Cockshutt 550 3PH not working

JohnnyUnknown · Jul 27, 2023

I have 2 cockshutt 550's, one running and one 'used to be running' lol. The 3 point hitch on the good tractor does not work, but I know the hydraulic pump is working as I have tested the remote connections using a wood splitter we have on the property. When the wood splitter is connected, and the remotes are enabled, I can hear the pump working and the axe splitter has plenty of power.

When I attempt to move the 3 point hitch control, there is nothing - no sound from the pump, no movement in the hitch. I can physically lift the 3PH up by hand with little to no resistance, and it will just fall back down to bottom.

However - If I attempt to engage the remotes without anything connected - the 3PH will slowly creep up without any input or controls.

I thought I would reach out and see if there are any opinions on what exactly might be wrong, before I attempt to open up the hydraulics on both units to swap out the valve bodies on the 3PH and hope that fixes it.

DanielW · Jul 27, 2023

The rear end of the 540 and 550 is the same (or rather: very, very similar). I know a few people on here have posted about the three points on their
540's not working. It usually seems to be the spool or some part of the linkage stuck/seized inside the housing - so moving the lift lever pulls on
the spring/linkage, but doesn't actually activate the valve. Easy fix: pop off the cover, work the spool and linkages back and forth with some lube,
and it usually fixes it.

How long has it been acting up? Has it ever worked? Are the remote connections OEM, or has it been plumbed in afterwards. On my 540, some goofball
plumbed a loaded valve in without the power beyond port heading to the servo valve inlet, so the three point didn't work.

Take a look at this link and scroll down to the picture someone posted to see what to expect when you pop the cover off.
Cockshutt 3 Point Hitch Linkages

JohnnyUnknown · Jul 27, 2023

Hi Daniel. Thanks for the reference picture, definitely helps with understanding of what I am getting into. I have the owners manual, shop manual, parts manual but the drawings still dont give me a clear idea. I can see better details and clarity in the picture.

The good 550 is a recent purchase, and the previous owner claimed he never used the 3PH, so couldn't give any clarity on if it ever worked for him.

As for the accessory fittings being OEM - Not sure, but they look very similar between the two machines, so assumption would be yes. HOWEVER... on the good 550, there is a [u:18de7b8713]third[/u:18de7b8713] accessory hose, off on its own, that is not on the other 550. So I am wondering if someone took the liberty of plumbing in a third line and might have re-routed / damaged some original functions.. I definitely dont see a third line in the manuals.

DanielW · Jul 27, 2023

Hmmm, there's lots of things that someone could have done which would bypass the hitch functionality. Here's a diagram Phil/Dean have
circled around a few times on these forums of the typical 540/550 hydraulic layout. If you have a chance, maybe post some pictures.

I'd probably start by draining/popping off the cover and trying to free up the linkages and see if you notice anything amiss while you're
in there.

DanielW · Jul 27, 2023

That schematic is a little hard to decipher in the picture I just posted - Looks like you don't have e-mail enabled, but if
you send me one I can send you the picture in a clearer format.

JohnnyUnknown · Jul 27, 2023

(quoted from post at 16:32:43 07/27/23) That schematic is a little hard to decipher in the picture I just posted - Looks like you don't have e-mail enabled, but if
you send me one I can send you the picture in a clearer format.

I have enabled the email feature, so feel free to email..

I snapped pictures of the rear end / hydraulic hoses for reference.. One shows the 2 external connections (looks OEM to me), and the second other shows the 3rd external hose connection.. it appears to originate from under the draft control linkage, but I cant see anything in any of the manuals that would indicate the ability to connect a 3rd hydraulic hose there..

[/img:0385d7b12c]

J.Wondergem · Jul 27, 2023

I just went out and looked, mine has a pipe plug where your hose is. Both my 3pt and remotes work.

P Heisey Harleysville,PA · Jul 27, 2023

Your inside the unit VICKERS three point hydraulic valve may have stuck spools, linkage that has come apart, or broken linkage parts. The other valve on the left inside of the unit is the valve for the remote hooked up equipment.

WE have parts on stock, if needed,

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651

DanielW · Jul 28, 2023

That third hose is connected to the hydraulic drain plug. See the pics in this link. I suspect someone's done that for one
of two reasons:

i) To allow you to drain the hydraulics easier (it's pretty awkward to drain fluid form that drain plug location - you end
up just spilling it all over everything.

ii) If they were operating a single-acting cylinder with the current dual-acting remotes, they might have just plugged one
remote right back into the tank via that third hose so it wasn't always blowing by the relief every time they lowered the
implement.

Either way, I don't think it would cause an issue with the three-point hitch. You have the original accessory valve for the
remotes, so I imagine everything is hooked up properly, so I'm still thinking it's a stick linkage/spool.
Hydraulic Drain Plug Location

DanielW · Jul 28, 2023

What's the scoop on that PTO pump - is it running the hydraulics, or is that something that's been added on to power a loader/additional load? If it's being used to replace the original pump, where is it drawing its fluid from.

If it's being used to replace the original pump, I would have thought it would draw its fluid from the hose connected to the drain port. It looks as if it might be drawing its fluid from the left side of the housing, which might be causing issues.

JohnnyUnknown · Jul 28, 2023

(quoted from post at 09:12:45 07/28/23) What's the scoop on that PTO pump - is it running the hydraulics, or is that something that's been added on to power a loader/additional load? If it's being used to replace the original pump, where is it drawing its fluid from.

If it's being used to replace the original pump, I would have thought it would draw its fluid from the hose connected to the drain port. It looks as if it might be drawing its fluid from the left side of the housing, which might be causing issues.

PTO pump is a self contained unit for the front end loader. Its drawing from a reservoir that is mounted to the loader frame. There's no connections to the on-board OEM hydraulic system.

JohnnyUnknown · Aug 1, 2023

(quoted from post at 09:53:30 07/28/23)

(quoted from post at 09:12:45 07/28/23)

Click to expand...

Hi Daniel, everyone,

before I pop the top on my hydraulic system - will I need a specific rubber seal / ring to re-seal the cover afterwards, or is this something I can craft from a roll of cork?

Just want to make sure that, no matter what happens with the hydraulics, I can still use the tractor to at least pull from the draw bar. Dont want to pop it off then be waiting to order a seal.

DanielW · Aug 1, 2023

I have to confess I completely forget how it was sealed. I definitely didn't buy
anything special on mine, so I must have just cut it out of a piece of gasket
material. The picture on the parts book seems to indicate a flat gasket as well, so
I think you're ok with the cork idea.
Cockshutt 550 Parts Manual

JohnnyUnknown · Apr 22, 2024

Hi all, finally got around to work on the hydraulics on this machine. Pulled the seat off, opened the tank, only to find that it was the draft (draught?) control that was stuck all the way out. Separated the linkages inside the tank, beat the crap out of the top link mount to get it to release, then greased the draft control connection so it wouldn’t stick.

Put it all back together, and works like a charm!! Now it has a small drip out of the outboard hydraulic control arm (where the control arm goes into the side of the tank) but that’s another day.

(Oh yeah, got rid of the pesky extra hose that was in the drain plug while I had everything apart)

Thanks for all the guidance and comments!

Cockshutt 550 3PH not working

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