Hydraulic or linkage issue?

[kevinmcd_8]

I was moving mulch last weekend and I noticed that the mower deck is not lifting right. I have a JD X530 for reference. It goes up a little, then drops back down. The fluid looks okay, and the parts seem to be in place.

I just changed the back tires after one went flat. I'm thinking maybe something got bumped or moved during that. It's never done this before, even after lots of heavy work in the fall.

Has anyone seen this happen before? Would love some advice before I start taking things apart! Thanks!

 

[hauntedvertigo]

Let's look at the symptoms and what happened to figure out the best way to diagnose your X530. Since the problem started right after a rear tire change, it's much more likely to be a mechanical linkage issue than a hydraulic one. When you lift the back of the tractor, the 'J' shaped draft link that connects the mower deck to the tractor's lift arm often comes loose. If this link is disconnected, you'll see exactly what you described. The deck lifts slightly as the slack is taken up, then drops immediately. Before checking the hydraulics, please inspect the linkage points on both sides of the deck and ensure the lift rods are properly seated in their mounting holes.

 

[gifted.hands]

Ensure that the rockshaft arms and lift rods are all hooked where they should be and that the draft arm isn't binding. Sometimes even a cotter pin working loose can cause the whole thing to act strange but it s a relatively easy fix once you spot it.