Loader Blew the curling hard-line on my FEL

[madhouse]

Definitely more my fault than the engineering... I was attempting to roll a huge pile of brush down a hill with my CT230 that I had no business attempting. I had a loonngg toothed manure grapple stabbed into the pile and I was trying to lift and roll with Gravity and the tractor pushing. The pushing force - while the tines where curled down to near there full extent - created so much force in the hydraulic line that it blew!

So my tractor is facing down a hill that I was intending on using the curl function to help push me back up... with the tines and the claw of my manure grapple stuck in the top of a pile of brush. To make matters worse, I was 30 miles from home with a rented trailer on Saturday evening, with my regular bucket and tree puller setting in the lawn.

My first thought was to abandon the grapple, load everything else with chains... but I really didn't think I was going to be able to get just the tractor out. I decided to first attempt to back out with the grapple attached (After disconnecting the third function hydraulics so the grapple wouldn't close). Eureka!!! I stepped on the transaxle lock, put it in low, and crept right out! I loaded the other attachments with chains and made it home with an almost finished project at the church.

Now I wait to find out how much the hardlines are going to set me back!!!

 

[J_J]

You might consider some work port relief valves to avoid problems.

When the lever is in neutral, and you develop pressure in the cyl, there is no where for the pressure to go, so it can damage the weakest link, and in your tractor, that was a hard line.

 

[madhouse]

Quick question: What pressure is the hydraulic hose rated for on the 7TL?

 

[Egon]

Well, I did the same thing about a week ago. I'm waiting on connectors for a tubing splice.

I also backed out and backed on to the trailer. Had to use the backhoe to lift the back a few inches so the subframe would clear the trailer when loading.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I think the FEL bucket is sized so that the levering with the curl function doesn't exceed the capacity of the hydraulic lines. Seems that the extended length of the grapple teeth exceed that capacity. I'll have to remember that if I get enough extra cash to buy one.

 

[madhouse]

The curl lever was obviously in the neutral position not allowing the pressure to be relieved and the lever created by the long teeth turned the cylinder into a piston/pump by pulling on the rod and creating a LOT of pressure.

The local John Deere dealer had a high pressure compression fitting that will work on the hardline. I will simply cut 8" off of the hardline and replace the hose with one 8" longer. $40 later it should work!?!

Otherwise $140 and a WEEK to get a replacement hardline... And it's supposed to be gorgeous on Saturday and those are in short supply these days.

 

[Egon]

And that one end is a real joy to get at.

 

[madhouse]

Swing and a Miss!!! The entire length of that hardline has expanded approximately 0.025" The nut and ferrule are only 0.005" oversized. Coincidentally a gnat's @$$ also measures 0.020" :fiery:

 

[Egon]

Make sure the ends are reamed and use some sandpaper.

 

[CJONE]

Just weld it up, I do lots of them here. Machine is back working and that is all most of the customers care until the new line comes in. Most if not all of the new lines sit on the shelf with the repaired line still in service! CJ