TC29D - I broke it :(

[RuT]

I have a TC29D hydro. I was pulling logs out of a woods this weekend with a boom pole on the 3 pt hitch. I was being careful and trying not to abuse anything, but I was pulling/lifting some heavier logs.

Well, the 3 pt seems to be working fine except that (now) once the tractor is shut off the 3 pt arms drop over a period of a couple hours. It never did this before the logging over the weekend.

What did I do? Damage some seals?
Do I need to fix the issue or can it stay this way?

Nuts...I knew better.

 

[HRS]

If it works fine when the tractor is running, and its going to cost you money to fix it. Leave it as is. All the ag tractors I've ever used, true they were older, dropped implement once tractor was shut down. These machines functioned like this for many years. When it truely stops working, you will know it.

 

[jinman]

I agree with HRS. You should not worry about the 3PH hydraulics unless they hiccup a lot with an implement attached. Have you lifted a heavy implement like a boxblade since doing your logging?

BTW: You are not breaking you tractor by using it. The 3PH system is protected by pressure relief valves and I don't think you did anything wrong. Even if your lift cylinder seals are leaking a little, it was not your problem. This is the kind of work tractors are designed to do.

With usage, this problem may go away. It could be that the relief valve lifted while you were lifting logs and never fully reseated. Probably with more heavy use, you will find the problem will actually get better. Of course I don't know this for sure, but the relief valve may need a little more convincing to reseat. If it is not the relief valve, but rather the lift cylinder, it will probably stay this way but not get worse for many years.

Remember, these machines work best when used. If you let them sit for a long time, that's hard on machinery. Also, is it pretty cold where you are? When the tractor warms up in the spring/summer this problem could get better too. I'd just wait and see.

 

[DieselMonk]

Nothing broken there. My old MF 165 I had was doing that always and much faster than yours. O.k. my TC55DA does not drop the 3 point hitch, even after 2 months stored in the garage and a snow blower attached to it, but like the others said, keep on using it... nothing broken there.
I ripped out my old wooden antenna poles with my 3 point hitch on the 55 until the tires squatted right down and the relieve valve kicked in and no troubles. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Max

 

[Soundguy]

I don't think I would worry about it much.. My new-ish Nh7610s will drop a half inch every couple minutes with a 1000 pound load on the 3pt, once the tractor is shut off. Done it ever since I had it...

Soundguy

 

[have_blue]

Not to worry. My TC35 3PH and FEL both drop an inch or 2 a day since brand new. I've been waiting for things to lap in a little bit, but no change after 400 hours. Forgetaboutit.

 

[Tarheelman]

RuT,

I don't think I've ever been around a tractor that did not leak down some. My dad had a A/C WD-45 that leaked down after stopping so quickly you could almost see the implement fall and hear the lift "pop" as it settled. I just have always been in the habit of lowering the lift when I shut the tractor down. It's not a big deal. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tarheelman
TC48DA

 

[thcri]

My TC29D the 3 point hitch does not drop a spec. In the month it has sat out in the garage now I have not noticed any drop what so ever. This is the first tractor I have seen not drop. My loader it will drop 6" in a couple of hours.

If your pressure relief did pop which under heavy loads it may have sometimes it does not seat properly and that is where your leak may be. I would not worry about it.

murph

 

[HRS]

Now that's a good way to describe it. Pop, Pop, Pop... And soon it is on the ground. Now when they start hiccupping that's when it gets irritating. But even then it will still work year after year after year. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PineRidge]

Murph our 40D is the same way. The FEL starts to settle as soon as the engine is stopped. But the 3-point stays where it was put. I will admit that if I have the weight bar on I lower it before shutting off the engine though. That's a lot of dead weight to be coming down on your foot accidentally.