Hydraulic Leakdown Bad??

[DMax2210]

I've always followed the theory of if your tractor is parked then it's best to lower all attachments to the ground. Other than it being safer to have attachments at rest, I've also always had in my mind that it is easier on valves, hydraulic seals, etc to not have that pressure on them if it isn't necessary. So after mowing today I started wondering, what is everyone else's theory on this (either scientific or just opinion)? I'm thinking of the 3-point hitch holding the mower deck up on my 2520 in particular - should the deck always be dropped completely to the ground or does it cause any longterm, unnecessary wear to leave it up?

 

[sailorman]

I don 't know about the valves and seals, but I lower all of mine so as not to crush my mouser yard cats under an implement in the middle of the night due to bleed down. Cats love to sleep under brush hogs and such .

 

[North Country]

I always drop everything as a safety measure if I leave it unattended. If you get two neighborhood kids wandering by and one is poking his head under the (insert implement here) while the other jumps up on the seat and makes tractor noises and moves levers, one can drop it on the other.

 

[texasjohn]

I subscribe to the idea that lowering implements is better for the seals/etc. as well as safer. I KNOW it's safer and the seals/etc argument makes sense to me but I haven't got engineering proof. I always lower...unless having a senior moment:laughing:

 

[rd_macgregor]

Well, if we can agree that it is safer to lower everything, unless there is some seriously harmful effect from having them lowered (which I seriously doubt!), then I think it should be routine for every tractor user to lower FEL and implements when parking.
BOB

 

[DMax2210]

I agree and am enjoying reading that everyone else that has posted feels the same way that I do! Everything, and everyone, is much safer when attachments are resting on the ground when not in use.

A situation that this reminds me of, is about a local guy that I know that has a snowplow on his truck, and I really believe the only time the plow EVER goes down is while he is pushing snow and when he takes it off the first of May. Other than that, it goes on in November and it never is dropped to the ground when parked, nor does it ever come off the truck! It is an early 2000's year F-250 for anyone interested in knowing what truck has a front suspension that has so far survived this type of abuse

I'm still interested in hearing from someone that doesn't lower attachments, (if there are any folks like that on here) to see if the bleed-down worsens as time goes on as a result??

 

[texasjohn]

I'll just tell you a story I heard first hand from a fellow who's buddy was killed because of hydraulic leak down. Buddy was alone working on the tractor using the hydraulics to lift it... fellow was doing something under it and it leaked down and crushed him. I'm told that the buddy knew hydraulics were leaky and used them alone without any block or support anyway.

Stay safe out there.

 

[RoyJackson]

I'm still interested in hearing from someone that doesn't lower attachments, (if there are any folks like that on here) to see if the bleed-down worsens as time goes on as a result??

I leave my ballast box raised slightly (maybe 4-6 inches off the ground) most of the time and haven't noticed any worsening (or any bleed-down, in fact).
I always drop the loader...but as an experiment, I did leave it raised on my 790 and 4400 (full height). It took all night to bleed down and neither loader was on the ground in the morning.

BTW, for the first 6 years I owned a tractor, I never even considered bleed down since I'd always lowered the loader and 3PH. I found out about it on TBN.

 

[chopped]

I always lower them also. Always have for 30 years now. Not sure if it helped things or not but I think of it as a person ,You wouldnt want your arms up for days on end lol

 

[bigbull338]

i lower all 3pt attachments as well as the fel.dont want to bust the cylinders an have to over haul them.use the fel as the parking break.

 

[Richard]

I too lower my front bucket and backhoe to the ground. I even lower my stablizers even though they won't move (with engine off and levers messed with). One of them will bleed down over a week or so.

 

[chopped]

On the stabilizers,I have a small piece of cable and a couple of small s hook to jold them up. My friends t full size backhoe never leaked down. But one day he went out and one did and the pad crushed in his new truck fender.:confused2: not good...

 

[Oldchuck]

I always lower attachments front and rear on the perhaps odd theory that mechanical systems appreciate the rest. My computer always gets shut down for the night on the same theory.

