Bucket leaks FAST

[Big Bri]

Yesterday while using a grapple i noticed that the grapple would drop/leakdown fast with or with out something in it. When i say fast i mean from full tilt up to all the way down in 30 seconds or less. I switched back to my bucket and it does the same thing.

What are some of the things i can do to narrow down what going on.
Thanks

 

[J_J]

Check for cylinder leaking by putting a gate valve in the cyl circuit. If the cyl is good, has to be the valve leaking.

 

[kennyd]

Yesterday while using a grapple i noticed that the grapple would drop/leakdown fast with or with out something in it. When i say fast i mean from full tilt up to all the way down in 30 seconds or less. I switched back to my bucket and it does the same thing.

What are some of the things i can do to narrow down what going on.
Thanks

Just do this before you go plumbing in gate valves:confused2:

Curl the bucket, then disconnect the Dump/Curl hoses from your QD's, maybe add some weight to the bucket (cement bags, sand bags...) If it still leaks then one or both of the cylinders are leaking internally meaning that the piston seals are bad.

 

[AKKAMAAN]

You got some good advice already....I'm just curious about the mechanical cylinder hook up.....is cylinder extending or retracting when bucket drops???

 

[J_J]

Roll your eyes all you want. What I said will work fine, with out the sandbags , etc. The fluid can not get by the gate valve, so if the bucket curls down, then the cyls are bypassing. It is hard to believe that two cyl would bypass at the same time. The valve handle might not be in neutral. Checking the pressure is another way to analyze the situation.

Put pressure on the cyl, and if bypassing, you should see it on the gage.

 

[kennyd]

Roll your eyes all you want. What I said will work fine, with out the sandbags , etc. The fluid can not get by the gate valve, so if the bucket curls down, then the cyls are bypassing. It is hard to believe that two cyl would bypass at the same time. The valve handle might not be in neutral. Checking the pressure is another way to analyze the situation.

Put pressure on the cyl, and if bypassing, you should see it on the gage.

I "rolled" my eyes because why should he go out and buy gate valves? My test is free and a whole lot less messy.

As two this specifically:

It is hard to believe that two cyl would bypass at the same time.

The cylinders on a FEL are plumbed in parallel, so only one needs to be bypassing to cause leakdown. Guess you missed that in your online hydraulics course

 

[wvpolekat]

Again, you are both right. Both methods will work. BUT.... I have to say that I would rather find SOMETHING heavy to put in the bucket; cement, dirt, ex-wife, whatever and disconnect the lines instead of buying valves and associated fittings to plumb in there only to take them back off when I found what the problem is. I can't see any inherent advantage to it over disconnecting the lines (which have built in valves).

 

[Big Bri]

been out working all day and just had time to read ya'll advice, will try and see what i get ether tomorrow, or the next day. If it is the cylinders would those be covered under warranty or is this a routine maintenance thing.
again thanks for the help.

 

[kennyd]

been out working all day and just had time to read ya'll advice, will try and see what i get ether tomorrow, or the next day. If it is the cylinders would those be covered under warranty or is this a routine maintenance thing.
again thanks for the help.

It should be a warranty item as long as they can't say you where abusing the FEL.

 

[J_J]

Quote

[ The cylinders on a FEL are plumbed in parallel, so only one needs to be bypassing to cause leakdown. Guess you missed that in your online hydraulics course. ]

You are very wrong here if you think a good cyl with a gate valve on the base end, and a weight on the rod side will leak down. Explain with your vast knowledge.

No hyd course required, just plain common sense.

It's OK to be wrong.