BX2200D Three Point Hitch won't move

[el_babo]

I picked up a BX2200D with an LA211 Front End Loader last weekend on auction and have run into an issue. The Loader works fine, the mower works fine, but the three point hitch won't move. I changed the hydraulic oil and, like I said the FEL is working fine so I don't think it's a pressure thing. Any ideas what else to check?
Note when I picked it up the three point was disconnected as in the picture attached. I bought the bolts to connect it and when I did so it came down but won't move up.
Any ideas welcome, thanks!

 

[Henro]

In one photo it looks like the arms are at mid point, and in the other it looks like they are all the way up.

So apparently they did move up once. Or I am not seeing correctly.

Anyway, if you mean the arms will not lower, there is a knob below the front of the seat that can limit lowering speed or event stop it, when turned closed.

Check that first. Turn it counter clockwise to open the valve, when viewed from the front of the tractor...and see what happens...

Edit: On reread of your post I guess my suggestion makes little sense. Sorry...

IF the arms will not lift, it is likely an issue with the internal cylinder that operates them.

2nd edit: But you say the mower deck works fine? The mower deck is raised and lowered by the 3PH...so something is missing in the equation, unless you mean the mower deck TURNS fine, but does not have vertical position capability.

 

[DustyRusty]

In the first picture the arms are down, and in the second picture the arms are up. You will have to push the 3 point hitch lever forward to lower the arms, but the arms will not lower unless there is some weight on them. If I remember correctly you can put the control lever into the lowering position and it will stay. Then walk around to the back of the tractor and give them a tug. It will require some effort since the arms are short and you will not have much leverage on your side. I have heard about the seal that is inside of the transmission ram going bad, but that is the rarity, and doesn't happen frequently.

 

[Henro]

In the first picture the arms are down, and in the second picture the arms are up. You will have to push the 3 point hitch lever forward to lower the arms, but the arms will not lower unless there is some weight on them. If I remember correctly you can put the control lever into the lowering position and it will stay. Then walk around to the back of the tractor and give them a tug. It will require some effort since the arms are short and you will not have much leverage on your side. I have heard about the seal that is inside of the transmission ram going bad, but that is the rarity, and doesn't happen frequently.

On my BX2200 the arms will lower without weight on them, when bare...granted other tractors might not be the same...

BUT I agree, forcing them down might prove something. BUT the OP said, if I remember correctly, they will not go up.

 

[el_babo]

OK, let me try to explain this (I'm new to tractors so hopefully I'm using the right terminology). When I first got the tractor the arms were locked all the way up and would not move (this is the first picture in my main post). I saw that the connector the the right of it was not connected to it so I bought the bolts and connected them. When I did so the arms unlocked and came all the way down (this is the second picture in the main post). Since doing so the hydraulic will not lift the arms back up, they move freely up and down by hand.

The mower will turn but I don't think it goes up and down from the hydraulic. I can set it up with the mower height knob. I did try turning the hydraulic speed knob and it didn't make a difference.

Would the loader still move if the seal was bad?

 

[Henro]

The knob that controls the lowering speed of the three point hitch does not affect the raise speed as far as my knowledge goes.

I also believe, but I am no expert, that the three point hitch, if not being activated, does not affect anything else in the hydraulic circuit.

So my understanding is if the 3PH cylinder was not working properly, it would not affect other hydraulics if the 3PH control were centered.

Hopefully someone with more specific knowledge and experience will chime in.

 

[DustyRusty]

Check all your hydraulic couplings to see if any of them are not fully seated. By this, I mean to disconnect them and then reconnect them. Also, while sitting in the seat, turn the knob under the seat fully counterclockwise to see if that makes a difference. Then pull back on the 3 point hitch lever to see if the arms raise.

 

[Brinet]

In both of your pictures, nothing is connected to the “lift arms”. The “lift rods” are connected to the frame at the top. I’m assuming they are connected to the “lower link“ on the bottom.

From your pictures, it also appears the lift arms were down at first, and then raised. However, your pictures may be out of order.

Disconnect the lift rods from the frame and connect them to the lift arms.

Also, it appears there is an extra long pin in the top link and non standard pins in the upper lift rods. CAREFULLY ensure there is no contact or interference between all the moving parts, especially the top link pin. It MAY come into contact with the lift arms. This would be bad. Don’t ask how I know!

 

[Henro]

In both of your pictures, nothing is connected to the “lift arms”. The “lift rods” are connected to the frame at the top. I’m assuming they are connected to the “lower link“ on the bottom.

