male said:
My tractor 1635 . Once The mechanic came to my house under warrantee and slacked the cables off and now it coast some while he was there, although it wasn't under a load, but what you did I may try because if I pushing it into a pile it will stall if I don't tap the reverse peddle.

Two different people with the same problem. hahaha, I didn't read back far enough. Yeah I would think that your 1635 shouldn't be too much different than my tractor. I was basically having the same problem as you. I was having to constantly hitting the reverse pedal. Now it comes to a stop real good and pretty quick too. Let me know if it works...

Dakota_male · Apr 27, 2015

radrock said:
Two different people with the same problem. hahaha, I didn't read back far enough. Yeah I would think that your 1635 shouldn't be too much different than my tractor. I was basically having the same problem as you. I was having to constantly hitting the reverse pedal. Now it comes to a stop real good and pretty quick too. Let me know if it works...

It also works the same in reverse, but has it advances when snow blowing, But really is dangerous when maneuvering near vehicles and picking something up on the quick hitch. It maybe a couple of months, but I will let you know if tightening the cantering spring returns help. I attend the Americade Rally in NY in June so will after that.

radrock · Apr 28, 2015

Dakota_male said:
It also works the same in reverse, but has it advances when snow blowing, But really is dangerous when maneuvering near vehicles and picking something up on the quick hitch. It maybe a couple of months, but I will let you know if tightening the cantering spring returns help. I attend the Americade Rally in NY in June so will after that.

Your have cruise control on that tractor don't you? I don't use mine very often but I could see where it would help

How many people go to the Americade? Looks like a big event.