CK30 Front end loader not lifting heavy loads

[747driver]

Here is where I bought my hyd pressure test gauge. Ken's Bolt on Grab Hooks <<Hydraulic Tools>> You have to look at the chart and determine what size fitting you have. Very nice gauge !

 

[MichiganIron]

Before you spend money on parts and pieces, we would recommend you do a simple 'Leak Down" test on the Front Loader. The procedure is as follows:

Park the tractor and set the brake
Raise the loader with the bucket level about 4 feet off the ground
Shut down the tractor
Put about 200lbs in the bucket
Measure the "stick-out" of the boom and bucket cylinders and record.
Measure the 'Stick-out" every 15 minutes for one hour

The nest step is a little tougher because the loader will pressure lock. You will need a way to lift the boom the release the pressure lock.

Repeat the above procedure with the loader "un-plugged" from the tractor valve.

If you record leak downs in excess of 1/4" for 15 minutes, you have a Cylinder Seal or Valve Spool issue. So.. that is why you do the second test with the loader unplugged from the tractor. If you experience the same "leak-down" during the second test, you have isolated the problem to the Cylinder Seals. Replace the Cylinder Seals. If you do not experience excessive leak down in either test, then pressure test the hydraulic system. Do the Leak Down test first.

Hope this helps,

Bob

 

[SSdoxie]

Billrog" I'm not certain what you mean about the auxiliary lever being engaged?

DOC

Billrog is referring to Rear Hydraulics if equipped (hydraulic couplers at rear of tractor) look at the lever on right hand side of the seat in slot marked A & B and make sure the lever is NOT locked into one of those positions.

 

[DOCatRU]

Bob:

Thanks for the detailed explanation of the tests. I'll give them a try. I should be able to lift the bucket and boom with the hydraulic hoses detached by using a winch or come-a-long.

This past summer while installing a walk way with some scrap marble blocks I noticed that with the tractor off and the loader holding a marble block aloft that after a period of time I heard a creak or a tick from the loader and the bucket dropped a fraction of an inch. Perhaps that is another indicator that is similar to the "leak down" test.

Are leaking seals a common problem? The tractor only has 760 hours, although I do use the loader to lift a lot of heavy firewood.

Your advice is greatly appreciated.

DOC

 

[4570Man]

Before you spend money on parts and pieces, we would recommend you do a simple 'Leak Down" test on the Front Loader. The procedure is as follows:

Park the tractor and set the brake
Raise the loader with the bucket level about 4 feet off the ground
Shut down the tractor
Put about 200lbs in the bucket
Measure the "stick-out" of the boom and bucket cylinders and record.
Measure the 'Stick-out" every 15 minutes for one hour

The nest step is a little tougher because the loader will pressure lock. You will need a way to lift the boom the release the pressure lock.

Repeat the above procedure with the loader "un-plugged" from the tractor valve.

If you record leak downs in excess of 1/4" for 15 minutes, you have a Cylinder Seal or Valve Spool issue. So.. that is why you do the second test with the loader unplugged from the tractor. If you experience the same "leak-down" during the second test, you have isolated the problem to the Cylinder Seals. Replace the Cylinder Seals. If you do not experience excessive leak down in either test, then pressure test the hydraulic system. Do the Leak Down test first.

Hope this helps,

Bob

Your test is inclusive. The loader would leak faster with bad cylinder seals but it can’t leak at all unplugged unless fluid is spilling out the gland seal or hoses.

 

[jabelding]

Your test is inclusive. The loader would leak faster with bad cylinder seals but it can’t leak at all unplugged unless fluid is spilling out the gland seal or hoses.

Agreed cylinder rod going into the cylinder body the fluid has to go somewhere. A slow cylinder leak will not cause a reduction in lifting force only a reduction in hyd pressure will do that.

 

[4570Man]

A slow cylinder leak will not cause a reduction in lifting force only a reduction in hyd pressure will do that.

Agreed. A lot easier test would be to try lifting the front of the tractor off the ground with the loader. If the cylinder seals were leaking that bad it would leak back down almost instantly if it actually lifted it at all. The downside to that test is if the hydraulic pressure is severely compromised it might fail at lifting the front and the seals could be fine.

 

[DOCatRU]

Thanks for all of the feedback, my friends.

I did ask the nearest Kioti dealer about the pressure relief valve. I asked if it was adjustable. Some people suggested that the pressure valve could be adjusted during a pressure test on the hydraulic system.

The Kioti dealer did not know if the pressure relief valve was adjustable and that it was $200 to replace it.

I believe I have two separate issue going on here:

1) the joy stick not wanting to move in cold weather.
2) the reduced lifting power of the loader

Any further thoughts?

 

[4570Man]

It sounds like your dealer doesn’t know squat about the issue. Is your loader a cable operated unit? Maybe it’s freezing up in cold weather.

 

[JoelD]

If bad cyl seal the rod piston will pass through the oil with the oil going around the piston’s seals. Don’t need external leak for piston to pass through the oil if the piston is not sealing to cyl walls. My first guess would be piston seal, unlikely both pistons so not sure if you see some sort of twist? Hard to use stick is interesting, from my experience it’s been either ice or leaking seal in valve body which filled my bottom cap with oil and was pushing up on spool valve and also showed ad aggressive leaking oil onto ground. I’d think piston seal more likely than spool valve. Relief valve could also cause but would effect curl and lift as I’d expect on same relief valve?