Why would Draft Control Lever be Frozen?

GeoHorn

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While looking at my M4700 draft control (tractor is sitting still and not running) the Draft Control lever will NOT move. I notice the Ops Manual says not to use the hydraulic system until the tractor is warmed up or damage can occur. The temps down here are in the mid-70s.
Why would the Draft Control lever be frozen stiff?
 

bluedunn

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Thetford, VT
While looking at my M4700 draft control (tractor is sitting still and not running) the Draft Control lever will NOT move. I notice the Ops Manual says not to use the hydraulic system until the tractor is warmed up or damage can occur. The temps down here are in the mid-70s.
Why would the Draft Control lever be frozen stiff?
Not sure if this is the answer for you, but mine (on my BX) was frozen because it had never been used (as far as I know - bought the tractor used). I ended up using PB Blaster on the valve, let it soak overnight, then slowly turning the valve - worked like a charm. Again, not sure if this is the same on the M-series or if this is the answer, but worked for me.
 

SidecarFlip

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Not sure if this is the answer for you, but mine (on my BX) was frozen because it had never been used (as far as I know - bought the tractor used). I ended up using PB Blaster on the valve, let it soak overnight, then slowly turning the valve - worked like a charm. Again, not sure if this is the same on the M-series or if this is the answer, but worked for me.
Thing you have the 3 point lowering control mixed up with the draft control. I don't believe any BX has draft control as it's really not a ground engaging tractor. Draft control will be a lever on the side (usually right) of the seat next to the position control lever. The lowering control valve freezes up from non use often. I make a habit of turning mine often to keep it free
 

SDT

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Thing you have the 3 point lowering control mixed up with the draft control. I don't believe any BX has draft control as it's really not a ground engaging tractor. Draft control will be a lever on the side (usually right) of the seat next to the position control lever. The lowering control valve freezes up from non use often. I make a habit of turning mine often to keep it free
Bingo.

BX does not have draft control and few L series tractors do either as it is a rarely specified option.

SDT
 
Last edited:

SDT

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While looking at my M4700 draft control (tractor is sitting still and not running) the Draft Control lever will NOT move. I notice the Ops Manual says not to use the hydraulic system until the tractor is warmed up or damage can occur. The temps down here are in the mid-70s.
Why would the Draft Control lever be frozen stiff?
The draft control system on Kubota L series tractors is a bit of a Rube Goldberg, being comprised of external linkages connected to the lift arm, position control lever, draft control lever, draft feedback rocker, and the lift valve.

Moreover, draft control is a dealer installed option on the L series and proper set-up requires loading the lift arms with 900 Lbs. (L6060) of suitcase weights (not 950 or 850 but 900) for proper adjustment. Because few dealers do this, most are not properly set up or even non functional.

With weight on the lift, the linkages may well be under stress especially if the engine is not running. Forcing the draft control lever in such condition can result in damage.

SDT
 
Last edited:

GeoHorn

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Thanks SDT for that.
Not knowing squat about real farming (other than from the consuming end and that farmers are the real heros these days) ... I have little use for Draft Control, but I do want my tractor to work properly and got curious about it after reading another thread.

I didn’t force it but I did apply about 5 lbs force and it didn’t move so I got curious. Since I’ve got quarantine-boredom I decided to experiment with it and discovered it apparently frozen while just sitting in the shed.

I keep a finish mower on it mostly and when I park it after mowing the runway I lower the implement and shut down the tractor, then raise the position-lever so that when I start it up again I don’t forget to raise the mower before backing out.
Just for drill I decided to move the Draft Lever to exercise it and found it frozen (I imagined initially from lack-of-use.).
But your post SDT makes sense so I started it up and found it still frozen... until I lowered the position-lever and then found it would (very stiffly) allow me to raise the Draft Lever. Placing the Position Lever UP with the Draft Lever UP, then lowering the Position Lever ... keeps the implement mostly UP. Lowering the Draft Lever only an inch will lower the implement completely, so perhaps it’s all working.... Who knows.... I don’t know squat about draft other than I still have my draft-card from 1966.
 

bluedunn

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BX1860, FEL, MMM, Heavy Hitch Back Plow Blade
Aug 29, 2019
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Thetford, VT
Thing you have the 3 point lowering control mixed up with the draft control. I don't believe any BX has draft control as it's really not a ground engaging tractor. Draft control will be a lever on the side (usually right) of the seat next to the position control lever. The lowering control valve freezes up from non use often. I make a habit of turning mine often to keep it free
Ohhh, got it. Nope, no draft control on the BX. That said, the 3-point lowering control was seized up on mine when I first got the tractor. I'm assuming that was from non-use. Even if I'm not going to be using the 3-pt. I still find myself turning the lowering control just make sure it doesn't freeze up again. Thanks for the clarification!