305 Loader Question

[TPBJD]

The hydraulics on my 305 loader on my JD 3038e don't seem to want to hold. When I picked up a load of dirt with the bucket & rolled the bucket back all the way & took off driving, the bucket rolled forward a little bit while I was driving over to dump the dirt. Additionally, I left the loader up about 3 feet last night. This morning I came out & the loader was down. This doesn't seem normal. I would expect the bucket & loader arm hydraulics to hold whatever position you put them in. Anyone else experience this?

 

[WH401]

I can't explain the bucket rolling forward while you were driving, that may be something you'll want to talk to the dealer about. But the loader coming down over night when you left it up in the air isn't a problem to worry about, it's normal for hydraulics to leak down.

 

[AKfish]

Normal for the loader to drift down overnight - not a problem. The bucket movement may/may not be an issue. It's normal to have some small amount of "play" in the bucket even a full-tilt back.

Check the bucket (while empty) at full-tilt back - you should be able to rock the bucket back and forth (by hand) an inch or so. Normal play..

AKfish

 

[Buddy G]

I realize this is an old post, but apparently John Deere still has the leakdown problem. My dealer changed the main lift cylinders, but my loader still leaks down quickly. John Deere's answer? To send a leakdown rate chart that shows up to 7 1/2" per hour is "within specs". And that's with no load! To those who say it's normal, I ask, how does my neighbor's Mahindra manage to keep the bucket head high for days, sometimes weeks without drifting? and by the way, if you call JD customer service, all they'll do is document your complaint and tell you they can't guarantee anyone will call you back. I've owned a variety of JD products over the years, but this will be the last. I knew the Mahindra could lift more, but I had no idea the JD would leakdown like it does. Live and learn.

 

[kcflhrc]

I realize this is an old post, but apparently John Deere still has the leakdown problem. My dealer changed the main lift cylinders, but my loader still leaks down quickly. John Deere's answer? To send a leakdown rate chart that shows up to 7 1/2" per hour is "within specs". And that's with no load! To those who say it's normal, I ask, how does my neighbor's Mahindra manage to keep the bucket head high for days, sometimes weeks without drifting? and by the way, if you call JD customer service, all they'll do is document your complaint and tell you they can't guarantee anyone will call you back. I've owned a variety of JD products over the years, but this will be the last. I knew the Mahindra could lift more, but I had no idea the JD would leakdown like it does. Live and learn.

I just bought a new 2013 3032E and I'm curious if my loader will do the same thing. How are you testing yours so I can do the same test and we can compare notes?

Thanks

 

[Zebrafive]

Try swapping the lines for the boom with the ones for the bucket (just for a test) if it still drops just as fast, it's your cylinders leaking internally. If it drops slower, it's the valve leaking internally.

 

[Buddy G]

I have a copy of 3 pages from a John Deere dealer bulletin instructing how to check cylinders for leakage. The document in question is their allowable leak down rates, which in the case of our tractors is 7.5" per hour with no load. I spoke to a JD customer service manager today and expressed my concerns. While she was polite, she did lean towards saying, "it's within spec". If I bought a new Ford F150 and it burned a quart of oil in 2000 miles, would Ford be able to say, "it's within spec"? When I bought my new 3032E, I read the specs backwards and forwards, but I would have never thought to ask how quickly the loader would leak down. Every time I look out the window at my neighbor's Mahindra holding the bucket in the same place for days, it really makes me feel foolish to have spent the extra bucks on a JD. Unless JD comes up with a better plan, this will be the last one. And for the guys who say "all cylinders leak down", I beg to differ. If a cylinder leaks, it's all about tolerances and materials. Physics will always trump opinions. I'll scan the documents and try to upload them to this site.

 

[Buddy G]

The dealer actually changed the boom cylinders, but the new ones don't seem to be any better. Glad I didn't have to pay the $600 to have a loader that still leaks down. I think the bucket cylinders are leaking even worse since I have JD pallet forks and they loose altitude even quicker than the loader.

 

[Zebrafive]

I hope you can post the leak down documents.
Do they cover all JD loaders?
I'd like to know the specs for my two JD loaders.
For safety reasons I do not leave my loaders up, but what like to see the allowable leak down rates for them.

 

[Buddy G]

I scanned the docs, but the file size was beyond what the website will allow. I'll try to scan the 4 pages separately and try again tomorrow. I haven't heard yet from the local factory rep, but if he simply says, "it's within the engineering standards", we may have a problem.