Sticky FEL valve

[Paddy]

My 454 KAMA was outfitted with a Koyker 190 FEL. It has worked fine for 200 hrs. But the other day I noticed the valve that controls up/down has developed a sticky "problem". The issue is observed when coming down. Like most control valves, ther are 4 positions;

Float
Down-> trouble
Center
Up

When the lever is pushed gentally to lower the bucket, even when released, it keeps slowly coming down unless I give it a bump. It is suposed to return to center. With the tractor off and the bucket resting on the ground, I can feel the sticky-ness. Because it does not return to center, it acts like float. I'm setting steel joists so stoping is very important. (don't want the weight of the bucket on my joists!

Is this type of problem caused by the visable portion of the vavle shaft with crud, just clean? Or is this a case that I have to disasseble?

Patrick T

[greg_g]

It could be dirty, or the boot could be causing restriction. You'll have to remove the boot to clean externally anyway, so I'd get out the WD40 spray and give the joystick a good washdown where it enters the controller housing. My boot collar kept slipping off the controller housing, but it's not held in place with a cable tie tightened around the circumference. If/when that starts to slip as well, I'll probably go to a spiral type hose clamp.

//greg//

[Paddy]

Greg,

Thanks. I'll try that and maybe a little scrtch bright if it looks dirty.

Did you get a FEL?

Patrick T

[RonMar]

Had the same thing happen on my loader. Pulled the spool and found a little flake of aluminum mashed against the spool. Once this was scraped off, it worked normally.

[3RRL]

Paddy,
I your loader valve controlled by a remote joystick with cables like my 554 with Koyker 195? Or is the joystick mounted direct to the valve? I had a some stickiness recently and then I busted the end off one of the control cables. The stickiness may have contributed to the end breaking off? In replacing the new cable, I poured some gear oil down the control cables. It is very smooth now.
I did a write up on it on another board.
Koyker Loader Olfe Joystick Repair

[Paddy]

3RRL,

No cables. But thanks.

Patrick T

[Wayne County Hose]

This is a common problem. I remove the spool and put it in my lathe and polish it with light oil and fine crokus cloth. These bodies and spools are made to such tight tolerances, that the least tiny bit of warpage and you get a sticky problem. Polish very slowly, don't remove too much. Put the spool into the valve body and keep working it and polishing until you are satisfied. I think nothing of doing this 5 to 10 times before I am happy with the movement. You can always take off a little more, go too far and you have a leakdown problem.
Andy

[Paddy]

Now to ask a stupid question, how do you get it apart? I've never done this.

Thanks all

Patrick T

[3RRL]

Originally Posted by Paddy

Now to ask a stupid question, how do you get it apart? I've never done this.

Thanks all

Patrick T

Well, you're probably like me Pat.
LOL ... start unscrewing the hex nuts and bolts ... smaller ones first then the larger ones. Keep everything in order like an exploded view and take a snap shot of it all apart. Then start looking for burrs, debris and bad rubber. I use my hands to feel for rough surfaces, not just my eyes.

[Paddy]

Well, it's fixed!

I did dissasseble the spool. the rod was mostly clean but rubed a scotch bright to be sure. The problem turned out to be the Float detent. There is a spring at the oposite end of the spool where the lever is. The spring is compressed for both Up and Down fuctions. But beyond "down" is float. Float is held in place by two detent balls jumping a groove. The entire detent assemble is vented, thus exposed to the elements. The housing, a metal cyclider, was filled with crud. So that the detent balls were draging even in the normal down op, hence the continiued droping. At first I could not understand how to dissassemble the detent section. Tried cleaning the best I could. I re-assembled the whole thing and it still was sticking. When I pulled it apart the second time, detent section came apart! After finding the balls....I cleaned thourghly. Second time of re-assembly I got the detent groove placed long end the Wrong way! Third was a charm. lubed her up good and it's working good as new.

Thanks all for adding wisdom, including Chip at Artrac whom I called to get a few more pointers. Here is my tip, keep your tractor covered. The first two years I kept it inside a heated garage. The third year I moved it out to my home construction site...uncovered!

Patrick T