Stuck in float..

[outridder]

Hi,
I got the driveway cleared of snow with no problems using the PT422 this week. I did have to use the radiator oil filled heater under the unit to get it started since I had parked it in the barn and just too cold. Got it in the garage and starts just fine. Today I thought I'd cruise down the drive and get the mail. I put the bucket in float and when I got to the road I couldn't get it back to the regular positon. I got back to the house without having to remove the bucket but still no movement on the joystick. Wondering if anyone had this problem? Yep, the mail is still in the box...LOL

Thanks
Dan

 

[MossRoad]

Does the joystick move, but the arms don't raise?

 

[outridder]

It's stuck in the float position and it won't pull back. I do have side movement on the joystick and that does work but no lift.

Thanks
Dan

 

[toy]

I am sure you have checked to see if the pin that holds the linkage to the valve chest hasn't backed out partially and catching, or something else that might be catching it at the linkage. If you have tried this and that is not the problem and a little sterner of a pull won't free it up then maybe something has fouled the indent up and won't let it slide out far enough to clear. I beleive I would call pt and ask them , it might be a simple fix that they could guide you through on the phone, I beleive that others on the forum has called them and they have talked them through a repair.

 

[toy]

I would just like to add that I hope you get the problem solved without much trouble, and please post the fix so that if anybody else has that problem in the future that a solution is recorded.

 

[MossRoad]

Well, that's odd. Have you looked underneath the dash board where the joystick attaches? There is a linkage that connects to the valve. Maybe something got stuck in there, like a wire, cotter pin or stick. Maybe a chunk of ice? Worth a look.

 

[J_J]

If there is any foreign objects in your system, it could cause the valve to hang up. If you know how, take the valve apart and clean it or take to a hydraulic shop. If it is really cold, put a heat gun on it for about 20 min.

 

[outridder]

I looked at the linkage and all looked fine but broke the connection to see if the joystick would move and it did. I talked to Tazwell and they had me loosen two nuts on a cap that is on the bottom of the value. Still no luck, so now I'll drop the cap and that should release what ever is holding the lift control. There are two balls in there that will release when I do and I will loose the float feature. Guess I'll have to do that fix when warm weather approaches or get the Kubota fine tuned for grass cutting. At least I'll be able to keep up with any snow that shows.

Dan

 

[toy]

How long have you had your pt? Is it still under warranty? Was you meaning that you would loose the float feature permanatly? I find the float feature to be very useful and wouldn't want to loose that feature. Did you call Tazwell back and tell them that loosening the two nuts didn't work? There is probably some foreign object got it fouled, Tazwell can probably tell you how to take it apart clean it and put it back together without loosing the float. You probably already know this, but if you take anything apart in the valvebe careful that if anything small falls out of it like a spring or the two balls that you don't loose them. I say that just as a reminder because I know how I am sometimes when I get in a hurry I am not as cautious as I should be and I need to remind myself to mark anything that I take apart so I can reassemble it and to take care not to loose anything . I hope you get it fixed without very much trouble and the next report is about a project that you just started with the pt and not a maintanace problem. Do keep us posted about what you had to do to fix the problem, it might be helpful to one of us some day if ours ever have your problem. And again I hope every thing goes alright for you in fixing the problem.

 

[J_J]

What did you find out about the stuck in float mode?

 

[outridder]

I haven't dropped the cap yet since it would be easier to do with an offset screw driver and need to get a set. I applied heat to the unit and nothing moved. I will lose the float feature when I drop the cap and the balls come out. The way I see it is that this is just a quick fix for now and will have to rebuilt the value at some point in time...like warmer.
I'll post when I drop the cap and see what happens.

Dan

 

[J_J]

Are you able to use your control arm now to raise. lower, and tilt. If you need the float position real bad, you should be able to pull that valve out in about 30 min, loosen that plug with the balls and spring, and blow out anything , such as grit, pieces of o-rings, slivers of metal. or take it to a hydraulic shop. They can break that valve down in about 10 min.

I am getting ready to tear down my control valve, and replace all the o-rings. The reason I'm doing this, is that I am not able to lift the rated load of 1200 lbs. I have a Ranger-8 Welder/Generator that weighs about 450. and it will barely raise it. I have never heard the relief valves come on. So I suspect internal leakage. If that doesn't work, I have another two spool valve I might throw in there, just to verify my analysis.

 

[outridder]

The float feature is part of the lift value so when I got stuck in float, I had no lift. I can only see needing the float for mowing unless there is another attachment that uses it. Anyway, after reading your post, I went out to see how many hoses went to the front of that control and it's eight lines...great! While looking it over, I noticed the wrench and thought heck, if I'm dropping the cap, I should back the two screws out a little more than the 1/4" they told me to do. I might have gone another 1/8 on each one and hit the joystick; and you got it, popped out of float. Fired up the PT and have lift off and all the good stuff. I guess it's no float till grass cutting time? Glad you posted!

Dan

 

[Charlie_Iliff]

Great News!

I use float on the 1845 for snow plowing and "grading" with one of the buckets. I hope you'll find that it goes in and out properly now.