Problem: Ford 600/shaft bends

When I raise my finishing mower, box blade, or anything like that, it just keeps rising higher and higher until the shaft bends. What do I need to do to fix this problem? Thanks!

sure sounds like something under the lift cover, control. when its raising like this, does it respond-lower]--stop] when lever is moved down, or just continue up? sounds like pulling top cover to find.

I'm NOT a "600" expert, but he's some thoughts..It has a "draft control" lever, a small lever in addition to the three-point lift lever, Key #32 in the parts drawing.

Make SURE this is set in the correct place for "position control" rather than "draft control" (which is only used when using ground-engaging implements, such as a plow). AFAIK, that would be in the "lever up" position.

An owner's manual would clarify this for sure.

If the lever is set correctly, the lift mechanism is badly out of adjustment, or internal linkage is worn or broken.

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WHICH shaft bends?

Good question.

shorten top link

What shaft?

It sounds like a bad situation, but I can't think of anything? Can't be the pto shaft because several items mentioned do not have pto.

I'm not sure what is left to bend?

Paul

The drive shaft that makes the mower, bush hog, etc. work.

Better explanation of my problem with shaft bending on my Ford 600 tractor: First few times this happened we had put the mowing deck on the tractor. When raised the mowing deck it just kept going up and up til it bent the drive shaft and the pulley housing on the mower but we were able to lower it back down to the ground. We just got the drive shaft and the pulley housing on the mower fixed again and put them back on the tractor. This time the mower deck kept going up and up until it bent the drive shaft again and the pulley housing again, but this time when we went to lower the mowing deck back to the ground it only went down about half-way and stopped. We took the mowing deck off of the tractor and the arms on the tractor went down. We again straightened out the drive shaft and the bent pulley housing and put them back on the tractor. This time, the mower would only raise up about six inches off the ground and the touch control lever was tight and would not pull up all the way. We have had this problem worked on several times with no satisfaction yet and are out over $800 in mechanic fees not to mention the cost of having the drive shaft straightened and the mower pulley housing fixed. My husband and I will NOT be taking it back to the mechanic we took it too and he was a tractor mechanic. We have 2 Ford tractor shop manuals and if possible would like to try to fix this problem ourselves. The tractor mechanic said he replaced several things on the tractor, I assume dealing with the hydraulics since my husband did not keep any receipts for me to see what the man did. This has been going on since last year and we can't even use the tractor. We have four acres and we like to keep it mowed. We are not mechanics but willing to do what we can so maybe our son who knows how to work on cars can be of help with what we can't do. Getting desperate but don't want to have to buy another tractor. Thanks for any help and advice you can give us.

1st: If the pto shaft hit's the deck when you raise the lift, the top link is to long allowing the mower to tilt back to much.

2nd: I haven't seen it happen with a brush hog but with lighter implements when the pto shaft binds against the deck or frame it causes the implement to pivot pushing the top link in against the draft control spring, once this happen the lift is going to raise uncontrollably and the only way to stop the lift from raising is to shut the engine off.

3rd: To possibly get more answers it's best if you post this problem in the Ford section.