How To Troubleshoot Hydraulic Problems on John Deere 6000 Series Tractors

The older John Deere 6000 series tractors sometimes have hydraulic problems after a power beyond block (also called a spacer or manifold block) is installed. This block is installed on the rear of the tractor by the SCV blocks and is used to provide hydraulic flow from the tractor to some external equipment, often a front end loader, backhoe, or other add-on equipment. The John Deere part number of this block is AL161388. Sometimes after installing this block, some or all of the hydraulics on the tractor start acting up. For example, the loader may raise fine but the power steering doesn't work. Or everything works fine but the 3 point hitch won't raise. Or the loader raises but it moves slowly and won't lift a heavy load.
Typically problems with the John Deere tractor models 6110, 6120, 6200, 6210, 6215, 6220, 6300, 6310, 6320, 6400, 6405, 6410, 6415, and 6420, after the power beyond block has been installed, is caused by a load sense activation problem. What is supposed to happen with a load sense hydraulic setup, is a small movement of the joystick (or whichever hydraulic control is being used) causes a signal to be sent to the hydraulic pump, which causes the pump to kick into high gear. The hydraulic pump goes into standby mode when the tractor's hydraulics are not being used. When a load sense activation problem occurs, that signal is not getting through and the hydraulic pump is not sending a full flow of oil to the area where it's needed, for example to the loader, power steer, and/or 3 point hitch.
The first thing you want to do is confirm the root problem is load sense activation. To confirm that, deadhead the remotes, and then operate the equipment that was having trouble. Deadheading the remotes forces the load sense to kick in. If the problem goes away while the remotes are activated, but returns again when they are not activated, then you know the problem is load sense activation. Check the following things:
1. Ensure the dime disc, John Deere part number R95493, is installed. This sometimes gets missed or falls out when installing the spacer. If this is the case, none of the hydraulics will be operating at all.
2. Ensure that the dime disc is placed in the slot of the SCV, not in the slot of the power beyond block, during installation.
3. There are existing dime discs between each of the SCVs (stacks). These dime discs can shift or fall out when installing the longer studs while adding the power beyond block, because the sections are moving around. Make sure these dime discs are present and are installed correctly.
4. The dime disc may have a small scratch. If nothing else works, try replacing it with a new one.
5. The longer studs, installed in the stacks and which the new spacer is installed on, might have a bad thread or not be tightened enough. This can cause an internal leak in the SCV stack which might not show on the outside. Make sure these are all tightened securely and don't have any problems or bad threads.
6. Make sure the o-ring on the power beyond block is resting against the SCV block. Make sure the dime disc is not between the power beyond block and the end cap. Ensure the o-rings on the end cap are present and are in good condition.