3 point won't lift

Well now the starter is off being rebuilt I will pose another question. My 3 point lift does not do as well as I think it should, first it settles badly. If left in up postion and tractor shut off, 3 point will lower itself within seconds, you can see it move. Secondly, after drilling a post hole the 3 point does NOT have enough power to raise the auger out of the hole. it is an 8" auger. I also have a 60 mower deck that can attach to the 3 point...it will not lift it either.
I have had the case open and rebuilt the lift cylinder as it was leaking terribly (you could see the oil pouring out under pressure) but that has been fixed. Did see some improvement, but the description above are AFTER the cylinder rebuild. What do I look for next? and where?

Change the Safety Valve which is combined with the Check Valve, if the check valve leaks it will creep down, as it will if the Safety Valve is worn through excessive discharging. This is something you need to do anyway, there could be other leaks on it but you need to replace the Safety Valve/check valve to be sure that it is OK. The Safety Valve has probably been discharging if you have been using a PHB and allowed it to get too deep before lifting it out each time to clear. Lift it every few inches depth and that will be avoided. If you need more info about this repair, just email me and I will send it to you with some pictures of where to look.....John
[email protected]

I thought your tractor was a TO20 or TO30 until I saw your post about the PTO on a TO35, you didn't actually say what it was. The Hydraulics dropping on your tractor can be something or very little. Usual one is the "O" rings on the High Pressure Oil Pipe on the front right corner under the square plate, these compress and should be changed regularly. It can be the Safety Valve, no check valve on this model. It can be the valves in the side chambers leaking through wear. One that is usually forgotten is the Control Valve. It has a series of thin sealing washers that it moves through, these washers wear and the oil escapes past them. If you use the PHB you should be using the Position Control Lever (the round one) to lift and lower and hold at whatever point you wish. If you use the Draft Lever (square one) when you lift you will be discharging the Safety Valve and it will wear, then leak. Remove the PTO Lever to see inside, you can see everything through that side with a lamp. You can change the Safety Valve through the Right side cover easily. If you need info about doing this work or the correct way to operate the Hydraulics on your TO35, email me and I will send [email protected]

sorry, yep a TO35
I do use the round knobbed lift, I played with the levers before any load on 3 point to understand how they worked, and they are very similar to the ford 8n which I learned on as a child....lol
I have emailed you and yes, any and all information would be appreciated. (fuctionality of the levers and hydraulics would be fantastic. This tractor has a rebuilt motor and runs very nice....if I can get the hydraulics improved it would be a great little acerage tractor.

You should have received my reply by now, I sent it a while ago....John

I recieve your information...THANK YOU SO MUCH, there is a ton of info here with pictures... I will keep you posted, once again I really appreciate your help.

Don't take it apart without knowing just what you are looking for or you may never find the problem. If you can't find the fault, email me again at [email protected]