JD 3038e Loader won't hold curl

omrebel · May 11, 2015

My 2011 3038 won't hold bucket in curl. If I don't bump it up every 100yds it dumps. I had a 790 that did the same thing and was one of the reasons (although the hydrostat and hp were the main ones) that I traded. Any idea what would cause this problem? Thanks.

beenthere · May 11, 2015

Disconnect and reconnect the couplers on the four hyd. hoses. See if that helps... may or may not be the problem.

Spindifferent · May 11, 2015

Check hydraulic fluid level.
Check for a stuck loader control lever connected to the spool valve.

Deere Dude · May 11, 2015

Curl cylinders more than likely need new seals. Mine acted the same to the point where you could see it uncurl in 5 seconds.

omrebel · May 12, 2015

I'll try disconnecting and reconnecting the hoses and see if that helps. The hydraulic fluid level is not low. Would the curl cylinders need seals after just 4yr and 275hr? I can also check the loader control lever. Thanks for your help, I didn't know where to start..

omrebel · May 15, 2015

I haven't found anything that made a difference so far but I did find that it drops much faster when the engine is running. Not running-an inch and a hald in an hour, running-an inch and a half in 15min. I don't know if that means anything or not.

whis · May 15, 2015

deere dude is probably right, need cylinders rebuilt

Deere Dude · May 16, 2015

omrebel said:
I'll try disconnecting and reconnecting the hoses and see if that helps. The hydraulic fluid level is not low. Would the curl cylinders need seals after just 4yr and 275hr? I can also check the loader control lever. Thanks for your help, I didn't know where to start..

Had to replace mine at about 300 hours or so, and after that it held like a rock, almost.

omrebel · May 16, 2015

I guess that'll be next on my list. Thanks again for your help.

Deere Dude · May 27, 2015

omrebel said:
I haven't found anything that made a difference so far but I did find that it drops much faster when the engine is running. Not running-an inch and a hald in an hour, running-an inch and a half in 15min. I don't know if that means anything or not.

After reading these posts again I stumbled onto this post that I didn't remember. If the front of the bucket only drops a couple inches in 15 minutes, I would say that would be normal enough. I wouldn't rebuild cylinders if it was that rate. With mine, you could physically see it uncurling. It would uncurl all the way in 1 minute.