Ferguson to20 3 point lift quit working

Just as I finished plowing my driveway today, the 3 point quit working (won't lift). It was used several times in clearing off the snow on the drive. It is not low on hydraulic fluid. The power takeoff is engaged and the lift lever is in the proper position to lift. I took the plow off and there is no resistance to lifting the arms by hand. When I lift them and let go they drop without resistance also. I hear no noise when the lever is up or down. Any ideas? Is the repair likely to be more than the tractor is worth? I've owned it for 25 years with no real problems before this.

You may have had the valve come off the lift linkage. To
check, engine off, remove one of the side covers. Reach to
the bottom of the controller arm and you should, or should not
feel the valve "T" fitting. I had mine come off last summer
because the cotter pin I had put on 8 years ago broke. A new
cotter pin fixed it.

If you look under the parts link find the hydraulic control valve
and you will see what it looks like.

You may also have just had the control arms open enough to
let the T fitting out. Squeeze them a bit tighter and reinstall
and good to go.

If it was not either of these issues you may have a bigger
problem. Still you won't know till you open up a side.

Keep us posted for help.

Not much to the hydraulic system that cannot be
easily fixed.

First do as Tom suggests. Take off the right
side inspection plate and take a looksie. You
will see to 3/4" vertical arms. This is the
control fork. As you move the lift lever back
and forth you should see these arms move.

Feel down the arms into the oil at the end is a
cup 1/4" in diameter that holds a cross-piece
"yoke" that connects the two arms. In the
middle of this yoke is an axial pin that goes
to the control valve. This is the area Tom is
discussing.

couple of possibilities here. 1) yoke has
popped out of the cups. Just re-hook back up.
2) The yoke to the control valve pin has
separated. Repair as needed (new cotter pin?)

Another possibility is the Pressure relief
valve has stuck open. This just needs the PR
valve replaced. To check start tractor and
engage PTO. Keep your finger out and look for
oil swirling between the control for arms.

Also at this time look for any oil leaks or
dripping/ streams coming from above in the
hydro cover.

If you find anything out let us know and we'll
go from there.

Jeff

top picture shows the control valve connected to the yoke bottom right side, and the yoke/control valve exploded view in the box at the bottom. The second picture shows the control fork with the yoke in the fork cups, right side. The pump is removed.

Jeff, thanks for putting those pics up I didn't have any to post.
Tom

(quoted from post at 19:55:52 03/06/15) Jeff, thanks for putting those pics up I didn't have any to post.
Tom

Click to expand...

Thank you gentlemen. I found that the piece between the arms had indeed come out. However, after 20 min of trying I have been unable to get the thing back into the cups on either side. Is there a trick to this or should it be relatively easy?
Dale

You should be able to undo a bolt on one side enough to
spread it open and insert the part.

Back in business and working better than ever. Drained the fluid, had both side covers off and my son came over and had it back in place in about 10 seconds. It's good to be young. Thanks again for the fix!!!
Dale

Great to hear. Quick inexpensive fix.

Hi Jeff,
where did you locate the Ferguson hydraulic parts schematic? I have a Ferguson manual and cannot find any reference to such in the manual.
I am rebuilding a TO30 and the small snap ring on the lift control plunger broke. looks like part 13 from the scematic. any idea where to purchase such a small fine snap ring?

Dale send me an e-mail I can send you a parts
book.

Jeff

my son "bails" me out often these days.