hydraulic drifting

[herbenus]

I thought maybe I neglected tractor too much over winter. It was wet here and no sense getting it out. When I did finally dust it off, I had a new problem. Loader will drift slowly down, or up, after letting go of handle. I've dug some unintentional new holes while driving and not watching loader. I did not have this problem last fall. I can usually bump the handle back and it will be okay. But I've got to be real careful. And it's not just the loader. The 3ph does the same, though not as bad. Frustrating to have shredder all set and then look back later and see you're boxblading with it. I changed hydraulic oil and filter in early fall. I'm also getting the squeal that usually tells me the screen is getting dirty. But I've had that before without the loader drifting like this. Any ideas?

 

[SPIKER]

There could be some rust on the valve handles that is causeing them to STICk some. after setting out they get that way. My loader does drift DOWN which is not all that uncommon, usually has to do with worn o-rings in either the cylinders or the valveing, since you're drifts UP then I would suspect the rust causeing it to STICk sllightly and not center it's self...

try to clean off the plungers of the valves first for rust and such. then you can try and isolate WHY ti si drifting if that does not cure it. squeeling has many factors. usually low fluid, air and or clogged screens as you mentioned. Also can be fluid bypassing a valve too which will cause a squeel. one way to troubleshoot them is to use one of those Mechanics Stethascopes, Harborfreight has them for something like 3 bucks... Just put the tip onto the suspect valve to cylinder and noise can be pin pointed. be carefull, a little noise sounds WAY loud with them!

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[herbenus]

The rust kind of maybe makes sense. Because I can usually bump the valve and get it to keep still. If it was a seal I don't think it would stop. And last night I was out and the problem did not occur. Lesson: next winter I will start it up once in a while.

 

[OkieG]

Bill,
If the valve behaved last night, maybe it is a disuse issue. If you can get to any of the linkage pivots, a little WD40 might help, too. What did we do before WD40?

OkieG