Loader Valve troubleshooting – Jinma ZL-40 with Ranchhand upgrade.

I probably do still have Ron’s instructions. Although they are likely buried in storage along with the chinese manuals from that time. I did not get the D3 going yet, its battery and the alternator for the Jinma are in the truck, all prepped for a visit to Napa in the morning.

So here’s the funny thing… while looking around, I gave things a try per this video.(& the solution found in its comments.)

Apparently the loader valve seems to be ok, The kicker is actually the 3pt control being out of adjustment. The lever was all the way up, and apparently constantly trying to push the 3pt through the frame. Lowering the lever took all the load and heat off the Hyd system, and the loader control functioned properly.

Now for the new rub. My 3pt control has never been “right”. Currently, I would say about 98% of the throw does nothing at all. The last 1-2% takes it from bottomed to all the way up.
I just purchased a stump grinder that will require much finer adjustment than all the way up, or all the way down, so

Can anyone point me toward the procedure to adjust the 3pt travel per lever distance?

I have not yet tried the flow adjustment under the front seat, tho from what I have read about its function so far, I am not hopeful that is the solution. (But damn hopeful to hear that it might be)

@ DavidPrivett: I am pretty sure it is a single pump, single sump at the rear. I too, have never messed with the knob before, and after a look (w/o a magnifier) yesterday, pretty sure I may have to dig through paint to even find the set screw for it.

The 3PH lift is controlled by a single lever, and from what I have read, the bottom 50% of its travel should be the draft control, with the top 50% being the positional control. With no load yesterday, only the very tip top (~1-2%ish) affected the position I am going to add an implement today, and see if those ranges change any with weight.

Bob Rooks wrote:

I think there is a draft control for the three-point on the 454. That could be part of the problem.

Quote

It definitely has draft control on there. If there is any adjustment to the draft on the backside, it is very possible it was never set correctly, or I have altered it when loosening and removing the draft to access the triangular Hyd PTO port underneath when installing and removing a JM-03 backhoe attachment.
From what I have read.. the bottom 50% of the 3PH lever throw should be the draft control, with the top 50 being positional. It only moved the arms yesterday at the very tip top of the throw, and since I bought it, has maybe had a max positional throw of 5-10%, leaning closer to 5.

@ DavidPrivett – The fluid getting hot is a somewhat solved problem, but intimately linked to the super short 3ph travel. Either there is no upper stop, or a mechanical stop fell off, so the fluid was only getting hot if I had the lever ALL the way up. It was continuing to try to push the 3ph up constantly, so the pressures got wonky, and it got hot. At least that seems to be the observation. Setting the 3ph lever down just a hair until it was enough to take the pressure off was enough to alleviate the hot lines, and funky joystick function. It kinda blew my mind, but things have not overheated in 2 days as long as I make sure to check that placement.

I am not sure where the draft comes in, but I moved a little gravel today, and set the 3ph from 97%(ish) to around 80%ish.. As I was traveling to the pile and back, I heard the clanking of my 3p arms dragging on the ground. Decided to try adjusting them upward tomorrow as I was driving home.

@ Bob Rooks I did get the D3 going today. All she needed to get started was a new battery. ($200.. ouch) But her alternator seems dead. No additional voltage when its running. Back to Napa tomorrow it seems.