I make a small exception for the backhoe. The boom is restrained by a mechanical lock but I generally leave the stabilizers up. They will leak down after a few days of sitting but don't overnight. When the hoe comes off for an extended period I chain them up.

 

[Ford tractor]

lower implements for safety, but I don't buy into the "for the seals" angle.

If the seals can hold 2500 psi operational pressures, they dern well better hold the hundred psi or less gravity is inducing.

 

[JB4310]

On the stabilizers,I have a small piece of cable and a couple of small s hook to jold them up. My friends t full size backhoe never leaked down. But one day he went out and one did and the pad crushed in his new truck fender.:confused2: not good...

Yup I tie mine together as well now. i caught them just in time before they could do damage to other equipment in the shed one time.

I'll just tell you a story I heard first hand from a fellow who's buddy was killed because of hydraulic leak down. Buddy was alone working on the tractor using the hydraulics to lift it... fellow was doing something under it and it leaked down and crushed him. I'm told that the buddy knew hydraulics were leaky and used them alone without any block or support anyway.

Stay safe out there.

What happened, did he fall asleep? You'd think he'd see it coming.


I always lower everything as well, with kids always around you have to.
I'm constantly driving away with the ballast box still down cause I forget to raise it, but that just leaves a scratch on the ground, no big deal.

JB.

 

[DMax2210]

I leave my ballast box raised slightly (maybe 4-6 inches off the ground) most of the time and haven't noticed any worsening (or any bleed-down, in fact).
I always drop the loader...but as an experiment, I did leave it raised on my 790 and 4400 (full height). It took all night to bleed down and neither loader was on the ground in the morning.

BTW, for the first 6 years I owned a tractor, I never even considered bleed down since I'd always lowered the loader and 3PH. I found out about it on TBN.

Thanks Roy, it seems like when most all operators lower attachments for safety it's difficult to get any long-term effect statistics. Appreciate hearing yours! I also like what Ford Tractor said, that makes sense as well. If everything is designed to withstand daily use of 2500 PSI, a few hundred or so - it should hardly notice!

The other day after posting this I left my mower deck up (didn't suspect that being left up 7 inches parked in my garage could be very dangerous) and came back about 3 days later. When it started I didn't notice any movement of the 3 Pt assembly lifting it back up. Which only proves that it didn't bleed down, obviously nothing long term can be determined from this...

 

[Licklog]

Just my 2 Cents-----

Over the years I have always kept my fel and 3pt retracted when not in use for two reasons:

1. Safety
2. Keeps the cylinder shaft retracted to protect it and keep it surrounded in oil.

 

[North Country]

I'm constantly driving away with the ballast box still down cause I forget to raise it, but that just leaves a scratch on the ground, no big deal.

I typically lower the 3ph, turn the machine off, and the move the 3ph control to the raise position - that way it comes up as soon as the tractor starts and I don't try to back up with a box blade still buried.

Thoughts? Is it a good idea or bad?

 

[RoyJackson]

I typically lower the 3ph, turn the machine off, and the move the 3ph control to the raise position - that way it comes up as soon as the tractor starts and I don't try to back up with a box blade still buried.

Thoughts? Is it a good idea or bad?

Good idea...
I do have a tendency to drag my ballast box after starting so I think I'll try this too.

 

[JB4310]

I typically lower the 3ph, turn the machine off, and the move the 3ph control to the raise position - that way it comes up as soon as the tractor starts and I don't try to back up with a box blade still buried.

Thoughts? Is it a good idea or bad?

BAD IMO, Based on my own experience, and could even be dangerous.
I often forget to raise a rear implement, usually my ballast box, but that just leaves a mark on the ground if a start to drive away.

Often times with nothing on the 3 pt, I leave it up, this is on an old ford. After a few days it will bleed down, then when I start it, it will of course rise up. Well depending how close you park to other equipment or put other equipment close to it, this can wreck havoc. I back in close to my stored back hoe in the shed and on more than one occasion those lift arms or QH came into contact with part of the BH and either tried to move or damage the stationary BH and/or any other equipment that was stored close enough.

Of course if your parked outside away from things it's a different storey. But no I wouldn't do it intentionally. There may be some issue of loading up the 3pt while cranking the cold engine as well.

JB.