Tractor Controls Help - please

[hlukeh]

I was given a Ford New Holland 1520 tractor from my grandfather, but I am not sure what all the levers and controls do and I do not have a manual. I've taken pictures of the knobs, dials, and levers, and I was wondering if someone wouldn't mind describing what each does?

Thank you,

Luke


The Tractor:

The Controls:

Dial, Lever, U shaped thing:

Big orange handle:

Foot Pedal: (I believe this one locks up the left rear tire?)

Pink, Yellowlever:

zoomed:

 

[jimmysisson]

I'll start: Dial is 3-point hitch drop level - in = slower; lever is 4 wheel drive engage or not; U-shaped thing is rear differential lock pedal. I guess (only a guess) the Big Orange Handle locks the hydro so you can't move the tractor by accident getting on or off. You've got a pedal on each side controlling that side's rear wheel brakes. Pink lever engages the mid-tractor power take off; yellow lever the rear pto. Is that the reverse hydro pedal on the left in the first control pic? I don't own one of these so someone else will render more help, most likely
Jim

 

[Rick from NC]

Luke,

First 20 bucks you can spare hop over to new Holland Technical Publications and order and owner's manual. It's item 8112040 and the cost is $20.36. It will explain what all the controls do as well as show you how to maintain the machine

Rick

 

[hlukeh]

Wow, thanks for the breakdown Jim, and for the manual location Rick! I didn't expect such fast replies. That's interesting that you say the orange lever might be a hydro lock so the tractor can't be moved. I assume the position it's in in the picture is the locked position which would mean that so far I've been driving it locked, so I'll try driving it with it in the unlocked position and see if there is any other noticeable difference. It makes sense that that's what the control would be, so I'll have to test it out both ways.

Thanks again,

Luke

 

[hlukeh]

Ah ha, you were right about the orange handle! The tractor has way more power now since I can actually push the pedal all the way forward and backward!! That just goes to show that I better get the manual.

I changed the oil yesterday because the level was below empty, and the oil was extremely black. I noticed that the power steering fluid looks very low too, but I haven't put any in because I have no idea what it takes. Luckily I did figure out that the engine took diesel oil instead of gasoline engine oil before I changed it and the filter

The owners manual would probably tell when to change the hydraulic filter too, and what type of fluid to use, along with other things.

Thanks,

Luke

 

[rcrcomputing]

Nice Score there fella!

That's 2200lbs of 23hp muscle. If you don't know the year, you can get the serial numbers from the Transmission housing , left side and determine the year. Somewhere between 1987 and 1996.


Continue with the oils and get real friendly with moly grease.
Wix probably filters for it. Just look at the cross-over chart.

 

[jinman]

Ah ha, you were right about the orange handle! The tractor has way more power now since I can actually push the pedal all the way forward and backward!! That just goes to show that I better get the manual.

I changed the oil yesterday because the level was below empty, and the oil was extremely black. I noticed that the power steering fluid looks very low too, but I haven't put any in because I have no idea what it takes. Luckily I did figure out that the engine took diesel oil instead of gasoline engine oil before I changed it and the filter

The owners manual would probably tell when to change the hydraulic filter too, and what type of fluid to use, along with other things.

Thanks,

Luke

Luke, I read that orange knob a little differently, especially since the placard to the left and below it says, "Speed Set Control Instructions." That may be a "cruise control" for the HST transmission. With the control to the unlock position, you should be able to easily change the HST pedal position. When you reach the speed you want, moving the orange knob to the lock position will hold the pedal so your speed is maintained. Give it a try and read the placard directions to see if it says something similar.

 

[hlukeh]

That's a spot-on observation. It locks the foot pedal to whatever setting it was at - cruise control! That's exactly what the nameplate you describe says too. What's funny is that someone was telling me that "those little tractors" (like the one I now have), "aren't that great as tractors because since they're hydrostatic drive you can't lock the speed", which is obviously incorrect since you can, and all a person has to do is read the instructions!!

Btw, I ordered a user manual Thanks again for the suggestion Rick.

Thanks again for all the help,

Luke