Bent tilt cylinder rods- KL401 loader on my DK45SE-HST

ASEmaster · Nov 8, 2017

I run a root rake grapple on my loader- have been doing some moving of tree debris/ logs, pushing removed stumps around to massage burn piles into shape. I noticed a leak at the right tilt cylinder. Closer inspection shows both tilt cylinder rods are bent some. I noticed the end caps actually dimpled loader arm tops below them. They don't contact under 'normal' use but with some forces applied and grapple tilted all the way back they will see some forces downward. Under some conditions the articulating plates at the quick disconnect end (at the end of each loader arm) allow the grapple to hyper-extend toward the tractor. Which in turn pushes cylinders downward. Which bent the cylinder push rods.
I fabricated some metal blocks 1.5 high by 3 1/4 in long to weld sideways on the lower top of loader arms to limit those plates near the q/d from coming back past where they should stop.
I will need to replace tilt cylinder push rods and have 2 seal kits- just a shade under $600.00 for the parts. I ordered a pin spanner wrench to get cylinder caps off. I have cylinder schematic and 30+ years auto mechanic experience. I haven't had tractor/ hyd cylinders apart before.
Any cautionary experiences or is it fairly straightforward??

Oh, and let my life be a cautionary tale.
Check your tilt cylinder end cap area to see if they've been contacting the loader arms. You could end up 600.00 poorer like me

xcgreene · Nov 8, 2017

Sorry this happened.

Cylinder caps can be TIGHT. Sometimes a big pipe wrench is needed after you break the spanner. A drift punch and hammer can also work well. Just have the cylinder clamped into a good vice. (Be warry of cylinder thickness as to no clamp down to hard with the vice and distort the cylinder). You'll see the seals are simple enough. Sometimes the Teflon backing rings can be difficult to get on and need to be placed in hot water a bit to make them more pliable, but this depends on the cylinder seal design, you'll see when it comes out. Be sure to mind proper placement and seal directing of course.

Overall, you are correct, they are pretty straightforward.

Best of luck. I'm sure you'll be back online in no time.

ASEmaster · Nov 8, 2017

Thanks for the reply- I totally understand how you are optimistic the 'correct' tool will break and we then resort to makeshift, non-approved tools lol
I was thinking, since I have to do it on location without benefit of a garage, that I'd remove lower end of rod from the loader, leave upper end attached as to hold unit while I loosen gland caps.

xcgreene · Nov 8, 2017

I agree, good way to go.

Billrog · Nov 8, 2017

I've bent those rods a few times and never removed the cylinder as you plan but didn't replace them just stuck them in a press and straightened them. The rods in these cylinders are much easier to deal with that industrial rods and are not difficult to get them within a few thou.

ASEmaster · Nov 19, 2017

The pin spanner wrench was indeed a joke. Got the biggest pipe wrench I could find PLUS needed a 4 foot cheater pipe to budge the end caps- every thread on both cylinders was a fight the whole way off. Korean LockTite, maybe...Got my cardio for the day! I left the upper end of the cylinders attached to the tractor loader to hold them and put a block between the tube and loader arm. It's good to have an assistant to hold block.
I found out the seal plug right behind the caps were trashed also from some operation with the bent rods. Piston hole was egg shaped and beat up a seal groove.
Also it was necessary to loosen upper hydraulic lines on the cylinders to introduce some air to pull rod and piston out- there was some hydraulic lock.

xcgreene · Nov 22, 2017

Thanks for the follow up. Its one think to have tight threads to just break free, its quite another to fight the whole way. The cylinder barrel was out of round? Did you have to pick up a new one or find used?

Msamt · Nov 23, 2017

I bent them both, actually cracked one right off (ala terminator). I let my dealer rebuild them both, cost my 800$ total.

As my friend once said "be careful,pushing, these things will break themselves"

seacap04 · Nov 23, 2017

I am in the process of getting a root rake. I have already turned my curl brackets into pretzels prying boulders out of the ground with forks. This is a good heads up be careful of.