Front End Loader Arms and Bucket Cylinders Barely Moving

[spindlewood]

I just took off my front end snow blower from my DK40 and am attempting to hook up my front end loader. I've been doing this for about 9 years, and I've never had an issue.

I've:

• moved the tractor in place so the arms are aligned
• hooked up (twice) the 4 hoses and they are color coded matched
• Given power to the 4 directions/ hoses with only slight cylinder movement.
• Checked the transmission fluid level and it registers on the dipstick.

There's not enough power to tilt the bucket (left/right) or extend/contract the arms (forward/back). They move a small amount, but that's it. I've checked the other control arms in the cab to make sure they are in neutral position.

The Front End Loader spent all winter outside as it always does - covered with tarps (not ideal, I know). Is there any way for rust to possibly be an issue?

Any ideas what to try? I'm stumped.

 

[oldnslo]

My first thought is that have two hoses crossed even if they are color coded. Can you physically trace the hoses from the lift cylinders to verify that both ends are connected to the same spool? These can be labeled A1, B1 or something similar.


Very unlikely anything wrong with cylinders.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Do you have any rear remotes? One may be "on", creating some dead heading. Just a thought....

 

[IndyJay]

Do you have any rear remotes? One may be "on", creating some dead heading. Just a thought....

Especially if he was feeding the snow blower from the remotes?

 

[spindlewood]

Especially if he was

My first thought is that have two hoses crossed even if they are color coded. Can you physically trace the hoses from the lift cylinders to verify that both ends are connected to the same spool? These can be labeled A1, B1 or something similar.


Very unlikely anything wrong with cylinders.

You were 100% correct. Not sure if this is age related, color blindness, or a case of changes I made when swapping to the blower last fall. I need to label better is the final assessment. I solved it by getting out the manual and tracing the lines. Sure enough, it showed me which two were swapped

feeding the snow blower from the remotes?

Do you have any rear remotes? One may be "on", creating some dead heading. Just a thought....

I do run the blower from the short handles by my right knee (I didn't know these were called remotes). I made sure these were off. Good thoughts, though. Thanks.

 

[oldnslo]

Spindle,
Thanks letting us know what the problem was. And I can relate to age, color blind. I remember as a kid people saying with age comes wisdom, sure wish the wisdom would show up soon…

 

[IndyJay]

Spindle,
Thanks letting us know what the problem was. And I can relate to age, color blind. I remember as a kid people saying with age comes wisdom, sure wish the wisdom would show up soon…

Yep, for some of us wisdom was late out of the gate...