adding an old FEL... hydraulics are a mess

ihcrazy · Jan 21, 2014

Good evening, I bought a fel in the summer and have now just got it on the tractor. The hydraulics are another story. Got them on but not right. I put it on by the way it looked in the pile I got it in and it wasnt all together then, just had to guess. This is an old Char Lynn system on a Johnson loader. When I cranked the tractor up there was a sharp ping sound every 4 seconds, the lift was slowly lifting and would not go down but would go up easy by the control. I am not going to crank it again untill I get the lines right. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have tried to find something to go by but mostly the schematics I cant understand. Here is a pic of how it is hooked up now. Thanks again ihcrazy

ishiboo · Jan 21, 2014

The valve details, pump details, etc. really come into play here. Is the pump an open center, closed center, power beyond? How is the valve configured? Is there a missing 'tank drain' port on the valve, or is there only a tank drain which you've instead plumbed with backpressure by having the relief valve on it?

Where the "pressure valve" is located is really not a spot for a pressure valve AFAIK.

ihcrazy · Jan 21, 2014

I am new to hydraulics. The valve is a old char lynn with the in on one side and the out on the opposite. the other ports are on the top or front side. here are some pics. found the piece that I ran the line to from the control valve, it is a filter. that is the control valve I have also. check out the url. http://www.antiquefarming.com/PDF/hydraulicpump.pdf

ihcrazy · Jan 21, 2014

Another question.. should I take the valve apart to see how it works or take the lines off and use air to see how the thing works. Also the drawing I sent was how I have it set up now and by looking at the diagrams online the relief valve is in the line before the control valve with a line back to the tank and I think this is where I am going wrong, unless it is in the control valve. Also the control valve only has (in) and (out) on the sides and the top ports dont have anything of identification to where they go or what they do.. sorry I cant help but with more pics.

SSdoxie · Jan 21, 2014

A relief separate from the control valve is fine as long as it is in the line between pump out and inlet of control valve. Look at the relief valve and see if there is an arrow on it indicating direction of flow and is so, is it correct.
Problem of able to lift (might be slower than expected) and not lowering could be hoses going to 1 cylinders is crossed. When raising oil pressure is going to base end of 1 cylinder and rod end of the other, then either way you moved the valve lever you would always be putting pressured oil into both ends of both cylinders and this will make them extend, unable to retract. Base end of a cylinder has more surface area at the piston so equal pressure on both sides forces it to extend out. Follow each hose from the valve through the Tees to the cylinders and make sure they are connected the same on both cylinders.

ihcrazy · Jan 21, 2014

this thing is really old but I think it can still work... look at the url I have above. It shows the same control and the filter, that I thought was the pressure valve. The control has a pressure regulator on it, it says. So I guess I only have to change a few lines. One take off the old filter as it is running backward and then run the line to the tank then I should be done. The only thing that would hinder the operation would be the control. It may have to be replaced if it is bad. Will check this out tomorrow. wish me luck. Thanks for your help. ihcrazy