Bucket Drop

[Gem99ultra]

While using my L3400 to load up a bunch of limbs with the bucket about 3' in the air for loading convenience, the bucket suddenly let go and dropped to the ground! Glad I wasn't under it. No prior warning, no shuddering, everything seemed to be working just fine.

Before and after that incidence, the FEL worked just fine, no hick-ups. Later, I checked the 3-pt. fluid and discovered that it was about 3 gallons low. Do you think that's what caused the failure? Or should I be looking for a different problem?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Henro]

I do not think it would be a fluid level issue, as the cylinders would be full and the control valves closed. The bucket will stay up when the engine is off...some stay up longer than others, depending on the leakage in the control valves.

How fast did it drop? The same speed as if you put you control valve in float position?

That is a scary thing to happen. I am guilty of sometimes using my bucket to hold a plank, sort of like a portable scaffold. Have also used it as a pseudo work platform at times...

My gut is pointing my mind at the control valve, but I cannot offer any real help on what to look for.

Hope you find the solution soon! I have always worried about a possible hose failure when standing in my bucket, but NEVER really considered something else as having the same effect...

Bill

 

[teg]

Wow, I would like to know how this happened, too. I've had low oil (3+ gallons) and the tractor worked fine. The oil pickup must be pretty low in the reserve.

So no one was around to play with the controls? :confused3: What did you hear? and I assume you saw it drop?

 

[Gem99ultra]

Wow, I would like to know how this happened, too. I've had low oil (3+ gallons) and the tractor worked fine. The oil pickup must be pretty low in the reserve.

So no one was around to play with the controls? :confused3: What did you hear? and I assume you saw it drop?

Yeah, I was in front of the bucket and son was tossing limbs into it from the side. No-one else around it. It dropped like I had pulled the lever, same as it would in float position. No crunching, no nothing; just a 'swish' and down it came.

I've left the bucket raise for long lengths of time in the past and never had it drop an inch. The tractor had not been used much all winter... do you suppose the control valve might have just been a bit sticky?

 

[teg]

...do you suppose the control valve might have just been a bit sticky?

No. Did you notice the joystick when you got back on the tractor? Was it locked in Float position or was it in the middle, like normal? Wondering if a thrown (or falling) branch might have wrapped around the steering wheel and knocked the joystick into Float....

 

[Gem99ultra]

No. Did you notice the joystick when you got back on the tractor? Was it locked in Float position or was it in the middle, like normal? Wondering if a thrown (or falling) branch might have wrapped around the steering wheel and knocked the joystick into Float....

Son was standing by and was the first one to check the joystick, so I really can't say about the position. The last motion was to lift the bucket, so putting it in float position wouldn't have been a normal motion.

 

[stuckmotor]

I've got to quit walking under my loader.

 

[teg]

Was the engine running or turned off? Basically, the valve is the only thing that lets oil in or out of the cylinders (other than a broken hose or leaking cylinders). Leaks around "O" rings in the valve are usually slow. Let us know if it happens again...

 

[repete]

Would an internal failure of a cylinder seal cause this as fluid rapidly goes from one side to the other? Seems odd that the failure could not be repeated.

 

[rswyan]

Would an internal failure of a cylinder seal cause this as fluid rapidly goes from one side to the other? Seems odd that the failure could not be repeated.

Would require the failure of two seals ... one for each side of the loader.