GC2300 Hydraulics

loulblades · Apr 28, 2006

When I had my snowblower put on in November I had the dealer check the hyd. pressure and he said it was in specs. I had it checked because it just didn't seem to have as much guts when I was removing trees and shrubs.

So now that the weather has gotten to the point I can get back to doing the trees and shrubs project, it still doesn't seem to have the capability it did. Also I noticed that when I parked the tractor on the driveway with the FEL about a foot of the ground, it doesn't hold. I don't know how long it took to drop but I plan on timing it this weekend.

I did call the dealer and since spring has sprung, he is a few weeks out but mentioned the pressure check was without the FEL and it may have some dirt on a valve seat.

I also noticed last night that the 3pt doesn't hold either.

Any help would be appreciated.

TIA

JerryG · May 1, 2006

As has been talked about many times here on TBN, droop in a loader or the three point is common. Some companies even go as far as to publish acceptable droop rates. Whenever a tractor is parked, everthing should be lowered for safety as well as to relieve the pressure on the seals. If the relief was checked without the loader on, there is a chance that there could be dirt as your dealer mentioned in the relief on the loader or that that relief valve is set low. None of us ever like it when we have a piece of equipment that leaks down. But, it is just the nature of the beast. If the spools in the valve were tight enough so that there would be “no” leak down, then we wouldn’t be able to even move the handles. There are ways to eliminate this leak down, but the cost of our equipment would go way up to where no one or very few would then purchase it.

loulblades · May 1, 2006

So you would say this is due to usage (i.e. wear and tear) since this is a new phenomenon with this tractor? I would expect that the FEL would drop if left up for awhile (maybe overnight) but not over a couple hours. Maybe I want too much.

Although I would normally put the FEL in the down position (bucket turned down so as not to collect water) I have a tendency to keep it up about a foot or so when parked on the driveway or if I am working in close proximity.

I guess I will find out what the dealer has to say in a couple weeks because there is still the issue with lower capability with the FEL (which I definitly encountered when pulling roots out with the toothbar over the weekend).

I still had a blast though. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks

JerryG · May 3, 2006

So you would say this is due to usage (i.e. wear and tear) since this is a new phenomenon with this tractor? 
Well, it has as much to do with tolerance stack as anything else. When the spools are assembled, if you happen to get a barrel that is on the high side of the tolerance and a spool that is on the low side, then it will leak down quicker. That is why some loaders, tractors etc will leak down faster than others. These components have to be able to slide and if they are to tight they won't work. There are additional valves that are installed in more expensive equipment that will eliminate this drop, but for the price that we all pay for our compact tractors they try to make them as inexpensive as possible to keep them competitive with pricing.

3Leroy · May 7, 2006

( So you would say this is due to usage (i.e. wear and tear) since this is a new phenomenon with this tractor? 
Well, it has as much to do with tolerance stack as anything else. When the spools are assembled, if you happen to get a barrel that is on the high side of the tolerance and a spool that is on the low side, then it will leak down quicker. That is why some loaders, tractors etc will leak down faster than others. These components have to be able to slide and if they are to tight they won't work. There are additional valves that are installed in more expensive equipment that will eliminate this drop, but for the price that we all pay for our compact tractors they try to make them as inexpensive as possible to keep them competitive with pricing. )

That sure sounds pretty resonable answer for the droop.
What is the name of the additional valves that will eliminate the droop?
Thanks in advance.

loulblades · May 8, 2006

I did some heavy duty tractoring this weekend and noticed I now have a pretty severe hyd. fluid leak on the FEL joystick box. It seems to be coming from the front bottom but I can't see for sure where it is coming from without removing the unit. I did tighten the hex bolts on the front but that didn't appear to change anything. I also kept an eye on the level and the window remained full.

As far as the "drooping" is concerned, what is reasonable on a 2 year old tractor? I was tilling this weekend and put a couple 12" blocks in the FEL for ballast with the bucket tillted full back. I would pull on the jostick every 10 to 15 minutes and the bucket had "drooped" several inches (both tilt and height).

JerryG · May 8, 2006

What is the name of the additional valves that will eliminate the droop? 
In valve bodies, they are called load checks. They can also be called lock valves or pilot operated check valves. There may even be more names used by other companies.

JerryG · May 8, 2006

The amount of droop that you describe sound normal.

67PLY · May 8, 2006

Before I had my FEL Cylinders replaced on my GC2310 - I was experiencing kinda the same problem. Only have 30 hours on the new set - so far good. Also noticed when doing a lot a digging with the FEL - the hoses get pretty warm.............

3Leroy · May 8, 2006

Do you think manufacturing may be the cause?

It has been my experience that no matter how much you pay for something some where a vendor drops the ball and buys a questionable lot of some goods and sells them to their customer as good as gold and the Manufactures have no idea they are getting substandar goods. Until you the customer say something.

It is mytefine to read the dealer is behind you on this.