STIFF 3 POINT ARM CONTROL IN 4520 CAB

[jdhopf]

I have a 2007 4520 John Deere with 250 hours on it. I tried using the 3 point arms and the control inside the cab seems to be pretty stiff. Doing any kind of grading work that needs to have precise grading seems to be a challenge. I lubed up the cables and linkage on the tractor but it did not seem to help. Any ideas out there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[jenkinsph]

I would inspect the cable for kinks, if you find any that is likely your problem. If it appears to be okay then try the following.

I would disconnect the cable at the valve under the cab and see if it is still stiff. This will indicate whether the cable or the valve is the problem. If still stiff them disconnect the cable from the joystick. If the joystick moves freely then get a new cable to install and make sure there are no kinks or sharp bends in this when installed.

 

[Tonkatoys]

I have a 2007 4520 John Deere with 250 hours on it. I tried using the 3 point arms and the control inside the cab seems to be pretty stiff. Doing any kind of grading work that needs to have precise grading seems to be a challenge. I lubed up the cables and linkage on the tractor but it did not seem to help. Any ideas out there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

I had the same problem on my 2007 4720. I went through and loosened the linkages and it seemed to help a bit. I think it is a design flaw on the older cab tractors. I traded in my 2007 for a 2011 and the problem isn't there anymore.

 

[jdhopf]

I didn't think they changed anything on the cab tractor from 2007 to 2011. What linkage did you loosen on your tractor, inside the cab are outside on the linkage in the back of the tractor. Thanks for the help

 

[Tonkatoys]

It was a while ago, but I loosened a few of the nuts outside underneath the tractor. I just had my daughter sit in the cab and rock the lever back and forth (engine off of course) and I loosened the linkage nuts. I'm not sure if this is considered a qualified JD maintenance operation, but it was annoying as **** to me too. It was nearly impossible to get a subtle adjustment to my landscape rake until I did this. Maybe the 2011 had this adjustment already made, but it is way smoother than my old 2007 even after the adjustment. Good luck!

 

[tglass]

I have a 2007 4520 John Deere with 250 hours on it. I tried using the 3 point arms and the control inside the cab seems to be pretty stiff. Doing any kind of grading work that needs to have precise grading seems to be a challenge. I lubed up the cables and linkage on the tractor but it did not seem to help. Any ideas out there would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Had this same problem on my 3320 a few years back. Should be a thread about it, but after careful inspection I found a nut under the cab that tightened and loosened the friction plate to hold the lever in position. Never had a problem since and can move mine easily with precision. If you can't find it PM me, have wrote it down somewhere just in case or I'll look under mine.

 

[Tonkatoys]

Had this same problem on my 3320 a few years back. Should be a thread about it, but after careful inspection I found a nut under the cab that tightened and loosened the friction plate to hold the lever in position. Never had a problem since and can move mine easily with precision. If you can't find it PM me, have wrote it down somewhere just in case or I'll look under mine.

Yep, that sounds like what I did. Good to hear that I didn't do something stupid!