sudden 3 point failure

[foresterdj]

Mid-1980's L2550 with FEL. Sudden complete 3 point failure. Loader and power steering work. Loader and auxiliary hydraulics develop full pressure under load and operate at normal speed. 3 point can be lifted up and dropped down with no resistance either direction (other than the dead weight of the arms). Tried holding it up and closing the valve (which I understand should hold the arms in position) and the arms still drop. It is almost like they are not even connected inside. There was no noise that I am aware of at the moment of failure.

Suggestions welcome. Will likely start disassembly tomorrow.

Further details of pre-failure activities. I had plowed some snow with the FEL. Dropped the rear blade and hooked up the new to me old 3 point snow blower. Raised it all the way up and down twice to be sure spout crank would not hit anything when fully up. Backed up and lowered blower and blew a swath next to shop. Pulled lever to go forward and no lift, nothing, no sound like it was even trying. As noted above, arms seem completely loose and will not hold up (after manually lifting them up) regardless of the drop speed valve position (cannot remember what the actual name of the valve is, but you know what I mean, the one under the seat).

 

[TheOldHokie]

Mid-1980's L2550 with FEL. Sudden complete 3 point failure. Loader and power steering work. Loader and auxiliary hydraulics develop full pressure under load and operate at normal speed. 3 point can be lifted up and dropped down with no resistance either direction (other than the dead weight of the arms). Tried holding it up and closing the valve (which I understand should hold the arms in position) and the arms still drop. It is almost like they are not even connected inside. There was no noise that I am aware of at the moment of failure.

Suggestions welcome. Will likely start disassembly tomorrow.

Further details of pre-failure activities. I had plowed some snow with the FEL. Dropped the rear blade and hooked up the new to me old 3 point snow blower. Raised it all the way up and down twice to be sure spout crank would not hit anything when fully up. Backed up and lowered blower and blew a swath next to shop. Pulled lever to go forward and no lift, nothing, no sound like it was even trying. As noted above, arms seem completely loose and will not hold up (after manually lifting them up) regardless of the drop speed valve position (cannot remember what the actual name of the valve is, but you know what I mean, the one under the seat).

I would not be tearing anything apart too quickly. The lowering speed valve needs oil in the circuit to hold and you may have none. I would check to make sure oil is being delivered to the 3pt. No oil = no lift = no hold on the valve.

Loader valve stuck would be one possibility.

Edit: Just looked at the parts diagram for the loader. Three quick couplers between loader valve and tractor. I would check the power beyond coupler to make sure it is doing its thing. If its not passing oil you will have loader but not 3pt.

Dan

 

[NCL4701]

Sounds like a possible broken rock shaft if it’s mechanical but doesn’t sound like you were doing anything to potentially precipitate that. Agree with TheOldHokie I’d rule out hydraulic issues before a major exploratory dismantling.

 

[rbargeron]

Please pardon a dumb suggestion, but any chance the draft control lever got bumped out of position? (Draft control was optional - maybe your L2550 doesn't have it.)

A common failure for that symptom is the piston o-ring in the hydraulic cylinder under the seat. Some wrenching, but a cheap part. Take care - and welcome to OTT (edit - I see you have prior OTT ex$perience )

 

[foresterdj]

Nothing more aggravating than something that does not have the decency to stay broke.

Last night when I left the shop the arms were all the way down and control lever in the up position. This morning I walk in the shop and the arms are up! All I can figure is something was blocking a valve, (maybe an ice bubble?) and when it thawed, or otherwise cleared itself, the pressure in the line was enough to raise the arms. Very weird.

I ran them up and down several times, climbed up on them and jumped, all seems good. Oil level in sight glass is mid-way between the L and H and a nice honey color (I just changed it last year). I guess if it happens again I will plan to drain and fill with fresh oil and a new filter.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Nothing more aggravating than something that does not have the decency to stay broke.

Last night when I left the shop the arms were all the way down and control lever in the up position. This morning I walk in the shop and the arms are up! All I can figure is something was blocking a valve, (maybe an ice bubble?) and when it thawed, or otherwise cleared itself, the pressure in the line was enough to raise the arms. Very weird.

I ran them up and down several times, climbed up on them and jumped, all seems good. Oil level in sight glass is mid-way between the L and H and a nice honey color (I just changed it last year). I guess if it happens again I will plan to drain and fill with fresh oil and a new filter.

Thanks for the comments.

Glad all is well now.

Dan

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Nothing more aggravating than something that does not have the decency to stay broke.

Last night when I left the shop the arms were all the way down and control lever in the up position. This morning I walk in the shop and the arms are up! All I can figure is something was blocking a valve, (maybe an ice bubble?) and when it thawed, or otherwise cleared itself, the pressure in the line was enough to raise the arms. Very weird.

I ran them up and down several times, climbed up on them and jumped, all seems good. Oil level in sight glass is mid-way between the L and H and a nice honey color (I just changed it last year). I guess if it happens again I will plan to drain and fill with fresh oil and a new filter.

Thanks for the comments.

Water in fluid will do what you have explained.

 

[leveraddict]

Were there extreme cold temps?

 

[foresterdj]

below zero, depends on what you call extreme. Tractor had not been running long, engine about half warmed up but hydraulic fluid/tranny definitely not.