Loader going up uneven.

[Knight]

I asked this question before, but I see different things now. (I see dead people)..... just kidding.

My loader arms seem to go up uneven.
I first notice the touch down on the bucket was about 1" off from side to side.
I thought the tractor was not level.
Now I see when the loader goes up the left cylinder starts off slightly before the right.
The tractor is one year old, It was like this from day one. I haven't asked the dealer, because I doubt he would know and it's too far to bring the tractor back to him just to watch him scratch his head.

Could this be air in one cylinder? There is no adjustment for the mounting bolts. Any thoughts?

 

[JoelD]

Is there anyway you could post a video clip?

The hydraulics should be self venting, unlikely there is any air anywhere in the hoses or cyls.

Could possibly be an obstruction in line with the slow cyl. again unlikely.

Is there slack in bushings on that side?

Is there something bent?

A vid would be very helpful.

Joel

 

[Knight]

No video, it would be hard to see both cylinders in a video anyways.
It could just be that the arms go up uneven and not caused by the hydraulics, but more of a function of arms being off.

When the arms come down, one side touches down first and when it goes up, the same thing happens.

Would swapping cylinders be a worth a try?

 

[JoelD]

The only thing I could imagine that would make sense is that something might be bent?

Or possibly there is a leak internal to the cyl. with the piston seals?

Joel

 

[Knight]

The only thing I could imagine that would make sense is that something might be bent?

Or possibly there is a leak internal to the cyl. with the piston seals?

Joel

Internal leak would be eliminated by swapping cylinders, Yes?

 

[RickB]

Something is twisted, probably the boom. You can prove it by swapping the cylinders.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Swap the cylinders. If the problem goes with the cylinder, then your piston seals are totally gone. I think it is the cylinders.

 

[JoelD]

Swap the cylinders. If the problem goes with the cylinder, then your piston seals are totally gone. I think it is the cylinders.

This guy is the pro when it comes to hydraulics.

Long story short, I'd do what he said.

Good luck,
Joel

 

[RickB]

I'm betting against WCH this time. The pressure on the lift side of each piston is going to be equal, doesn't matter if there is a leak, or where it is. Speaking of piston seal leaks, I have had very good results troubleshooting with a non-contact infrared thermometer. Oil passing a piston seal creates heat, and it is readily measurable.

 

[gatractorman]

I'll second RickB's motion, speaking of tandem cylinders working off a single supply, one bad cylinder will cause the boom to leak down from the higher pressure oil not being made to stay on the side of the piston it was meant to be. But it wont effect the timing of when the cylinder moves.

Loader frame or mounts are tweaked.

 

[Knight]

There is another thread about the same problem.
Something about tightening the loader frame with down force on the bucket.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/92513-la402-loader-bucket-not-level.html

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I'm betting against WCH this time. The pressure on the lift side of each piston is going to be equal, doesn't matter if there is a leak, or where it is. Speaking of piston seal leaks, I have had very good results troubleshooting with a non-contact infrared thermometer. Oil passing a piston seal creates heat, and it is readily measurable.

Good points. I may be wrong, certainly not the first or last time, but, pressure on these pistons is almost never equal. There are a ton of variables.
If one cylinder is doing all the work, of course one side will lift before the other, simple physics. Remove one cylinder and watch how crooked it lifts.

 

[RickB]

Good points. I may be wrong, certainly not the first or last time, but, pressure on these pistons is almost never equal. There are a ton of variables.
If one cylinder is doing all the work, of course one side will lift before the other, simple physics. Remove one cylinder and watch how crooked it lifts.

Well, we will have to wait for the OP to get back to us, I guess.

 

[Knight]

I tried loosening all mounting bolts, then put down force with a block of wood under the low side. It did move the position slightly, but not enough to correct the 1.5" the 66" loader bucket is off. That 1.5" is measured at each end of the bucket.