The fast slow knob under the seat does nothing. 3pt lifts fine, but comes down HARD no matter where the knob is. What will pop out at me if I remove the whole knob housing to look for something broken/clogged/stuck? Also, my tractor has two 3pt levers. The outer one works as you would expect, but the inner one which is attached to what appears to be a separate control valve assy. does nothing throughout it's full motion. No clue what it's for. Thoughts?
L245DT 3PT control problem
- Thread starter Spentcase
- Start date
I think the second lever is for draft control.
I could write a long explanation but it will be faster and easier for you to watch this youtube video and then others on the same topic.
Draft control causes the 3 pt hydraulic system to raise or lower ground engaging implements in response to the effort the tractor is exerting pulling the implement through the ground.
The top link for the 3 pt hitch is looking for and measuring the pushing IN towards the tractor as a way to assess the ground engaging implement's drag. The implements want to rotate around the lower lift links and in doing so puts compressive forces on the top link connection to the tractor.
Draft control
I will attach a page from the WSM showing how draft control is checked and adjusted on your particular tractor.
The lower speed adjustment area does not look complicated according to the parts illustration.
I suggest you wait a day or two to see if someone with the same machine can comment.
Dave
I could write a long explanation but it will be faster and easier for you to watch this youtube video and then others on the same topic.
Draft control causes the 3 pt hydraulic system to raise or lower ground engaging implements in response to the effort the tractor is exerting pulling the implement through the ground.
The top link for the 3 pt hitch is looking for and measuring the pushing IN towards the tractor as a way to assess the ground engaging implement's drag. The implements want to rotate around the lower lift links and in doing so puts compressive forces on the top link connection to the tractor.
Draft control
I will attach a page from the WSM showing how draft control is checked and adjusted on your particular tractor.
The lower speed adjustment area does not look complicated according to the parts illustration.
I suggest you wait a day or two to see if someone with the same machine can comment.
Dave
Russell King
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Before you dig into the valve/housing verify that the knob is actually rotating the rod into the valve. I believe that there is a pin to connect the two parts that gets sheared if the valve isn’t used and gets frozen up. I think you can look behind the knob and see the rod.
You can see what all is there at Kubota.com and their illustrated parts list like shown above
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Thank you gentlemen. The knob in fact moves the shaft its mounted on in and out when turned. I actually worked the tractor for the first time yesterday for a couple of hours to get the fresh fluids flowing and there was no change in operation of the valve. On the draft control, that's what I suspected the additional 3pt lever was for, but there is no picture of it in the parts manual I downloaded from here. I've driven many tractors with this control, but never actually used it, as it's for plows and such that might tend to pull downward significantly as you pull them forward and I've just never plowed with one. Much obliged for the video, because I never actually saw one work before! There's a little lever with a threaded rod attached on the back side of the draft control, and I would assume that it would be attached to the implement to sense movement and adjust accordingly. Interestingly though, no amount of manipulation of the draft lever and/or the little lever on the back side of the valve has any effect at all on the position of the 3pt lift arms no matter their position, so I'm thinking the draft control valve isn't working either. Now i'm wondering if the two items (draft control and lowering speed) are related. I believe it might be time to pop the top as the full-fast-drop thing is really unworkable on a regular basis.
Having draft control on a L245 is unusual as it was a dealer installed option. You should have a piece of linkage that goes back to the plate that your top link attaches to. A picture of your control levers would be great.
Aha! I was wondering why the top link attachment plate was mounted on a greaseable pivot pin and allowed to move back and forth 1/4" or so for no apparent reason. The small lever with the threaded rod on the back of the draft control must have another rod that's missing which would attach to that pivoting plate to detect up and down movement. I'll be disassembling the fast-slow housing this weekend for a good cleaning and inspection. If I feel like living dangerously, I might hit those rusty bolts on the draft control and look at it as well..
Attachments
Well that was easy. The valve was stuck. The cover is the top cap of the hydraulic cylinder. You can remove the cylinder and piston for cleaning/repair with it off as well. I didn't mess with the draft control. Another project, another day.. Once again, thanks for the help!