MF250 w/232 FEL, where's the leak?

Dredwolf · Feb 11, 2019

Need help diagnosing the problem, please. I have a MF 250 tractor with a MF 232 FEL. The boom arms and cylinders stay at whatever position they are moved to, with the tractor running or shut down, for days, with no noticeable change from leak down. The bucket cylinders, however, used to stay in place, but about two years ago, you constantly need to reposition the bucket, as it will eventually droop all the way down. Even an empty bucket will sag an inch or two within 15 minutes. From the operations position, the left side bucket cylinder developed a leak, and after locating the $120+ seal kit, I rebuilt it. No obvious external links. Last weekend, carrying some brush with the clamp-on forks, the right-side cylinder (from operators position) went from a gradual weeping to a steady drip, so I ordered another kit.

Before I tear this cylinder down, I would like to understand where I should be looking to solve this issue, as I can't use the FEL bucket to "help" me hold things working around the farm, and that's more important as I get older. Do I have an issue with the control valve in addition to the leaking cylinder?

Thanks in advance!

RNeumann · Feb 11, 2019

Most would tell you to rebuild the cylinders first. But based on the limited diagnosis- it’s hard saying not knowing.
We can all guess and or theorize what it could be. But absent the testing equipment and or fittings a lot of times it’s just faster to knock out the cylinder rebuild. Seems 9/10 drool issues aren’t in the valve.

Dredwolf · Feb 11, 2019

RNeumann said:
Most would tell you to rebuild the cylinders first. But based on the limited diagnosis- it’s hard saying not knowing.
We can all guess and or theorize what it could be. But absent the testing equipment and or fittings a lot of times it’s just faster to knock out the cylinder rebuild. Seems 9/10 drool issues aren’t in the valve.

I rebuilt one cylinder last year, no external leaks still. I'll try to get the other one done this week. Would reinstalling on the bucket, but leave with threaded plugs test if its the cylinder?
I always park it with the FEL down, and I know to expect some leak down when the tractor is sitting with weight in the bucket, but this is happening with an empty bucket, with the tractor running. If I am trying to load the bucket with firewood cut and split, I'll have to re-curl the bucket at least twice before I get it loaded, which costs time. It had gotten to the point that with a load of whatever in the bucket, I would have to hurry to get off the tractor, open a gate or whatever, and rush back to re-curl the bucket before I lost whatever I am hauling.

oldnslo · Feb 11, 2019

Dredwolf
The cylinders can drift without external visible leakage If the cylinders extend to dump.

Your test of leaving plugs installed will isolate cylinder from the directional valve.