420 Loader - not level - leaking cylinders?

[swampbuggy77]

I have a 420 cylinder that is always out of level by about 3/4". For a while I just thought the loader was bent. I know my bucket cylinders need to be rebuilt, as they move at very different rates without a bucket attached, and one is leaking pretty good.

My question, could leaking lift cylinders cause a loader to be out of level? If one were leaking internally, causing the other side to push up harder, hence always being out of level?

Any recommendations on how to test? I was thinking of swapping cylinders to the opposite sides to see if I can repeat. Any other ideas?

 

[jeff9366]

Check all four tire pressures first.

5 psi pressure difference between tires on either side can easily cause 3/4" out of level.

 

[jthibodeau89]

Is the bucket twisted, or just out of level?

 

[TractorGuy]

The uneven travel with the bucket off is sheared or worn pins and holes on the timing rod.

As already suggested park the tractor on level ground with the tire pressure set even to measure for a bent frame.

 

[swampbuggy77]

Is the bucket twisted, or just out of level?

The bucket and loader are both out of level. I'm measuring from different points on the loader arms at the pins and cross bars.

What got me thinking was after I removed the bucket (no load), I noticed my bucket lift cylinders operate at different speeds (I know at least one needs to be rebuilt). If the lift cylinders are doing the same, is one pushing harder than the other due to an internal leak that could cause the out of level situation?

 

[swampbuggy77]

The uneven travel with the bucket off is sheared or worn pins and holes on the timing rod.

As already suggested park the tractor on level ground with the tire pressure set even to measure for a bent frame.

What is the timing rod?

 

[Egon]

Will the bucket sit flat on a cement pad with no pressure on the cylinders.

 

[swampbuggy77]

Will the bucket sit flat on a cement pad with no pressure on the cylinders.

Yes it will sit flat

 

[oldnslo]

Swampbuggy
To answer your question yes if one of the lift cylinders is leaking bad enough the cylinders will extend at different speeds and speed difference should get worse with a load in the bucket.

 

[rangerfredbob]

In most loaders both cylinders (both pairs really) are in parallel meaning they get the same amount of fluid on both sides, IE they equalize, any amount of offset from side to side is either back tires being different pressures or the loader frame or bucket is bent from being overloaded more on one side than the other at one point or it was built out of square.