Tractor can no longer lift post hole digger

[TheWizardofTN]

Hi,

I have an older Ford tractor 4 cyllinder, with a 3 point attachment in back. I bought an older 3 pt auger, which at first I had no trouble with it.

All of a sudden, the lift arms no longer lift it. The bush hog still works fine but it's a lot lighter. I'm thinking that this is an hydraulic system which I should be able to check and repair, but I don't see anything.

Anyone have any experience with this?

 

[JimRB]

I gather Ford has been making tractors (Fordson) since 1917. A lot of models over the years. Ford tractors and the Ford farm tractors history

Did you swap the bush hog back on to see if it could lift it? The few post hole diggers I have used weighed a lot less than a bush hog, maybe half the weight.

 

[TheWizardofTN]

I gather Ford has been making tractors (Fordson) since 1917. A lot of models over the years. Ford tractors and the Ford farm tractors history

Did you swap the bush hog back on to see if it could lift it? The few post hole diggers I have used weighed a lot less than a bush hog, maybe half the weight.

Yes - it CAN lift the Bush hog, and the arms rise and fall on their own with nothing attached, too.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Very strange. Are you making some kind of change in setting when you have the bush hog vs the PHD. As said, the bush hog weighs more than a PHD and it should lift both. Are you saying that with the PHD attached the arms wont go up at all. Are they not all the way up. Maybe you pinned the PHD in the wrong part of your attachment point. Most tractors have at least 2 pin point for the 3rd arm with one above the other. You must be doing something different with the two because if it lifts the heavier equipment, then it will for sure lift the lighter one.

 

[dourobob]

You must be doing something different with the two because if it lifts the heavier equipment, then it will for sure lift the lighter one.

My first thought was a slightly shifted lever or control that regulates the flow of hydraulic fluid (had that happen on an older Zetor and it took me two days to figure out the lever controlling the hydro flow had be shifted, probably by my big foot :laughing otherwise I agree with Gary, you must have done something different with the PHD.

 

[jinman]

Yes - it CAN lift the Bush hog, and the arms rise and fall on their own with nothing attached, too.

At this point, it would sure be helpful if we saw a photo of your setup with the PHD. I just cannot imagine why your tractor would lift a rotary cutter and not a PHD. Even a cellphone picture would help. Is your PHD the type where you have to remove your toplink and attach the main boom to the tractor? Your problem is really baffling.

 

[Soundguy]

as jinman said.. take a pic of the tractor and phd together. there are hyd differences between some models of the 4 cyl units.

it it is an 8n+ try movingthe draft control lever a bit and see if the hyds magically work better.

the 47-64 machines have a cam follower pin that can wear ( cam wears too ) and as the wear you loose lift height resoloution with the quadrant control.

also, leaks at the lift piston can sap power from the hyds if the leak approaches the same flow rate as the pump 2.9-4gpm depending on model and rpm.

bad pump ( bypassing ) could be it too.. or weak / leaky relief.

post them pics

soundguy