Front-End Loader FEL problem

[Einar Kr]

I have a Trima +4.0 front loader on a Kubota M125X. I am a sheep farmer in Iceland and use the front loder alot for my farming, I am also in landscaping and snow removal. I use the "float" position on the loder alot and it is kind of nessecary for both snow removal and landscaping. This winter I started having problems with the float position, it kept locking in float and kind of hard to get it out of the float again. My dealer told me to put oil (WD-40) in to all the lines to and from the joystick wich I did. Things seamed to get a little better but still a little stiff getting it out of float, my dealer said that that was normal, Not having used the FEL this summer much other than loading raound bales I havent used the float position at all, now I am doing a landscaping project and now the FEL will not lock in float....I can use the float by pushing the joystick forward and hold it there but it will not lock. Not having had much succes with my dealer, wich is the dealer for kubota, there is another company that is the dealer for Trima, but havent had much success there as well. Any hints or tips on how to fix the problem? I bought the tractor in late summer 2007 so it is not a god lasting. I hve another tractor with Alo front end loader and never had any problem with that.

 

[BeezFun]

I had identical problem with my LA402 about 6 months after I bought it, got worse and worse with time. The dealer came out to the house with their service truck and fixed it, but I wasn't here so I don't know what they did. They had to come back a second time with some part they needed. It was under warranty so I didn't get a bill that described what they did. Sorry I can't be more help on how to fix it.

 

[KennyV]

The detent that holds the linkage in float has a few balls that engage at the loader control, there is a repair kit for that. Have your dealer check his parts listing for your control valve.

The reason that tends to fail is moisture condenses inside the steel tube, this part is not in with hydraulic fluid... at the valve, it's on the side opposite where the linkage connects.
Some have a low point vent to allow water to drain out. Most don't and you have to drill a small hole in the outer cover. If you do a search for frozen loader control valve you will find a lot written about this, including a few good pictures.
The moisture and repeated freezing will cause rust and the parts break down to the point they will nolonger hold...

 

[skipmarcy]

Kenny is right - mine did the same thing, the steel ball had disintegrated and the spring was well on it's way too. Having run a carburetor repair shop for many years I have a huge assortment of steel check balls and had what I needed. I scrounged around and found a suitable spring and cleaned & greased it all up good and --- it didn't work ! Wouldn't stay engaged in float. Another poster suggested that greasing it all might be causing the problem and it was. Besides the ball & spring going bad, I can see where the spool itself was worn from the old rusty stuff grinding in there, the sharp edge on the groove was getting worn slightly. Mine is mounted on the lower end of the valve with 2 small bolts. Was full of rust mud.