Bucket Drift..??

[Soundguy]

seals aren't perfect... it's not realistic to think that a hyd seal to piston is permanent and will never leak down...

 

[CTMassey]

I should mention that the 3 pt has little to no leak down......maybe a little overnite if I left it up,but typically would not(leave it up)

 

[lhansman]

I agree with SoundGuy. With the machine not running a leakdown is to be expected. If I parked any of the the three Kubota's I have had with the loader in the air or the backhoe not locked in position they would start to leak down right away. It is very slow and almost imperceptible but if you are sitting near the machine you can actually hear a little noise each time the oil is pushed back. What surprised me about the OP was that he indicated that he was experiencing leakdown as he was driving along which to me is not normal. I have experienced this a couple of times with my Kubota's but only after I managed to get a rock on the loader that was too heavy to actually lift. I would then have to drive quick to my trailer to ensure I got it in before the arms dropped too much!

 

[jonnyc1999]

I started to experience bucket leakdown on my CT122 a few months back, mostly in the curl cylinder. I had my dealer look it over, and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They told me a little bit of cylinder drift and leakdown is normal in a CUT. While I accept their word, I'm somewhat skeptical since it didn't do it when new!

 

[Soundguy]

I started to experience bucket leakdown on my CT122 a few months back, mostly in the curl cylinder. I had my dealer look it over, and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They told me a little bit of cylinder drift and leakdown is normal in a CUT. While I accept their word, I'm somewhat skeptical since it didn't do it when new!

so.. by your logig.. since it didn't do it when new.. it shouldn't do it when used? what wonderfull logic!! with that logic.. people shouldn't age and wear out.

when new.. your tractor had perfect oil.. perfect seals, and rod and shaft diameters were unworn and perfect.. spool clearances were at minimum.

add even 'breakin' hours to a machine and the parts wear in a bit.

MINOR leakage is perfectly normal.

besides.. you aren't suposed to leave hyds left up and unsupported anyway.. not safe..

 

[meburdick]

I started to experience bucket leakdown on my CT122 a few months back, mostly in the curl cylinder. I had my dealer look it over, and they couldn't find anything wrong with it. They told me a little bit of cylinder drift and leakdown is normal in a CUT. While I accept their word, I'm somewhat skeptical since it didn't do it when new!

I can understand that gut instinct, but I wouldn't be overly worried. The fact that it didn't seem to exhibit the behavior when new could be the result of different reasons...

- Seals were brand new, perfect, and had no signs of wear. They sealed excellent, as "new" items often will.
- You didn't leave the loader / bucket up the way you do now (your use habits have changed, and you likely don't even realize it).

Of course, there's also the possibility that you broke something and don't realize it.

There is still the chance that it is wearing prematurely, and the dealer doesn't yet see where it's "out of spec."

If the dealer says they can't find an issue, just be sure to keep all of the paperwork saying that you reported the issue "now". If it turns out that there's a potential warranty issue that isn't found until slightly beyond the warranty period, you would have papers to show that you brought it up early.

 

[JRobyn]

Hey CT,

I have a similar problem with my Kubota - only the curl cylinders leak down, the boom and 3 pt don't (or leak VERY slowly). If your loader has quick-connects, one thing you can do is to disconnect the quick connects, then see if the leak-down still happens. If it does, the leak is likely in the cylinder piston seals, if not, the leak may be in the control valve. Mine is in one (maybe both) of the pistons. So they are coming off to be rebuilt.

 

[CTMassey]

Hey CT,

I have a similar problem with my Kubota - only the curl cylinders leak down, the boom and 3 pt don't (or leak VERY slowly). If your loader has quick-connects, one thing you can do is to disconnect the quick connects, then see if the leak-down still happens. If it does, the leak is likely in the cylinder piston seals, if not, the leak may be in the control valve. Mine is in one (maybe both) of the pistons. So they are coming off to be rebuilt.

Thanks,they are quick-connects, so I'll see what happens.....appreciate the info!

 

[jonnyc1999]

so.. by your logig.. since it didn't do it when new.. it shouldn't do it when used? what wonderfull logic!! with that logic.. people shouldn't age and wear out.

when new.. your tractor had perfect oil.. perfect seals, and rod and shaft diameters were unworn and perfect.. spool clearances were at minimum.

Well, When I bought the tractor "new" it had 24 hours on the clock(dealer demo model). It didn't have any leakdown whatsoever until I did the 50 hr. service on it. When there is a noticable difference between one day and the next, it is easy to suspect something is off. While it may still be in spec for the model, it is definitely much more frustrating to use than it was. In addition to leakdown, when dropping the bucket into the ground to backdrag for instance, it will curl back to level without any curl input. It is DEFINITELY different than it was at <49 hours.

 

[madmax12]

Well, When I bought the tractor "new" it had 24 hours on the clock(dealer demo model). It didn't have any leakdown whatsoever until I did the 50 hr. service on it. When there is a noticable difference between one day and the next, it is easy to suspect something is off. While it may still be in spec for the model, it is definitely much more frustrating to use than it was. In addition to leakdown, when dropping the bucket into the ground to backdrag for instance, it will curl back to level without any curl input. It is DEFINITELY different than it was at <49 hours.

If it is the result after 50 hour service, another poster said they had that prob when they put wrong fluid in. Any chance of "wrong" fluid change at 50 hours? Or, could there still be AIR in the system since the service? I think u can remove the air by cycling the bucket via dump position. Have u tried anything like that, yet?

Sorry if my newbie ideas are too...newbie.