Draft adjustment

DBrad

New User
Hi all,
I recently replaced the position cam stop pin on my Dexta. I thought I followed the instructions for adjusting the draft and position controls before reassembly but I must of done something wrong. Position
control works well but when putting the selector to draft control (vertical) I am not able to raise the arms/implement at all at the top of the quadrant. Any ideas what I might of done wrong?
 
Where did you find the instructions for setting up the lift? If you did not follow the correct procedure, you could be way out of adjustment.

I hope you mean Super Major and not Dexta as the selector lever is up for draft control on a Super and points to the footplate for Draft control on a Dexta.

cvphoto104721.jpg


Lever in Position Control for Dexta
 
Hi Majorman,
Fordson Dexta, selector lever pointed vertically toward the footplate. I did the adjustment using the workshop manual (http://www.smallholderservices.co.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/section8_hydraulics) and following Oscar's instructions from the Fordsontractorpages website: https://www.fordsontractorpages.nl/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000150.html

I am wondering if I didn't quite get the setting of the Qualitrol correct. There was basically no thread showing on the turn buckle and I would of thought there should be some. The stamped adjusting nut (no. 32 in the workshop manual) was also not right upto part 31, I wasn't able to tighten the lock nut on the thread.

I know I will have to remove the lift cover again but would like some ideas of what I have done wrong as it isn't the easiest part to lift off and on to do adjustments.
 
Qualitrol (Draft) Control adjustment. This must be done before Position Control Adjustment.

Move the lift arms to the fully up position. (As the lift is on its back this will mean that the arms are fully down). Now move the arms down until the upper surface of the yoke in which the linkage fits is level with the gasket surface of the lift housing. This can be checked with a straight edge. The arms can be held in this position by tightening the arm retaining studs. Do not forget to slacken these when the lift is replaced.

Set the draft/position control selector into Qualitrol (draft).

Set the main lift control lever to the upper raise stop in the quadrant then move it towards the lower position until the upper edge of the lever is 13mm (1/2) from the top stop.

Adjust the turnbuckle on the control valve until the front edge of the control valve is 10mm from the rear face of the control valve bush in the ram cylinder.

Tighten the turnbuckle lock nut and recheck the measurement.

Position Control Adjustment.

Lift arms in the same position as with the Qualitrol adjustment.

Set the draft/position control selector to Position Control.

Set the main control lever to the lower stop at the bottom of the quadrant.

Identify the position control rod. This will be pushing on a flat area on the control valve operating lever.

Slacken the locknut on the position control rod and turn the rod until a measurement of 13mm is found between the front edge of the control valve and the rear face of the control valve bush.

Tighten position control rod locknut.
Refit lift with new gaskets and O rings and having care not to rest the lift on the control valve when refitting it.

I wrote the instructions for The Fordson Tractor Pages and the Smallholder site borrowed them without my permission so I do not know how accurate they are.
 
Majorman,
the Smallholder site didn't borrow your instructions, they have a pdf copy of the official workshop manual.
 
They contacted Oscar and I and asked if they could use the hydraulic adjustments and the tyre fitting instructions from the site. They actually published both until we asked them to stop.
 
If you follow either instructions there should be no problem. Check that the draft control spring is set correctly. The only other areas that may affect things are the cam on the position control where the pin runs, if that is worn it may set the linkage wrong.

The linkage could be bent.

The other thing I have come across is if someone has put a ram cylinder from a 2-3000 in as a replacement. This will muck up the adjustments.

If you have got a picture of the ram cylinder, control valve and the linkage that will help.

If you are in Europe, I have a lot of good linkage parts that I have saved from old lifts that could be of use.

Brian
 
Hi Brian,
Sorry not the best image but it one I took when I first took the lift cover off. The turn buckle link has a slight bend in it.

Unfortunately in Australia and there isnt to many Dexta parts around these days second hand. Good supply of aftermarket parts for engine and some other components but the hydraulic internals not so much.
Untitled URL Link
 
The picture shows that the lift is waaaaay out of adjustment, there is no way should the locknut on the Position setting be that far back, usually there are three to four threads showing through the locking part.

Has the adjuster that pushes into the control valve been modified/shortened? Just checking back, did you set the Draft control before the Position control?

Were the lift arms in the fully lowered position when you adjusted it?


cvphoto104874.jpg



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These are the only bits that could possibly be involved and this is just me thinking out loud.

Could the key on the lever itself be sheared causing the control lever to be in the wrong position?

cvphoto104876.jpg


Did you have everything out of the lift including removing the quadrant and taking the lever shaft out?

And, of course, the key question, did it work before you started?
 
Hi Brian,
sorry that was a picture of when I first removed the cover. No it didn't work, the position cam stop pin was totally worn through. I wondered about the lock nut, I think I will have to get a new one, I couldn't tighten the existing lock nut any more. Am I correct that it is 3/8 x 24 TPI (UNF)? If that is most likely the issue I will pull the cover off again, fit a new lock nut and follow your instructions. Hopefully that will fix the issue. Strangely enough position control works seemingly ok.

I will let you know how I go hopefully by the end of the week.

Thanks,
Damon
 
That certainly looks much better Damon, do not know what you are referring to when you say drawbar plate. To me, that is the bit that fits on the bottom of the rear axle housing to take a swinging drawbar. :0)
 
Hi Brian,
cam plate according to the parts list. I thought the drawbar plate term was very strange in the workshop manual.

Fingers crossed it works when back together.
 
You are right, I have never looked those parts up in the parts book before but in my original dealer Ford parts book for the Dexta, they call the plate Drawbar Plate and the cam Drawbar Cam, how strange.
 
Hi Brian,
Put the lift cover on today and draft still wont lift to transport (fully raised) at top of the quadrant. Pulled the lift cover off and it no longer measures 10mm at the position for setting draft. I think there is more slop and wear in the linkages than I thought. I will need to has a longer threaded link made for the turn buckle.

Any tricks for adjusting the Dexta with 60 years of wear?
 
Hi Brian,
Lengthened and straightened the link and turn buckle and I can now raise the linkage in draft control, following your instructions. The little Dexta can do tillage work again.

Thanks very much for the effort in first typing out those instructions and your answering my questions.

Regards,
Damon
 
You are welcome Damon, over the years I have only had one case of the adjusting rod having to be lengthened, I have two lifts from scrap tractors here and my own petrol Dexta, all lifts from between 1959 and 1960 according to the date codes, and all adjust up perfectly with no problems.

If she is working again, well done, now just enjoy her. I will be taking mine out on the brush hog once it dries up a bit and I have some inter-row cultivation to do between the flower rows for next Spring.
 

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