Loader bucket won't curl

[dirtymartini]

LS R4047. I was unloading some sawmill flitches onto the burn pile with my grapple. I shook the grapple a couple of times to flick the flitches off and when I backed away from the pile I couldn't curl the grapple. When I move the joystick left there is no resistance, just a lot of free play. Up/down works fine. Right now the grapple is curled all the way down like in dump position. I checked all of the quick connects, they are all connected...Did I break something?

 

[oldnslo]

Sounds like linkage or cable broke on joystick.
Is your joystick mounted direct to the valve or connected via cables? If direct mount carefully move the rubber boot until you can see the linkage. If cable connected check both ends to see if one of the cables broke or became disconnected.

 

[dirtymartini]

I pulled the rubber boot away to take a look. It appears to be a cable that goes down to a control valve.On the joystick side there is a little spool that isn't moving. When I move the joystick up/down that spool moves. The dump spool the same but the curl function seems to be stuck in the down position...I guess that is why there is the freeplay in th joystick.

 

[dirtymartini]

After work today I did a little more troubleshooting. I swapped the curl/dump hydraulic lines and was able to curl but not dump...just the opposite of the original problem. This told me the problem was not in the cylinders. At first I thought I had broken a piece off of the joystick where the cable attaches. I took the other end of the cable end off where it attaches to the hydraulic manifold and found the cable had broken about 8 inches from the manifold.
I'm really hoping my dealer has one in stock.

 

[oldnslo]

Thanks for reporting back on what the problem was. Not sure how those cables are made but they might require some adjustment during installation to get the spool stroke correct.

Depending on cost and ease of access I might get a spare also since they are both potentially the same age.

 

[dirtymartini]

Sounds like linkage or cable broke on joystick.
Is your joystick mounted direct to the valve or connected via cables? If direct mount carefully move the rubber boot until you can see the linkage. If cable connected check both ends to see if one of the cables broke or became disconnected.

Thanks for reporting back on what the problem was. Not sure how those cables are made but they might require some adjustment during installation to get the spool stroke correct.

Depending on cost and ease of access I might get a spare also since they are both potentially the same age.

I looked online at Messick's, the cable goes for $101. Not sure if I will order 2 but will check my local dealer first.