Ford 3600 Hydraulic Operation?

Hi all,

I am using a Ford 3600 and have a trailer which has a hydraulic lift function.

I can connect the trailer through the hydraulic hose onto the rear connection of the tractor.

Just under the seat there is a small lever, that can be pulled out of the seat a few inches or pushed back in.

(I'm assuming pulling it out starts the hydraulic function).

However, the trailer fails to lift.

It has worked definitely worked before (although I wasn't the one operating it).

Ive attached a photo (not my tractor) of the small black lever under the seat, its to the centre right of the image.

Can anyone advise what else I need to do?

Many thanks!

Drop your 3 point from full up. There is a pressure relief valve there which prevents what you are attempting to do. Takes the pressure off the system when the 3 pt can't move any higher.

Which one is the 3 point lever?

So, I pull the lever out as far as it will go (under the seat on the picture). Then drop 3 point down. Then release the valve that appears one the 3 point is down?

I've attached a photo of the lever I'm pulling. Appreciate any help.

The lever is for a single acting cylinder: A single acting cylinder uses gravity to empty the cylinder and has only one hose at the bottom of the cylinder, opposite end from the extendable shaft. I have an explanation in my I &T FO-41 service manual which is out in the shop. I am in my skivvies having coffee currently. Later on I will go out and read up on it and post for you .

From the 3600 Manual:

I felt benevolent and went out and got the manual....correction: FO-43, not 41:

"When lever is pushed all the way in, hyd fluid goes to the 3 pt lift only."
"When lever is pulled all the way out it goes to the pipe fitting just above the lever (not to the 3 pt)....which is where you install your hydraulic hose to your cylinder."
"When lever is half way out it goes to both 3 pt and remote cylinder."

"NOTE: The 3 pt. lift arms must be slightly lowered before pulling the selector valve out to operate remote cylinder independently of 3 pt functions."

I never operated one but here's my take:

As I said earlier, the lift arms need to be dropped somewhat from max up to get you off the pressure bypass valve.

With the hose hooked to the cylinder [would expect through a hydraulic quick disconnect (TSC has them)] one would expect you to start with the ram all the way inside the cylinder. Tractor is running at PTO rpms (1800).

To the right and slightly below the seat are 2 levers side by side. The outside one is Position Control and the one you'll be using. The inside one is the Draft Control only used for plowing and should remain full down unless plowing.


Pull the 3 pt "Position" control lever to the full up position then down an inch or so to get the 3 pt off the full up pressure bypass valve.

Pull the lever in your picture all the way out and expect the cylinder to fill. Since there is nothing to stop it, the cylinder will fully extend, the pressure in the system will build and the system pressure relief valve (2300# thereabouts) in the hydraulic system will open and maintain that pressure.

To have the ability of controlling the position of the remote cylinder you need a mechanism. My guess is that you put the valve in the mid position detent whereby the 3pt AND the remote are receiving hydraulic pressure. The pressure relief for both will now be controlled by the 3 pt. "Position" control. As you move the lever up and down the 3 pt and the remote will follow the position of the lever.

The remote relies on gravity acting on the weight attached to the cylinder to empty when the hydraulic pressure is removed. If there is no weight attached to the remote cylinder there is no mechanism to empty it and it will stay where it was when the fluid was removed....with no load, expect it to be fully extended.

The fluid that goes to the 3 pt goes through the assembly where the remote valve (pictured) is located. Therefore, you have 2 positions to drain the remote cylinder and allow your implement to fall: Mid position where the cylinder fluid exits the system as does the fluid from the 3 pt, and valve pushed all the way in.

Does that work for you?

I didn't print my manual as I was unsure of any copyright restriction.

Thank you, I tried this weekend.

And yes! It worked. Although I do not have two levers, just one. However, putting it into down position, releasing the plug under the chair and then pulling the lever up to the top worked.