Sweet Deal Turned Sour; Can someone help?

Me and my big mouth!!!

I was so darned proud of myself for finding this old '80 model 686 for a nice price.

Wrong!!! Bad Mistake!!! Somebody kick me!! This sweetheart deal went south big time.

I've got a problem in the hydraulics. I'm told this tractor is basically the same as a 656 or 666; components are just a little heavier is all.

PTO seems to operate fine. The steering works great, both of the 2 remote levers make 'er grunt in both directions without having anything hooked to them; so far, so good.

The three point moves freely up and down, even works great with me standing on one of the arms. Lifts just fine.

However, when I hook my bush hog up to the tractor, it tries to lift but won't. The tractor just can't lift a lot of weight.

If I manually jack up the implement, the system will hold it up fine and will let it down all at once or in increments depending on where I put the position-lever, just as it should. The three point just won't lift the weight back up again.

I've changed the fluid, the filter and purged all the air. Fluid level is right on the full mark.

Anyone got any ideas?

I really hate being mad at a red tractor and am feeling very foolish for buying it, right about now.

Thanks,

Allan

Boy! Ain't that the truth.

This darned old tractor has made me made now, tho.

I'll throw money at it till it's new again. There, guess that show it who's boss. )grin(

Thanks for the reply,

Allan

Well, if nothing else, you guys have made me feel a lot better about this old red tractor. )grin(

My first clue should have been the bottom arms and the drawbar. The "extenders" on the 3-point arms were rusted solid in the full extended position and packed full of rock-hard Iowa dirt in behind them. I worked for two full days getting them freed up. Also, those bottom pivot balls at the tractor tortion bar have almost "no" evidence of wear.

The drawbar was likewise rusted solid in the full extended position and does show signs of a lot of wear from heavy pulling. This kinda tells me that the 3-point hydraulics haven't been working right for a long, long time and was allowed to just "rust up".

Last night, I pulled the seat and cover plate off and ran the tests from the IT manual. Very little pressure and nothing bleeding off in the piston area, so it looks like it is pump time. (This one uses the little 7gpm piggy-back pump and has no brake assist feature that I'm aware of. According to the manual, tractors shipped without the 3-point or fast hitch lift system didn't have a back pump at all, just a rear cover plate).

A new pump is $500, but I'm in so deep now that I can't turn back, and I guess I knew all along, deep-down that this old tractor was just a step or two away from the iron pile anyway.

Can I nose the tractor up on a bank (moving the oil to the rear) to change out the pump?

Thanks to all and excuse the long post,

Allan

Is that the relief valve that is in the right front corner (I think) of the compartment?

Allan

I don't know nothin I was just trying to help you think. I suppose there could be an internal leak that is letting the pressure get away.

Well, you're right there. I can sure use all the "thinkin' help" I can get, 'cause I'm the world's dumbest.

Still, I've got nothing to lose 'cause if I road her into town, it will probably cost me close to $1,000 I'd bet, so I'm gonna rip her open tonight here and see if that valve is spraying fluid when it lifts.

It has either got to be leaking off somewhere or the pump is shot; since it holds a load up, one would think that the piston seal has got to be okay.

I'm still unclear on the remotes tho. The guy in at the "Red Shop" says that the remotes and the power steering come off of a piggy-back pump and that the 3 point is all by itself on that big pump. I just dunno.

Thanks for your help,

Allan