Hydraulics don't hold

[Lt706]

I have tried searching for this issue and may not have the proper verbiage but here is my issue when my tractor is shut off and I have either the fel or a 3 point attachment raised eventually it will creep back down to the ground. If I have my brush hog on the back and the machine is running you can watch it raise up a little to correct when it creeps down I machine is a 2016 ck35 any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks
Tom

 

[nybirdman]

Really not a good practice to leave them up.I always drop mine to the ground for safety reasons.Only time mine remains up is when a deer or two are hanging from the bucket and it may drop a couple inches over-night.

 

[Lt706]

I normally will not leave them up but if I shut down to run in the house with my box blade left up it will have dropped a few inches in less than an hour just doesn't seem normal

 

[LD1]

They will all creep down eventually.

The key here is TIME. How long does it take to creep down 1-foot?

 

[Lt706]

2 hours

 

[Amvcane]

Is this a CK35 or a CK3510? They are different tractors.

 

[Lt706]

Ck3510 sorry

 

[LD1]

Dropping 1' in two hours is probably gonna be considered acceptable by the MFG and they wouldnt do anything about it.

How many hours on machine? And did this just start doing this suddenly? or has it slowly been getting worse? OR has it always done it?

It could either be a worn valve, or a worn cylinder. Not sure on your kioti, but most modern tractors have a drop speed adjustment knob under the seat. If you raise the box blade and close that valve all the way off.....see if it still leaks down. If it does still leak down, the cylinder is worn. If it no longer drifts down....the valve is the culprit.

 

[Lt706]

Machine has 180 hours on it it has been doing it for about 6 months doesn't seem to be getting worse I will try closing the adjustment knob and see what happens

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Does the dropping affect you when operating the machine? As in does it drop fast enough that you have to be constantly readjusting?

They all will drop, the drop rate is the concern. When it affects operation of the tractor is when it's time to be concerned, otherwise, does it "really" make any difference?

 

[Lt706]

Does not affect operation and no it doesn't make a difference if this is normal wanted to make sure I didn't have a failed part or needed to make some sort of adjustment to the machine

 

[MtnViewRanch]

Does not affect operation and no it doesn't make a difference if this is normal wanted to make sure I didn't have a failed part or needed to make some sort of adjustment to the machine

No harm in checking, but it is normal to a certain extent and it does vary from tractor to tractor.

My line of thinking is if it hinders operation, then it's a problem, otherwise just keep on working.

 

[Tigershark]

I have the same problem on my FEL and the dealer told me it was normal, CK 4010, the Hydraulics drain and the FEL lowers, it usually takes place over several hours. I never have had an issue in the rear, it has always stayed raised for days at a time, mine is just the FEL and it only caused an issue the first couple time after it crushed a 4 wheeler , after that I figured out what it was and just put the bucket down. It would be great to leave it raised for storage but it's not going to happen . As I mentioned my dealer said it was normal. 125 hrs on mine and it started doing it right out of the gate

 

[LD1]

I have the same problem on my FEL and the dealer told me it was normal, CK 4010, the Hydraulics drain and the FEL lowers, it usually takes place over several hours. I never have had an issue in the rear, it has always stayed raised for days at a time, mine is just the FEL and it only caused an issue the first couple time after it crushed a 4 wheeler , after that I figured out what it was and just put the bucket down. It would be great to leave it raised for storage but it's not going to happen . As I mentioned my dealer said it was normal. 125 hrs on mine and it started doing it right out of the gate

If you want to store it raised, thats still doable. Just need a mechanical means of holding the cylinder extended.

A simple piece of 1-1/2" angle iron, and a hose clamp. Raise the loader all the way. Place the angle iron over the cylinder rod so it rests on the cross tube of the rod (where the pin goes through) and the gland nut of the cylinder. Hose clamp to hold angle iron in place.

 

[StuartDK45SE]

My 2014 DK45SE does the same thing. I have read on here that it is normal, but I still don't like it. I see equipment all over town at worksites, dealers etc where the booms, FELs etc are left up all the time, unattended and drive by the next day and there is no creeping. I do agree it is not the safest practice to leave anything off the ground though.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

What you will find is that the industrial-commercial machines have a much higher quality of valve. Typically costing beyond what most of us with these utility type tractors would care to pay for. We have control valves that cost hundreds of dollars. They have control valves that costs thousands of dollars. Because the less costly units work fine for most of us and most of us are not willing to pay thousands of dollars more, the manufacturers simply don't use the more costly valves.

If there were mass demands for a higher quality product, then that product would get built, the demand simply is not there, so we have what we have.

 

[LD1]

And when you drive by a dealer and see a lot of tractors with their front loader in the air......it's usually blocked up mechanically, one way or another.

 

[3Lfarms]

There is a type of cylinder that locks in place when pressure is removed.

 

[DK35vince]

And when you drive by a dealer and see a lot of tractors with their front loader in the air......it's usually blocked up mechanically, one way or another.

Yes, A dealer is just asking for a lawsuit if the loader isn't blocked mechanically and left up.
Skid steers have a U channel block that will swing out and lock the boom cylinders when the loader is up, so it can't fall or drift down when doing maintainance.

 

[ritcheyvs]

If you want to store it raised, thats still doable. Just need a mechanical means of holding the cylinder extended.

A simple piece of 1-1/2" angle iron, and a hose clamp. Raise the loader all the way. Place the angle iron over the cylinder rod so it rests on the cross tube of the rod (where the pin goes through) and the gland nut of the cylinder. Hose clamp to hold angle iron in place.

This is a great idea. Raising the loader makes engine maintenance MUCH easier. I don't have a leak-down problem but I'd feel more secure with a mechanical backup, just in case. I thought about resting the bucket on a tree or hooking an overhead limb with the grapple. But this angle iron trick sounds better.