John Deere 3050 - novice question

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
How old is your daughter?
Be aware that under 13's shouldn't be on tractors.

That's interesting... I don't want to be an irresponsible parent, but thought it was alright whilst on private land? I've no intention of going down the public highway with my daughter in the cab with me; and to be honest can't imagine her spending ages in there at all. It's more just if she spends a day on the farm with me she'd be able to come with me as and when we take the tractor somewhere.
 

multi power

Member
Location
pembrokeshire
That's interesting... I don't want to be an irresponsible parent, but thought it was alright whilst on private land? I've no intention of going down the public highway with my daughter in the cab with me; and to be honest can't imagine her spending ages in there at all. It's more just if she spends a day on the farm with me she'd be able to come with me as and when we take the tractor somewhere.
Apart from any laws she is going to be far far safer in the cab than running the risk of being under a wheel
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Thanks again everyone - all good advice. My daughter may have to stay out of the tractor for the time being then.

Right though, I've got another numpty question for you - I can't get the spool valves to operate. When I connect stuff up to them they make a token effort and then give up. The oil level in the hydraulics is okay, the link arms go up and down alright, so what should I check? Is there a button somewhere that says "switch on for spool valves you thick f**kwit" that I'm somehow missing? I've tried fitting the pipes the wrong way round in various combinations in case it's been taken apart and put back together incorrectly but no joy. There's a knob on the floor that adjusts the link arm speed but that doesn't make any difference.

I spoke to the guy that sold the tractor to me and he reckons they always worked fine for him. Clearly he's got a vested interest in saying that, but he seems alright, so I just wonder if I'm missing something somehow?

Thanks, once again, in advance for anyone's help / opinion on this...

NP.
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Thanks @Flat 10 - the front links are not connected up. The tractor came with a load of bits to do so, but I've not taken a proper look at it all as yet. Where would the diverter tap be located (if one is fitted)?

Cheers,
NP.
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Thanks @Flat 10 - the front links are not connected up. The tractor came with a load of bits to do so, but I've not taken a proper look at it all as yet. Where would the diverter tap be located (if one is fitted)?

Cheers,
NP.
Either near the spools or near the front arms. Sounds like I am barking up the wrong tree. have you lifted anything heavy on the rear links, I know you said they go up and down but do they have any power?
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
There is another plug / valve behind the plate that has the 4 normal spool valves on it. I'm guessing that's where the pipe would go to connect the front links up, unless anyone else knows what it's for? Do 3050s always have this, or has it been added? I'll try and get a photo of it.

It can lift the power harrow okay, so the rear links seem alright to me.

Hmm...
 

Tractortech

Member
Location
Cumbria
Now Then..
What are you plugging in??
Is it 'single acting', i.e. tipping trailer??
Or is it 'double acting' i.e. folding rollers??
On your tractor the spool couplings are side by side, on some other tractors they are one above the other.
There's nothing hidden, just plug and play as they say nowadays!!
 

Flat 10

Member
Arable Farmer
Location
Fen Edge
Now Then..
What are you plugging in??
Is it 'single acting', i.e. tipping trailer??
Or is it 'double acting' i.e. folding rollers??
On your tractor the spool couplings are side by side, on some other tractors they are one above the other.
There's nothing hidden, just plug and play as they say nowadays!!
Yes connecting the wrong pairs would give the symptoms the OP describes!
 

bovrill

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
East Essexshire
The spool valves on my 3050 are playing up at the moment because of the valves themselves getting jammed up with bits of crap in the block.
The block is behind the right back wheel, with all the hydraulic pipes going to and from it! (I slackened everything off the other day, and freed everything up, and will strip it all apart as soon as I have time and clean it properly. The trailer brake pipe valve is stuck open now too!)
Because it's jamming the plungers, the levers in the cab are stiff, and won't travel the full length of their slot (well they do, but only once, because I bent the linkage!)

I've no idea if this is anything like yours, but I had the barely any pressure from a spool symptom first, so I thought I'd mention it.
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Thanks everyone.

@Tractortech - double acting - I've put the plough on it and then tried some folding tines (as a bit lighter); either way it makes a few noises and the pipes jerk slightly when I pull the levers to and fro, but no real movement of the implement. Are the couplings side by side, the guy who sold it to me said they were one over the other? As it happens, I've tried both ways (and diagonal!) and it's not that.

@multipower - as above, I've tried 2 different things, both double acting. Thr Quantock tines aren't especially heavy but it was having none of it.

@bovrill - hmm, maybe it's that then? Actually mine's different in that the levers move freely. It might be worth giving it all a bit of a clean though.

So there's a plug behind the plate with the 4 normal valves on it, that goes straight into the top of the casting. Do 3050s always have this, or has someone added it when they were fitting the front linkage? I wonder if that has something to do with it.

Thanks as ever,
NP.
 
Take a hose off a machine , so youhave one end with a male connector and one with an open end . Stop tractor , pump the spool levers back and forth to relieve pressure ( you won't get a connector to connect if there is pressure trapped ) , plug hose in , and put other end in a bucket . Get a friend ( or do it yourself if you've long arms ) to operate the levers one at a time to establish if you have flow , and repeat for other connectors . For double acting , the connectors are paired side to side . BUT , be careful , don't let the high pressure oil get near your skin , 2750 psi will puncture your skin .
The extra connector that is screwed to the casting is a return for oil flow from a machine that has its own control valve .
 

New Puritan

Member
Location
East Sussex
Thanks @deere2140 - I will try what you suggest. I've not had a chance in the last couple of weeks.

Going back a couple of questions on this thread, here's a photo of the step:

IMG_20161029_150627.jpg


Is it meant to have that dog-leg in it? And what is the hole at the top of the step supposed to fix to?
 

Hesston4860s

Member
Location
Nr Lincoln
The dog leg bend in the red circle should be there, you just need to flatten out the steel either side of it if you see what I mean.
The bit in the green circle has been altered from original, I would assume to accommodate the side rails from the front links.
 

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