Ford 7108 FEL - can't curl the bucket

[EricinTN]

Ford 7108 FEL - can\'t curl the bucket

This board is great, and I thank you all for your previous replies to my other posts. But now 1 more question, since the devil keeps messing with me.

I just got around today to putting the alternator back onto my Ford 1720 (I had just replaced the water pump the 2 weeks before), fired it all up, no smoke, no fire, it was putting out juice, and I thought I was good to go. Put the hood back down, climbed back on, and was feeling pretty good about things, so figured I'd move the tractor back out of the way, and get ready for the next project on the list.

Anyway, I lifted the FEL, no problem. Went to curl the bucket up, and it didn't move - the engine lugged, and I saw the hydraulic hose tense up. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Now, this WORKED prior to my parking it and replacing the alternator, so I'm really at a loss as to why it decided to act up now, except the devil wants to get me in trouble with the wife - she already has a hang up that I paid more for the tractor than I did for the car she's driving! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Any ideas? Hydraulic fluid level is good. The 3 pt lifts the bush hog without a problem, the FEL goes up and down nice and smooth. I just can't curl the bucket either way.

 

[Bird]

Re: Ford 7108 FEL - can\'t curl the bucket

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the engine lugged, and I saw the hydraulic hose tense up )</font>

So, in other words, something is blocking the flow of hydraulic fluid back to the reservoir. When the fluid goes down one hose to the cylinder, some has to come back up the other hose from the other end of the cylinder, so the first thing I'd check is to see if the hydraulic hoses are connected right. I'm not at all familiar with your particular model. Does it have quick couplers on the lines? If so, I'll bet one isn't firmly and completely connected. If not, then you have to find out where the obstruction is.

The other possibility that I can think of is if you have some kind of debris or other obstruction in the mechanical linkage of the bucket that prevents it from curling.

 

[EricinTN]

Re: Ford 7108 FEL - can\'t curl the bucket

Got back out there after work, and found 1 of the quick disconnects was popped, but still in the female connector, so the quick look over earlier didn't notice it! Now I just gotta track down who disconnected it - prime suspect right now is the 6 year old who can't keep off the machine... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jinman]

Re: Ford 7108 FEL - can\'t curl the bucket

Eric, it might not be the 6-yr old. This 56-yr old had that happen to him about 6 months after buying his tractor.
There was nobody to blame but me, the last guy who hooked up the hoses and didn't get them seated completely. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I had worked all day and was doing a chore for my neighbor when the bucket just stopped working. Well... It's tractor gremlins. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Bird]

Re: Ford 7108 FEL - can\'t curl the bucket

Well, if you did it yourself, you're certainly not alone, but I'd blame the 6 year old, too. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[EricinTN]

Re: Ford 7108 FEL - can\'t curl the bucket

Gotta blame the 6 yr old! Though his mother will tell you she isn't sure which male that applies to in this household! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif