723 Loader won't raise in cold..pls help!

[Doug_SEIndiana]

723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

I have a L3430 with Cab and LA723 loader. We have been hammered with about 25" of snow and I was using my loader w/o any problem all day on Thursday. Friday morning I started the tractor and let it warm for about 30 mins because it was about 2 degrees outside. After dumping 3 loads of snow out of the FEL I noticed it would not raise. It lowers and tilts bucket both ways, but will not raise the loader. I also noticed that my joystick falls down to the position that raises the loader if I don't hold it up to neutral position. There is normal resistence in all other directions of movement with the joystick. Could something have froze up? Could a cable have broken from the joystick to the FEL hyraulic unit? My dealer is closed for Christmas and I have more snow to move! Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[DK35vince]

Re: 723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

I would pull up the rubber boot around the joystick handle and look at the handles linkage. Maybe you can see whats going on.
It could be as simple as a pin came out.

 

[art]

Re: 723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

Put a heat lamp on the valve or use your wifes hair dryer on the bottom of it where the two metal caps come down. With the lever loose as you say DK's advise is not a bad choice to check. The valves being used on these tractors will build up with condensation and freeze but it doesn't sound like the normal mo for this problem. The cables also might be the problem as they from time to time might ice up to for the same reason.

 

[surfran]

Re: 723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

Since you can move the bucket in both directions it doesn't sound like the 3 point lever has been hit, but I figured I would mention just in case. If the 3 point is engaged it diverts flow to the loader and will not allow it to work or work properly.

It does sound more like a linkage has come loose, but you can rule out the 3 point very easily by looking at your lever.

I hope you get or have gotten it fixed by now and are plowing away again.

Happy Holidays to all.........

 

[BigAl]

Re: 723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

Check and make sure your quick connects hyd oil lines are both attached . I had the same thing happen and it turned out to be one line had come loose .
Big Al

 

[AKKubota]

Re: 723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

I have the same problem with mine occasionally, except its lowering and uncurling the bucket.

I too warm it up and move the fluid around by actually moving the 3pt and driving ther tractor around. Eventually, it will unfreeze and function fine. My control lever feels "stiff" at first untill it all heats up. I'm using a synthetic cold weather hydro fluid so...I'm not sure what the problem is.

 

[KennyV]

Re: 723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

Doug… I have a cab on my L4200, The remote valve on mine freezes two places: In the cables that enter the valve on the bottom, as was stated, condensed moisture, or melted snow, will get inside and keep the cable from moving; also on top of the valve there is a disk that is retained with an internal snap ring. Moisture WILL get around that disk and fill that small compartment. This is where the valve centering spring is located, that spring will rust and eventually fail… I had to rebuild my lift side of the valve. When I finished I placed 1 inch PVC caps on the top ends to keep water out.
First warm these areas up, then…
For the cables… Spray WD40 into the top , under the boot. It will take a long time & lots of spray to get any inside the cable, but when mixed with the condensed moisture it should prevent freeze. There should be a better way but if there is I don’t know it.
For the valve springs… The covers I made with PVC work, they will not keep condensation from making it into the top but with a lot of WD40 inside it seems to be working. I wish Kubota had a solution for this but as I have tried to find out anything better, there is not. If you come up with something PLEASE post it on this thread. KennyV.

 

[Doug_SEIndiana]

Re: 723 Loader won\'t raise in cold..pls help!

Thanks all for your replies!
I'm up and running again. The Kubota service man was out and found that a lock nut that connects the cable to the joystick was probably never fully tightened during assembly and the cable came undone. He thinks that caused that cable's valve to get pushed to far and it stuck. He removed the cable from both ends and pulled the valve up and once he pulled it up it worked properly. He reassembled and I used the tractor for the next couple hours moving snow with no problem. Thanks again for all you guys who gave me some input.
Doug /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif