3 point hitch won't raise

I am new to farm tractors and am going to look at a Ferguson 30. The owner says the 3 point hitch will not raise. What would I look for to determine what could be wrong? I have not had a farm tractor before, but I can usually fix about most anything rebuilt a couple Gravely's that I use all the time. Thanks Mark

look at the left side behind your left foot there is the hydraulic lever on the side of the hydraulic case that turns the hydraulics on. If engine is running push the clutch down and move the lever either forward or backward. I want to say the lever should be pushed back to have the hydraulics operate but not positive at this time.

Also after getting lift working when you depress the clutch the power lift will not work until you let clutch out. This a single stage clutch which the 30 has.

The pto must be engaged to drive the pump and that"s done, as Richard says via the lever above the left side running board. Assuming that"s engaged, failure to lift is generally caused by a problem with the control valve sticking in the exhaust position. To get at that you have to remove the right access cover to the hydraulic compartment. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES PLACE YOUR HANDS IN THE HYDRAULIC COMPARTMENT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING!
With the engine off, look for the "H" shaped control fork and feel down in the fluid for the "T" shaped connection of the control fork and the control valve. Make sure this is firmly in the sockets on the control fork end. Make sure the control stem is attached to the control stem cross piece. SOmetimes the cross piece comes out of the control fork sockets andcontrol valves have a cross piece that is held to the control stem with a cotter pin and this fails. If either of these occur, the control fork can"t move the control valve and the three point won"t move.

Push the valve stem forward it should move about an inch. Push it backward and it should come back about an inch. It should do this smoothly with little effort. Now start the tractor and engage the pto. Move the lift lever upward and look for the "H" shaped control fork to move the control valve forward. This should cause the 3 pt to raise. Push the control lever down and this will cause the control valve stem to move aft and the 3 pt should drop.

That"s how it should work.

If it is cuput you can buy rebuild kits for the hydraulic pump and its not rocket science so if you are handy with the tools do not let it put you off.

Hopefully the price is reflective of the non working hydraulics. Maybe have a little look at the prices for rebuild kits, spares etc.
Not the end of the world if the hydraulics dont work. You will still enjoy driving the tractor about the place :wink:

I've just been through this.

One valve bank broke the bolt that holds the cap on one side of the pump.

You can see them through the ports on either side.

If it is this you'll have to drop the pump to find the bits.

Getting that control fork off the control valve is interesting. Getting it back is even more so.