200CX loader reattachment

[netwayne]

We have a 2305 and got this FEL back in Sept and have attached and detached it a number of times with not too much difficulty. Today, we went to attach it after it had been sitting for maybe 2 months. It was way low and therefore way out of alignment. Figured the hydraulics bled down which lowered the profile on the FEL sitting on the ground. We decided to pull the tractor up perpendicular to the FEL just to get the hoses attached to see if we could raise it back to it's proper height. Not sure if this would work but we were going to try it. Trouble was we were unable to make two of the hydraulic connections to the tractor. It was the black and blue connections which raise and lower the FEL. We tried starting the tractor and moving the joystick to relieve pressure on the tractor side but to no avail. I see from another thread in here that you can press the tips on the hose ends to relieve pressure too? Gonna try that now. Was curious if anyone else has run into this issue of the FEL settling and also difficulty making the hose connections. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks TBNers!!

 

[Willl]

This is very common.

Cover the end with a rag first, could get messy.

 

[netwayne]

Ok, so yes I did confirm that the 2 lines I could not reconnect (blue and black) the nipple ends of the hoses would not depress. How do I free the pressure there that I suspect is causing this? I did try pushing that nipple end into a piece of wood but no luck.

 

[Willl]

I did try pushing that nipple end into a piece of wood but no luck.

Try it this way.

Cover with rag and with a soft mallet, smack the nipple somewhat sharply.

(soft mallet could also be a short 2X4 or even a hammer handle)

 

[netwayne]

I will give that a shot tomorrow and report back. Appreciate the feedback. Wonder if I should be doing anything different in the future to avoid this and also if anything can be done to prevent the FEL from settling over time...

 

[Henri88]

I will give that a shot tomorrow and report back. Appreciate the feedback. Wonder if I should be doing anything different in the future to avoid this and also if anything can be done to prevent the FEL from settling over time...

I fix that problem by increasing the height of the boom when unhooking my fel. Use to lift it up just enough to back up the tractor but realize that after a few days it would settle down a few inches so by getting it higher on the stand, it seems to put less pressure on the boom cylinder and the stand while sitting. Never had that problem since.

 

[dmay]

You need to lift the weight off of the parking stand, to reduce hydraulic pressure inside the lift cylinders. This can be done by hand or get helping hands if needed. Man lift and support. Connect hydraulics. Hydraulic lift and remove support.

Next time you park, place a 2x6 between the parking stand and back of your bucket as a support brace.

 

[GordNovo]

Netwayne, this is a very common condition. Basically, it happens becuase the fell frame settles over time after you disconnect and drive away.

The best way to combat this problem in the future is AFTER you dismount the loader frame from the tractor and BEFORE you disconnect the hydraulic hoses, turn off the tractor then circulate through all 4 positions in the loader joystick. You'll notice the FEL will settle a bit when you do this. This neutralizes all the oil pressure and encourages the FEL to sit firmly on whatever ground you have it sat on. If you have a high tractor (like the 2520 or 2320) be sure to back the tractor away from mounting bracket on the FEL before you do this cuz it ofter settles back onto the bracket on the tractor (the clearance on the higher tractor isn't very much. Never had this problem when I had a 2305).

After I learned this little trick, I never had a problem with energized hydraulic lines again.

Good luck
Gord

 

[beenthere]

Gord
I do as you suggest when removing the FEL (circulate joy stick), but if removed in the cooler weather and then try to attach in warmer weather....have the same problem and have to relieve the pressure in at least one line.

 

[GordNovo]

Interesting phenomenon, beenthere! Maybe the solution there is to use the FEL more often .

Cheers!

 

[beenthere]

Yes Cheers.
The FEL is off when the snow plow is on.

Any day now, and that exchange will happen.

 

[sunnyside360]

Gord
I do as you suggest when removing the FEL (circulate joy stick), but if removed in the cooler weather and then try to attach in warmer weather....have the same problem and have to relieve the pressure in at least one line.

Yep, standard practice for my equipment also. Sometimes the pressure is so great that I have to loosen the coupling to relieve the pressure, eg, when bumping with piece of wood doesn't work.

 

[GordNovo]

Yes Cheers.
The FEL is off when the snow plow is on.

Any day now, and that exchange will happen.

<sigh> If only we'd get more snow! Haven't had much seat time, myself, here in Winnipeg since the cold weather's arrived.

Here's hoping for a white and fluffy Christmas :drink:

 

[northernjake]

Whenever I parked my loader outside when the weather was warm, pressure would build up in the lines and I would have to do the rag and mallet trick too.
One other thing you can do is get some old (or new) female couplers and snap them on the loader male ends after you have released the pressure, etc. and unkooked them from the tractor. Hang an empty coffeee can or the like from the hose ends to catch any dripping oil. If any pressure builds up, it will seep through the couplers, and they should be normal to re-attach to the tractor come the time.

Jake

 

[Willl]

Wonder how Wayne made out on this ?

 

[Henri88]

We tried starting the tractor and moving the joystick to relieve pressure on the tractor side but to no avail.

Just reread his post. Wayne, if you want to relieve the pressure on the tractor side, you have to move the joystick with the engine stop, not while running. :thumbsup:

 

[netwayne]

Wonder how Wayne made out on this ?

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get back to this but hope to tomorrow. I will post how I make out with getting those 2 hoses reconnected. Definitely appreciate everybody's feedback and tips!!

 

[netwayne]

So I finally got back to this and I ended up opening up the 2 stuck couplings on the FEL side to relieve the pressure so I could make the connections. Oh yeah, be careful of the coupling nipple when relieving the pressure....ended up squirting myself so the tips about covering with a rag before depressing are good ones. Wouldn't be the first time I got in trouble with a nipple After freeing up the pressure on the two hoses, I was able to pull the tractor up perpendicular to the FEL, make the connections and raise the whole implement high enough to then disco the hoses and drive up to make the attachment. I will reread this thread for the suggestions on howto avoid this scenario in the future of the FEL sagging when it's been sitting for a while off the tractor. Thanks again guys!!

 

[sunnyside360]

....ended up squirting myself so the tips about covering with a rag before depressing are good ones.

This why I use a couple of wrenches and loosen the coupling from the hose and let the pressurized fluid slowly leak out on a rag and then tighten the couplings. Doing it this way also does not risk damaging the nipple.

Anyways, problem solved and you learned how to cope with it next time.