From your pictures, it also appears the lift arms were down at first, and then raised. However, your pictures may be out of order.

Disconnect the lift rods from the frame and connect them to the lift arms.

Also, it appears there is an extra long pin in the top link and non standard pins in the upper lift rods. CAREFULLY ensure there is no contact or interference between all the moving parts, especially the top link pin. It MAY come into contact with the lift arms. This would be bad. Don’t ask how I know!

The OP did say he put the lift rods on the arms, and the arms did lower, but would then would not move raise the 3PH.

Great observation/suggestion on the pin length.

Thinking further, the OP might be wise to check whatever linkage exists between the 3PH control lever and the shaft that must go into the transmission case. Could be something as simple as slippage somewhere, or something broken/missing. Never had a reason to look at mine so do not remember the lay-out.

 

[DustyRusty]

The setup

it easy. He has the lift arms that connect to the lower arms of the 3 point hitch improperly positioned. He needs to remove the pins and hook them to the lift arms that come out of the tractor. Right now, they are fixed to the frame of the tractor inhibiting the setup to work properly.

 

[Russell King]

To the original poster
There is still a bit of confusion on what is and is not moving (I think).
In the pictures above the shorter arms at the top of the rear axle have moved.
The pictures also show the vertical connector rods in a stowed position on pin that would not let the lower arms move.

You may want to connect the lower arms to the upper arms with the vertical rods on both sides (and remove the long pin at the top link)

I think you are saying that the shorter arms moved down and now won’t move up. Lifting them by hand they will move freely. That may not be a good idea to lift them since there is a rod inside the tractor that can fall out of position (I think) so only lift a half inch or so.

There is a feedback rod attached to the shorter arm where it rotates (a tab should be connected to the rod). The rod then goes toward the front of the tractor o connect to another tab on another rod into the tractor case.

That rod must be connected to allow the hydraulic lift to work

 

[Henro]

The setup View attachment 72186 it easy. He has the lift arms that connect to the lower arms of the 3 point hitch improperly positioned. He needs to remove the pins and hook them to the lift arms that come out of the tractor. Right now, they are fixed to the frame of the tractor inhibiting the setup to work properly.

No, if you reread post #5 he says he did move the lift rods to the lift arms, and everything lowered, but the 3PH will not raise.

 

[DustyRusty]

Then if that is the case, the cylinder inside of the transmission will need to be rebuilt. This post might shed some additional useful information.... https://www.orangetractortalks.com/forums/threads/help-with-3-point-hitch-repair.33987/

 

[el_babo]

Thank you all for the suggestions and observations. I had to go out of town for about a week but I will follow up as soon as I get back. In answer to the questions above, I stowed the lower arms on the frame of the tractor while working on the lift arms that come out of the tractor. They were up all the way initially then when I put the bolts on it came all the way down and will not move up on it's own. I will likely record a video when I return to make it more clear what the setup is.

The rod coming from the lever to the handle feels extremely loose and doesn't seem to do much, so I plan on digging very deeply into that to see if something is disconnected or missing. I suspect it's similar to what you were describing here

"There is a feedback rod attached to the shorter arm where it rotates (a tab should be connected to the rod). The rod then goes toward the front of the tractor o connect to another tab on another rod into the tractor case. "

Again, thank you all for your responses, I truly appreciate them and the community here taking the time to answer my questions.

Side note, I do plan on replacing the non-standard connectors on the various parts as soon as I am able to get the hydraulics themselves to work.

 

[Andrew_TAS-AU]

Hello there
I just bought a loader equipped L series. On my tractor there is a dual hydraulic system with a tandem pump driven by the injector PTO (engine driven hydraulic pump) which I assume is common. The dudes who fitted the loader diverted the rear pump to the loader valve first which is fair enough, but that means the loader valve will be subject to system pressure on the T port when the linkage is lifting. If the valve is cheap enough this pressure could bust it. I wonder if maybe the OPs tractor loader valve was connected to the linkage pump and then back to the transmission housing and there’s no supply to the linkage at all?

 

[el_babo]

I'm sure it's been too long to matter but I owed you guys a follow up. The issue ended up being with the hoses hooked up to the FEL. The prior owner had some sort of secondary attachment (probably a grapple) and when he took it off he hooked the hoses back up incorrectly, losing all hydraulic pressure at the 3 pt hitch. A trip to the local tractor repair shop figured it out and saved me a bundle. Thank you all for your help and suggestions.

 

[Henro]

It’s great that you came back with the update. Thanks!