Loader Leaks Down

[Wayne County Hose]

Not saying I would hollar at the dealer. As a matter of fact, I almost never hollar at all. I would ask the manufacturer for what's acceptable leakdown, in print, and if it didn't meet those specs, I would want the unit repaired or modified until it did.

There is a cure for the problem, hold the manufacturer to the specs they print. If I bought a tractor that was rated for 40 horse and it only put out 35, I would not be happy. If they said it should lift 1,000lbs and only lifted 800, I would want it fixed. If they say it leaks down an inch an hour and it leaks down 5, I want it fixed. That simple.

 

[kennyd]

I have a Kubota L3830 with the LA723 loader. Ever since it was new I noticed that the loader would not hold it's position and would gradually leak down. I even called the dealer to ask about it and they said it was normal. Most of the time it doesn't matter, but sometimes I use it for a platform with the pallet forks on. It's aggravating when it won't hold it's position, and I'd like to fix it. I thought the problem was probably in the control valve, but I have read several posts relating to this problem and knowledgeable people said it's usually one or both of the lift cylinders. In one post, Kennyd suggested a way to diagnose the problem. He said to retract the cylinders all the way, then remove the line at the butt of the cylinder and move the control to try to retract the cylinder again. If the cylinder is leaking fluid will come out. If the cylinder is okay nothing should come out. I hope I have that right, because that's what I just did, and nothing came out from either cylinder. I did them one at a time. Assuming that was the right procedure, and that result, I guess that the leakdown must be occuring in the control valve. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts?

Jim,

That procedure you mentioned is correct. I would suggest the problem is in the valve, and you will be hard pressed to get it stopped. There are no O-rings in the valve to hold pressure, the spool is just a slip-fit into the valve bore. This is common on almost all CUT's, but some get lucky and have no leakage at all.
I have the same situation with mine, and the dealer gave me a copy of the "acceptable" leakdown times(to JD anyway) and thus would not do anything about it.

 

[TBDonnelly]

Here's John Deere's guidelines of acceptable loader leak down.

Loader and backhoe boom/bucket lower slowly while parked#

In my opinion "they" (Deere and others) give themselves lots of leeway in the leakdown department.

Don

 

[IXLR8]

On my Kioti CK30, my bucket will drop 2ft in an hour. My neighbors 25 year old Case will drop the bucket 2in in a week. I wish my CK30 behaved like his Case. From what he has said.. the only thing he has done to it is "work it to death".

 

[J_J]

This is the loader valve on my Case skidsteer. Note the o-rings

 

[TBDonnelly]

On my Kioti CK30, my bucket will drop 2ft in an hour. My neighbors 25 year old Case will drop the bucket 2in in a week. I wish my CK30 behaved like his Case. From what he has said.. the only thing he has done to it is "work it to death".

My previous tractor, a 1990 Ford 1220, I had bought used with 800 hours. I measured the leakdown on the Ford in Days. My Kioti CK30 is measured in minutes. The manufacturers of newer CUT's seem to find this acceptable. I have not seen where the valves on the Kioti's are serviceable. My owners manual states, if the leak down is traced to the valve, replace the valve. This leads me to believe, as Andy/Wayne County Hose stated, there are no o-rings in the valve.

Don

 

[john_bud]

Here's John Deere's guidelines of acceptable loader leak down.

Loader and backhoe boom/bucket lower slowly while parked#

In my opinion "they" (Deere and others) give themselves lots of leeway in the leakdown department.

Don

A lot of leeway??? The backhoe lift cylinder is allowed to leak 36 in per hour and still be called good to go. Stabilizers can leak 18" per hour. Uh -- isn't that the entire stroke distance??? I mean, really! So glad I don't have a deere limp hoe. and to top it off, those are bucket EMPTY specs!!

Yeah yeah, the others probably allow themselves the same. I can hear the echo's of the "big boss's" words, Write a leak down spec we can't fail!!

 

[Leejohn]

The LA723 loader used 2 different valves. Mine would leak down when I got it and the dealer put a new one on. Fixed it. Leak down happens because the MFG. didn't match the spool to the valve body every well. They should be a matched set, that is why some mfg. do not sell just the spool or just the body. The only way I can see to fix that would be to have it chromed and regrind it. I don't know what would be cheaper, to do that, are buy a new one. The price kubota gets for there valves they should not leak down.

 

[Leejohn]

And by the way, the little groves around the spool also seals it also. if that part of the spool is nicked up it well lead down.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

A lot of leeway??? The backhoe lift cylinder is allowed to leak 36 in per hour and still be called good to go. Stabilizers can leak 18" per hour. Uh -- isn't that the entire stroke distance??? I mean, really! So glad I don't have a deere limp hoe. and to top it off, those are bucket EMPTY specs!!

Yeah yeah, the others probably allow themselves the same. I can hear the echo's of the "big boss's" words, Write a leak down spec we can't fail!!

You stole my thunder. 18" and 36" per hour isn't leakdown, that's a leak period!