BX loader problem - iced valve?

[radair]

I use the loader on my BX23 to clear snow from the driveway. We were hit with a big storm yesterday and I got everything cleaned up before dark last night.

When I started up the BX this morning to clear some snow drifts, the loader would not raise or lower, EXCEPT when I simultaneously curled the bucket. Once the bucket got to the end of its curl, the loader would stop going up or down. The float position worked fine. I managed to get the work done, but it was ugly having to curl in and out to raise or lower the bucket. Actually, the bucket would raise very slowly (and with little power) if I just barely pulled back on the lever. If I pulled it too much, or pulled all the way back as for normal operation, it would stop.

The machine was wet with snow when I put it in the unheated garage last night, and I'm wondering if things froze up and are restricting the loader valve somehow? I noticed when I raised the backhoe bucket off the floor those levers were frozen, but broke loose and worked normally. I was hoping everything would work fine once the machine was warmed up, but this was not the case.

Any ideas from the TBN braintrust?

 

[MrJimi]

Your problem sounds like This one here read the tread and let it warm up
Jim

 

[MadReferee]

Moisture got in the valve and things froze. You might want to look at the spool end caps of the valve to see if a drain hole has been drilled. This will allow some of the moisture to drain. There have been plenty of posts on the issue of drilling holes in the spool end caps. Do a little searching.

 

[rcb142]

The FEL valve on my L3430 freezes regularly in cold weather. I put a heat lamp on it for 5 min and it thaws. I have seen a comment about releasing the moisture by loosening the spool end caps...

If I simply loosen the end caps, will the moisture drain without spitting hydro fluid all over the place, and will I have to bleed the lines of air if I break the seal on these end caps?

Thanks,

 

[MadReferee]

The FEL valve on my L3430 freezes regularly in cold weather. I put a heat lamp on it for 5 min and it thaws. I have seen a comment about releasing the moisture by loosening the spool end caps...

If I simply loosen the end caps, will the moisture drain without spitting hydro fluid all over the place, and will I have to bleed the lines of air if I break the seal on these end caps?

Thanks,

Yes and No.