3 point leak down

hearnc843 · Nov 19, 2020

The three point lift on my 175 does not stay up when the tractor is off. It will drop down slowly, taking about 30 seconds with nothing on the hitch. If something is attached it will fall gently in a few seconds.

I have read that this could be the valve seal or piston seals letting fluid leak and lose pressure. My question is- how difficult of a job is it to replace these? Would I have to split it, or could I just remove the lift cover?

DavidP,South Wales · Nov 20, 2020

Hi, the piston rings in the lift cylinder would be the prime candidate for the linkage falling when the engine is stopped. You have not mentioned any problems when the engine is running. From a safety aspect why do you want the linkage to stay up presumably with an implement on it whilst the engine is stopped? If you wish to proceed with trying to rectify what in most cases is a normal MF system attribute the first thing to do is purchase a workshop manual, preferably a genuine MF one. The removal is straightforward but it is always better to have a plan to follow. If you need to carry out any adjustments you will need special MF tools.
DavidP, South Wales

Dieseltech · Nov 20, 2020

As David said it might be piston seals. Another common leak area is both ends of the standpipe O rings. If tractor has the Pressure Control option the lift cover must be removed to replace the lower O ring/backup ring on standpipe.

21hunter · Nov 20, 2020

David. I’m wondering as well as I went through the complete hydraulic and lift system with new parts on my 175 several years back. The system works well but does the same thing which is slowly lowers the lift and attachment to the ground when the engine is stopped. I think I’ve read that this could be a safety feature designed into the system to prevent a suspended load while the tractor is sitting idle?

DavidP,South Wales · Nov 20, 2020

Hi, it would be a bit of a shot in the foot if they had tried to sell it as a safety feature! Whilst at the MF training school in 1974 we were asked in quite a stern way “why do you want them to stay up?” Seems like yesterday! Even a new tractor of the time would have the same ‘problem’. The main thing is that the leakage is not bad enough to cause the 3-point to pulse. If that happens then it does need to be investigated.
DavidP

hearnc843 · Nov 21, 2020

Thanks for the feedback- It's not critical to me that the 3pt stays up with the engine off, but I figure that there has to be a leak somewhere and I am probably not getting full power at the lift. Is this correct?

I would prefer to just leave it if its not effecting the strength of the lift. I haven't picked up anything super heavy yet(6 foot blades/finish mower etc)- but I am planning on doing more heavy lift/bigger implements in the future

504 · Dec 5, 2020

David I went to the same school in 1976(Kansas City Mo) the instructors said the same thing,it going to leak down, it was not designed to stay up.

54FergieTO30 · Dec 29, 2020

While not the same tractor, I have a 35 with a new lift cylinder, piston, rings and o-rings on the standpipe and it leaks down too. Sounds like the nature of the beast.

3 point leak down

hearnc843

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DavidP,South Wales

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Dieseltech

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21hunter

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DavidP,South Wales

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hearnc843

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504

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54FergieTO30

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