Tractor hydraulic question

[1100011CS]

I have an old tractor (AC 5050) that the 3 point hitch arms won't work. The don't do anything. I can freely lift them up by hand and they just fall down. It has fluid and I've cleaned the filter. Any ideas where to look? I'm assuming it's a stuck valve somewhere but not really sure where to start.

 

[PineClone]

Does it have other hydraulics that are working (e.g. a loader)?

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Have you messed with the draft control lever? Not sure it would cause this but something to look at. Otherwise, I'd agree with a stuck valve.

 

[JM4CY]

I have an old tractor (AC 5050) that the 3 point hitch arms won't work. The don't do anything. I can freely lift them up by hand and they just fall down. It has fluid and I've cleaned the filter. Any ideas where to look? I'm assuming it's a stuck valve somewhere but not really sure where to start.

Have you cussed at it real loud and hit it with a rubber mallet with all your might?

My grandpa used to do that in situations like that on his farm and I’ll be damned if I haven’t seen that work more than once.

 

[Sparkplug]

Have you cussed at it real loud and hit it with a rubber mallet with all your might?

My grandpa used to do that in situations like that on his farm and I’ll be damned if I haven’t seen that work more than once.

If that doesn’t work get a bigger hammer and try again

If you want real answers go to yesterdaystractors.com

Those guys are great. Many were former tractor mechanics

 

[BCClone]

Paint it a different color, any color will work better than that orange stuff. Pump may be out. Do the SCVs work?

 

[DeereClone]

Stuck valve or hydraulic pump out would be my guess.

 

[motorcy90]

as others have said do other functions work and it's just the 3pt? hydraulics can be a pain in the ass and simple all at the same time.

 

[mramseyISU]

Since this is my day job I suppose I can give my 2 cents worth.
If it has power steering and you can turn the wheels your pump is probably fine.
My guess is you have a stuck spool on the control or your cylinder needs rebuilt.

 

[Acylum]

CycloneFanatic, AHF.

 

[Candide]

I don't have anything to add to the actual question, but these guys at work bring in this classic tractor magazine and I absolutely love looking at it.

That being said, I would love to see some of everyone's favorite tractors.

I love love these because my Grandpa was a Massey man in Northeast Iowa when I was growing up:



Not trying to hijack the thread, but I love old tractors.

 

[BCClone]

I don't have anything to add to the actual question, but these guys at work bring in this classic tractor magazine and I absolutely love looking at it.

That being said, I would love to see some of everyone's favorite tractors.

I love love these because my Grandpa was a Massey man in Northeast Iowa when I was growing up:

View attachment 75573

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I love old tractors.

First tractor I ever drove. You may not believe, but at age 5. I couldn't tie my shoes yet when I was driving it. Sitting in a shed and hasn't ran for five years. I need to pull it out and get it going again.

 

[Blandboy]

First tractor I ever drove. You may not believe, but at age 5. I couldn't tie my shoes yet when I was driving it. Sitting in a shed and hasn't ran for five years. I need to pull it out and get it going again.
View attachment 75576

My uncle had one of those; pulled us around the farm on a hay rack.

My bother has a fully restored 1937 John Deere B that's pretty sweet. Real tractors are green, and you can't beat that 2-cylinder Johnny Popperputt-putt-putt...

 

[DeereClone]

Since this is my day job I suppose I can give my 2 cents worth.
If it has power steering and you can turn the wheels your pump is probably fine.
My guess is you have a stuck spool on the control or your cylinder needs rebuilt.

I was going to mention this in my post but forgot. Good call.

 

[mramseyISU]

I was going to mention this in my post but forgot. Good call.

That’s also making the assumption there is only one pump on the tractor. Now if we’re talking about a sort of modern row crow or 4wd that goes out the window. If it was me based on the floppy cylinder I’d put my money on needing to rebuild that first.

 

[1100011CS]

Since this is my day job I suppose I can give my 2 cents worth.
If it has power steering and you can turn the wheels your pump is probably fine.
My guess is you have a stuck spool on the control or your cylinder needs rebuilt.

It has power steering. I just figured that out this summer after wrestling with it all winter. It leaks like crazy so the reservoir where fluid for power steering goes in has to be filled often. It was dry when I found it early this spring. 'stuck spool' what/where is this?

In reply to others, all other functions work. PTO works, front end loader works but that's a completely different hydraulic system that runs of the PTO. THe 3pt hitch hydraulic pump is run directly off the engine and uses the transmission fluid.

 

[1100011CS]

I don't have anything to add to the actual question, but these guys at work bring in this classic tractor magazine and I absolutely love looking at it.

That being said, I would love to see some of everyone's favorite tractors.

I love love these because my Grandpa was a Massey man in Northeast Iowa when I was growing up:

View attachment 75573

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I love old tractors.

You consider that old?

 

[mramseyISU]

It has power steering. I just figured that out this summer after wrestling with it all winter. It leaks like crazy so the reservoir where fluid for power steering goes in has to be filled often. It was dry when I found it early this spring. 'stuck spool' what/where is this?

In reply to others, all other functions work. PTO works, front end loader works but that's a completely different hydraulic system that runs of the PTO. THe 3pt hitch hydraulic pump is run directly off the engine and uses the transmission fluid.

So the spool should be physically connected to the lever you use to lift the 3pt with on a tractor that old I think. I wouldn't think it would be electronically activated on that tractor. I could be way wrong about that though since I'm not really an old tractor guy.

You can find that spool by either looking at what your lever is connected to or following the hoses from your cylinder. It should look similar to the picture below.

 

[Candide]

You consider that old?

No, but I love the stuff from the 60's and 70's. Great aesthetics.

 

[Clone83]

I don't have anything to add to the actual question, but these guys at work bring in this classic tractor magazine and I absolutely love looking at it.

That being said, I would love to see some of everyone's favorite tractors.

I love love these because my Grandpa was a Massey man in Northeast Iowa when I was growing up:

View attachment 75573

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I love old tractors.

Massey used to have a plant in Des Moines:

Massey Ferguson Factory, Des Moines, Iowa

This blogspot site is designed to provide information and history on the Massey Ferguson, Inc. agricultural implement and tractor factory that operated in Des Moines, Iowa from 1965-1982. Massey Ferguson, Inc. moved it's corporate offices from Detroit, Michigan to 1901 Bell Ave. in Des Moines...

masseyfergusonplantdesmoines.blogspot.com

I don't recall the model, but in 1982 (the same year M-F got out of Des Moines), I ran one of these bad boys 15/16 hours a day, week after week, west of Randall/Story City:


It was a wet spring and we didn't get into the fields until something like May 25th. It was tiled, but still wet, probably some of the best cropland in Iowa. I would get as close as I could to the wet spots. Just once did I get so close that I almost got stuck. It took about 45 minutes to get out. The entire tractor pivoted in the middle when turning, so you could easily approach things from different angles. I was so happy. Besides the potential embarrassment, I was pretty far from anywhere and didn’t want have to walk.