allis chalmers 180 pto arms not lowering problem
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Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=152272
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Topic: allis chalmers 180 pto arms not lowering problem
Posted By: vicp
Subject: allis chalmers 180 pto arms not lowering problem
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 7:03pm
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I bought a 50 year old allis chalmers 180 recently , everything works, except I cant get the pto arm to lower, I have the operator manual, but still cant figure it out. There is two long tall leavers, and two short levers on the right side of the seat. The two small levers deal with the depth or something. DO I need to manually push the arms? thanks!
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Replies:
Posted By: caledonian
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 7:17pm
| No. Just make sure your depth control & traction booster levers [2 short ones] are not set at the shallowest position . Set them lower if they are. There should be 3 long levers. Try the one on the outside closest to the fender & see what happens. Check hydraulic oil to make sure your not low. |
Posted By: JayIN
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 7:32pm
You may have to stand on them. Might be stuck from  ting a while.------------- sometimes I walk out to my shop and look around and think "Who's the idiot that owns this place?" |
Posted By: JayIN
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 7:32pm
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sitting ------------- sometimes I walk out to my shop and look around and think "Who's the idiot that owns this place?" |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 7:48pm
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There is a valve (I believe it's either the Traction Booster or depth control) that sometimes sticks in. I used to have to spray the one on my 180 with Kroil and tap it to get it to release. It's up in the back under the panel where the hydraulic levers are. When you move the traction booster or depth control lever, it is like a cam and it depresses that valve. It's tough to see, but have someone move the depth control/traction booster lever and you will see it. By the way, they are three point hitch (hydraulic) arms, not PTO.
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Posted By: vicp
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 8:14pm
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I put the two short ones nearer the back to the mid position, nothing happened. The tried moving the tqo longer ones to see if anything happens ... nothing. Is the some other hidden turn knob that lets fluid flow to the 3 point hitch arms?
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Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 8:30pm
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The tallest front lever (furthest away from you - closest to the fender) should be your 3 point hitch arms. Moving the lever all the way to the front should be the float position (arms should lower). The depth control should be set at maximum depth and the traction booster lever should be in the same position. Unless the valve, that I described above, is stuck, arms should lower.
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Posted By: AC720Man
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 9:05pm
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WF owner is correct in describing position of levers. Check your hydraulic oil level and make sure its on the stick. Of course the proper way to measure it is with the arms down. Mmmmm. Anyway, it should be at least on the stick. Have someone of sizable weight stand on the lift arms, hopefully they will lower. If not, the valve in the valve body may be sticking. With the tractor running, do you hear the pump making an attempt to raise the lift arms when you activate the lever backward? At least on my 190XT you can hear a noticeable change especially when in the lift position. I realize its in the raised position but just trying to figure out if the valve is stuck. ------------- 1968 B-208, 1976 720 (2 of them)Danco brush hog, single bottom plow,52" snow thrower, belly mower,rear tine tiller, rear blade, front blade, 57"sickle bar,1983 917 hydro, 1968 7hp sno-bee, 1968 190XTD |
Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 9:05pm
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The traction booster linkage has seized up. Under the console you will find a triangular shaped piece that pushes on the traction booster valve. That triangular piece pivots on a bushing, and over time it gets seized from lack of use (or sitting outside - whatever). Best solution is to take it apart, clean each piece, then reassemble with anti seize. It's not a serious or expensive problem. Welcome to the forum fellow Canuck! ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: shameless dude
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2018 at 9:32pm
| pto arms.....lol |
Posted By: vicp
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2018 at 2:23pm
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Thanks for all the advice, I will try to stand on the arms and look for that valve under the short controls. I have the complete manuals so I should be able to see that part? I will try this sometimes next week, since it is on a hobby farm. thanks!
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Posted By: DSeries4
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2018 at 8:55pm
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This guy here is usually the troublemaker. It rides on a bushing that seizes up over time. Remove the bolt, punch out the bushing, remove the rust from everything and put back together with anti seize compound.  ------------- '49 G, '54 WD45, '55 CA, '56 WD45D, '57 WD45, '58 D14, '59 D14, '60 D14, '61 D15D, '66 D15II, '66 D21II, '67 D17IV, '67 D17IVD, '67 190XTD, '73 620, '76 185, '77 175, '84 8030, '85 6080 |
Posted By: vicp
Date Posted: 22 Jul 2018 at 9:05pm
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The depth and traction ... 2 small levers felt hard to move, so I sprayed with wd40 in the area in it.... is that item under the two small levers called traction control and position control levers . there is a "lever friction adjustment" nut just under them that the manual says should be loosened or tightened if tight or loose. Is that the bolt you are referring to?? thanks
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Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2018 at 6:24am
| Try lowering the arms without the tractor engine running. If they lower, then come up without moving any levers when you start the engine, the valve is stuck in and needs to be manually loosened. |
Posted By: vicp
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2018 at 6:37pm
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thanks , that is what one would expect with no fluid pressure... will try. Was thinking about replacing hoses, seems like to be NPT 1/2" hydraulic types. |
Posted By: JC-WI
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2018 at 8:23pm
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You might have one of the lift arm seals going bad to keep the arms up... but highly doubt it.... more than likely like the picture shows of the lever, that is what you will find to be your culprit. ------------- He who says there is no evil has already deceived himself The truth is the truth, sugar coated or not. Trawler II says, "Remember that." |
Posted By: WF owner
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 10:08am
| Any progress on this? |
Posted By: vicp
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2018 at 10:04am
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It turns out that the arms can only be manually pushed down when the engine is running. I never suspected this, My other tractor , a Case 485, can push down the arms with engine off. Seems dangerous for someone pushing down the PTO arms standing behind a running tractor... and perhaps jumping in reverse gear! Anyway an elderly but well experience tractor lady came by and solved the problem by pointing out this fact. Thanks for the great effort and kindness given in your replies. !
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