TO20 Hydraulic Lift Problem

Archer

New User
I've been working on my '51 TO20. Started with just fixing the brakes but found that my transmission/hydraulic oil was contaminated with water and decided to do something about that. I drained it, took off all the covers, removed the PTO shaft, the pump, the upper lift section, and the differential. I partially disassembled the pump and then I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned everything. I did the brakes while putting everything back together and those are not a problem. But, the lift arms have raised to full up position and will not go back down. Even after the tractor has been shut off for over an hour, I still cannot push them down. My wife suggested I just let it run for awhile and see if it will fix itself. I may do that just to keep her happy--always good to have a happy wife. But I'm hoping for some better suggestions here.
 
May be a dumb question, but did you disconnect the control valve at the pump before dropping the pump and hooked it back up afterwards? Take the side cover off with the dipstick and see if the control valve forks move when you move the quadrant lever. You can try pushing the fork back by hand and see if that drops the arms. Don't put your hands in there with the tractor running!

Dan
 
Thank you to all who have posted replies!

(quoted from post at 00:49:06 05/09/17) This might help you.
Thank you, Richard. Your search link yielded a lot of great posts that gave me some ideas on how and where to look. I had tried a search but I guess I didn't use the right key words to get good results.

(quoted from post at 10:54:01 05/09/17) It sound like the pump control valve is stuck.
Thank you, Michael. I agree. That was my first thought.

(quoted from post at 17:30:59 05/09/17) May be a dumb question, but did you disconnect the control valve at the pump before dropping the pump and hooked it back up afterwards? Take the side cover off with the dipstick and see if the control valve forks move when you move the quadrant lever. You can try pushing the fork back by hand and see if that drops the arms. Don't put your hands in there with the tractor running!
Thank you, Dan. Not a dumb question. I did disconnect the control valve, but I spent extra time making sure it was connected during reassembly. That doesn't mean I got it right since this was my first time opening up this tractor. I think that the first thing I do will be to follow your instructions.

One of the threads found through Richard L's link reveals that just a speck of dirt on the control valve will cause this problem, but there were other things mentioned in other threads to check. I will be back in my garage on Thursday to start checking things--have other priorities today and tomorrow.

I'm still open for more suggestions. I WILL come back and post new information/questions until this is resolved and I can post the solution.
 
:D [b:d5059ed491]Problem solved![/b:d5059ed491] Big thanks to Richard L!

(quoted from post at 00:49:06 05/09/17) This might help you.
TO 20 lift arms stuck up
I read through many of the threads from this search. Somewhere in one of them I read that if the castellated nut on the Control Lever is too tight, the lift arms won't go down. I remembered then that I had tightened that nut after reading paragraph 122 in the shop manual. So I went back out to the garage, loosened that nut and was then able to push the arms down. They are now working properly. Of course I didn't figure this out until after checking a few other things related to the control valve.

Thanks to all who posted your suggestions! :D
 

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