Is this normal?

[esz]

The FEL on my new 2515H (less than 50 hours) will not stay up with the engine off. If it has a load on it, it will drop to the ground overnight. I just tested it with an empty bucket; it dropped 12" in five hours. I cannot see any leaks. My last tractor would stay where I left it. It's a PITA to take it in for service so wanted some opinions first.

 

[LouNY]

Almost all hydraulic valves have a leak rate. Many of the less expensive do not have load checks in the valves. Leaking down is considered "normal;"

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

My 4820 loader won't sink after weeks... Your mileage may vary

 

[Torvy]

I guess I was trained to put equipment to 'bed' at the end of the day. Part of that is to drop the FEL and 3pt.

It doesn't sound like a major problem, but you may want to investigate some troubleshooting for that.

 

[houska]

The phenomenon is normal. Yours (36" in 5 hours) seems a bit more extreme than what I've experienced, though. I'd expect that in a couple of days.

I've learned to drop the loader to the groud and release the 3PH when leaving by 4225h overnight, and I've seen it sink when I've left it during the day for a few hours. I apparently have yet to learn to also think about the bucket curl, however. Just a few weeks ago, I left a handful of carriage bolts and nuts safely captive in a turned up bucket. And parked overnight on a bit of a hill, dropping the loader arms to the ground but keeping the bucket slightly tilted up. Only to come back days later with the bucket curled down, the bolts and nuts spilled and some rolled down the hill....

 

[esz]

I guess I was trained to put equipment to 'bed' at the end of the day. Part of that is to drop the FEL and 3pt.

It doesn't sound like a major problem, but you may want to investigate some troubleshooting for that.

I also do this, but in one case I was working on a snow plow blade on the bucket forks. After paint, I left it for a few hours; when I came back for the second coat, it was on the ground.

Sounds like this is a non-issue; thanks for the comments.

 

[Yander]

Put the loader on the floor and don't give it a second thought. I've never checked mine and never plan to.

 

[Rockbadchild]

You could go around and make sure every hose connections are tight, being this new you never know, often the manufacture forget to tight one or two, but like everybody said yes its is normal top a point, that's one of the reason mechanic install bucket stand or jack stand when going under any hydraulic driven components.

 

[ptsg]

Surely I'm not the only one that thinks it's an awful lot leak down.

Yes, leak down is normal to a point but this is quite extreme in my opinion. I can leave my backhoe in the air with one of the cheapest valves on the market and it will only leak down maybe 3" in 12 hours. Even my hydraulic top link with a slow leak on the rod seal will leak down a minimal amount in 12+ hours.

Since there isn't really a good standard as to how much it "can" leak down, I suspect the dealer will try to get away from it regardless.

I agree that the implements should be lowered to the ground but some times work dictates the need to have the loader raised for some reason, even to be used as a bench.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Surely I'm not the only one that thinks it's an awful lot leak down.

Yes, leak down is normal to a point but this is quite extreme in my opinion. I can leave my backhoe in the air with one of the cheapest valves on the market and it will only leak down maybe 3" in 12 hours. Even my hydraulic top link with a slow leak on the rod seal will leak down a minimal amount in 12+ hours.

Since there isn't really a good standard as to how much it "can" leak down, I suspect the dealer will try to get away from it regardless.

I agree that the implements should be lowered to the ground but some times work dictates the need to have the loader raised for some reason, even to be used as a bench.

what would be the cause in your opinion ? it has to be the control valve if there is no external leak ?

 

[ptsg]

what would be the cause in your opinion ? it has to be the control valve if there is no external leak ?

Main cause is usually control valve.

 

[oldnslo]

The original valve on my loader was a leaker with no metering capabilities that I replaced shortly after getting the tractor.

A quick simple test to confirm if is the valve.
Raise loader and support it so little to no pressure on the quick disconnect in blind or cap end of cylinder. Unplug this quick disconnect leaving rod end connected. Remove support from under loader and see if it drifts down. If no it is the directional valve.

If still drifts then either there is external leak to atmosphere or one or both of the lift cylinders has a leaking piston seal allowing oil past piston and then leaking across directional valve. Fixing the cylinders will frequently reduce drift to acceptable .

 

[esz]

Thanks for all the help. I just corrected my original post (got my numbers mixed up); with no load, it leaked down 12" in five hours. Sounds to me like this is acceptable and not worth losing sleep over or loading this thing up and hauling it to a dealer who is going to tell me nothing wrong with it.

 

[ptsg]

Thanks for all the help. I just corrected my original post (got my numbers mixed up); with no load, it leaked down 12" in five hours. Sounds to me like this is acceptable and not worth losing sleep over.

That's a lot more reasonable and indeed not something to lose sleep over. Still a bit more than I would like but acceptable.