Loader 240 TL curl droop

[6sunset6]

This is the loader on a TC34DA. 300hr 7 years old. Curl droops I found loose bolts in the joystick attach ,that seemed to fix it a bit. in fact with only forks on it ,it does not droop at all. With a load on it probably a minute to hit the ground when 2 feet up and level. I followed Jinman's advise. Disconnect the curl QD's and with the bucket edge down dragged it backwards Held steady. I am going to try one more thing to point at the cylinders QD disconnected with a load 2 feet up see if it droops. Whoa droops seems to be in the cylinders Don't know why inman's test did not show it. I probably did it wrong. Better the cylinder than the valve which looks like it cannot be repaired anyway.

 

[J_J]

Yep, sounds like piston seals to me.

That does not mean that the valve spools are not leaking.

If you install a gage in the IN port of the loader valve, do you think it will build up to the relief pressure?

 

[6sunset6]

I have a gage but there is no problem with pressure. Both lift and bucket cylinders lift full loads no problem. The lift cylinders stay up forever.
I don't know what else it could be, with QD disconnected and the curl comes down.
Seal kits on order.

 

[6sunset6]

Bummer . After building a cylinder vise and holding it down with my other tractor I broke the cylinder end loose with a pipe wrench and a 4 foot pipe. Not my preference but it had 2 flats at 2 1/8 . I have an adjustable that opens that big but no pipe that will fit over the handle. So pipe wrench it was. Since there were no leaks external to the cylinder I decided not to touch the seals in the end nut. I found a couple of steel slivers on the piston seal, very small with some cuts in the seal also very very small. There is the guide piece and then an oring with a ring seal. Flat face. cleaned out everything replaced guide , oring and seal. both cylinders. Got it all back together . Added oil to tractor,
Started up no leaks pheww cycled probably 20 times. Curl droop seems to be worse than before. Why do I get so tired when I get greasy and covered in crap. Knowing what I know now I might start looking for a hydraulic shop for next time. For now for awhile I am going to live with it.

 

[6sunset6]

Hold everything Bummer retract Looks like there was air in the cylinders Must have run it back and forth 50 times. Few more times today and let it sit for a while. Stayed up At the moment no worse than before. I though I was doomed. I will say that it did not take much damage to the seals to cause the problem. a sliver of material cut the piston and the seal about .010 in diameter. Looked like a piece of wire from a hose braid. I polished out the scrap on the piston . The other seal had a deformation like a flat spot about 1/8 side. Sorry no pictures I was covered in crud and depressed.