Stuck loader joystick: talk me through how to diagnose/fix?

   / Stuck loader joystick: talk me through how to diagnose/fix?
  • Thread Starter
#11  
So the good news is I’ve fixed(?) it. I took apart where the linkage cable connects to the SCV valve. There’s a spring there that was full of rusty gunk and seized up. Cleaned it and works again.

The bad news is there’s no reason rusty gunk should be developing there (and there was none at all in the lift linkage). Are those connecting cables a wear item, or something I should have been maintaining regularly?
 
   / Stuck loader joystick: talk me through how to diagnose/fix? #12  
So the good news is I’ve fixed(?) it. I took apart where the linkage cable connects to the SCV valve. There’s a spring there that was full of rusty gunk and seized up. Cleaned it and works again.

The bad news is there’s no reason rusty gunk should be developing there (and there was none at all in the lift linkage). Are those connecting cables a wear item, or something I should have been maintaining regularly?
It's common for moisture to gather up inside the cover, which can make a mess in relatively short time.

A good clean up and coat of grease should last some time.
 
   / Stuck loader joystick: talk me through how to diagnose/fix? #13  
If the spool moves then I would swap the lift hoses with the curl hoses and see if the loader lifts and lowers when I move the joystick left and right. If it does, then try moving the joystick forward and back and see if it curls.
The curl function on the joystick of my Branson 4225h is stuck. I'm not experienced at fixing stuff; can anyone comment on my reasoning before and suggest where to look next? (It's my week for breaking stuff...including the truck I could use to take the tractor to the dealer/mechanic, so it's up to me to fix it in the field.)

The joystick physically won't move in the curl up/down direction. Lift up/down work fine.

I twiddled the joystick lock. I checked the hydraulic quick connects to the loader, wondering if a connection got jiggled loose (though I figured that would cause no actual curl but with the joystick able to move...). All good.

It's an open station tractor, and the joystick manually pushes and pulls cables that lead down below, presumably to the hydraulic control valves. I popped up the rubber boot and took off the control assembly from the frame for ease of access. See below (ignore the damaged rubber on the boot from a while back). As far as I can see, the metal triangle that holds the tops of the pins is in good condition (lots of reports here of those busting in some cases...). There was some grime that I got out and WD-40d it just in case. Still physically stuck.
Speed Test
Where to look next?
Take apart the control further (anything in there that could need attention?).
Try to take off the cables from the control (not sure how to unscrew from the control, and anything in there worth accessing?)
Go hunting for the hydraulic valve underneath? (But it feels like a mechanical issue not a hydraulic one?)

I'm not sure if the joystick control is original or replaced...a few years back a tree dropped on the tractor in a storm, busting some stuff. I know the dealer had to replace the joystick handle, not sure about the control assembly itself.

Thanks for any advice.... Posting here rather than the Branson forum since I doubt the problem is brand specific.

View attachment 818031View attachment 818030
 
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   / Stuck loader joystick: talk me through how to diagnose/fix? #14  
My only comment is what Lou posted. Grease the ball sockets and lube the cables.
 

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