New Holland T1510 front bucket won't lower!

[NHT1510]

Hello everyone. I have a question regarding a New Holland T1510. The front bucket on this tractor will not lower.
The 3-point hitch works correctly and the front bucket will raise quickly, yet to lower it I have to disconnect the quick connect and barely push it in to relieve the pressure. As I did this the first time I noticed the fluid was milky, so I decided to change the hydraulic fluid and filter. Sure enough, the filter was sludgy from water in the fluid and the filter was shot. I disconnected the hoses one at a time so as not to mix them up and let them drain. I felt like I got the majority of the water out of the lines. I then reconnected the hoses, filled the reservoir up with fluid and cranked up the tractor. I still have the same problem. I did notice on the hydraulic loader manifold one of the hoses (port B) doesn't have a quick disconnect on it. It looks like a patch job by somebody. It is just a couple of fittings that take the place of the quick-connect. Could that be the issue? The bucket goes up quickly and then just sticks. When I try to lower it, it makes that annoying whining sound like a bad power steering pump. Any ideas? When it is daylight, I will get a picture of the manifold so maybe someone can help me. I appreciate any help I can get. Hydraulics is not my strong suit and this is my first tractor, so all help is welcome and needed. Don't worry though, I can turn a wrench. Thanks!

 

[J_J]

Sounds like a bad QD.

Re-connect the QD or get a new one.

 

[NHT1510]

I put on some gloves and disconnected/reconnected the QD, but it didn't help. I will buy two QDs tomorrow and replace the one that appears to be bad first. If that doesn't work I will replace the quick connect on port B of the manifold as well and try that. Thanks for the tip.

 

[J_J]

Also check your linkage to the spool.

Make sure the spool moves in and out of the valve body the same.

 

[NHT1510]

Thanks J.J. I sure will. It looks like the linkage may need the bolt tightened a bit. It has a little play there. I will give the valves a shot of WD-40 and make sure they are moving correctly when I tighten it. I can see where the rubber boot has let some water in. I will try both of those before I get the QDs and try to keep it simple. I will check back and let everyone know if it is repaired. Good tips.

 

[NHT1510]

I gave the valves at the joystick some shots of WD-40 and let it sit for a bit. I came back, worked the joystick some and sure enough the valves started to actuate better. I started the tractor and after a few squeals while working the joystick and a few more shots of WD, the bucket started to slowly move downward. I topped off the hydraulic fluid after a few cycles of FEL up/FEL down and it seems that issue is working much better. I now need to figure out the curl problem. Same problem, but the valve is free and it seems that port A isn't getting pressure on the line. I saw in several other threads you advocated using a hydraulic pressure guage for troubleshooting. I think I am going to build myself one of those quick-test/removable ones. That looks handy. Any ideas on why the curl isn't getting pressure? It DID pull the curl hydraulic cylinder in, but it just won't push it back out. I don't have a bucket on it right now by the way. I still need to tighten up that linkage a little more, as I think I am losing a little valve actuation because of that free play. Thanks for all your help. I am going to have a working tractor soon.

Another quick question. I read last night that the 3pt is at the end of the hydraulic cycle, the last in the series, so where should I put my 3pt. flow control to redirect that fluid just to my FEL? All the way to the slow, in the middle, or fast? I hope I am being clear here. I am a beginner with hydraulics as you can tell.

 

[NHT1510]

Here are pictures of the Joystick and valve body manifold. It says HCI-PRINCE on it and has a number 6053 as you can see. Can you tell me anything about it? Port A goes to bottom of curl cylinder. Port B goes to top of curl cylinder closest to bucket. Port D goes to top of FEL cylinder (branched to both sides of course) Port C goes to bottom of FEL cylinder (branched) closest to bucket. I am trying to be descriptive of the hookup. Tell me if that is too much. Thanks.

 

[NHT1510]

Could I temporarily move the hose from port A to Port C to see if the curl would reach out? I could then tell if the issue was valve/manifold related? That is if the curl cylinder moves out. I will wait to see what you think before I do that. It could still be that the QD on Port A is not engaging fully inside. It seems to turn too freely, like there is no pressure on it. That is still a possibility I am sure.

 

[J_J]

Yes, you can switch hoses to verify flow.

If tractor is an open center hyd system ,the 3pt valve is the last valve in the flow path.

Your tractor speed is relative to pump speed, so if you are pumping 10 GPM's, and with all valves in neutral, each valve will see the same 10 GPM.

The loader valve is probably first in line and therefore has priority, and can use all 10 GPM flow, with none left for any other valve.

However, if the loader valve is only using half of the 10 GPM's flow, the other valves will see 5 GPM.

When you shift a hyd spool, the pump is pumping fluid and it has to go somewhere, and moving the spool make a passage for the fluid to flow to the work ports. You can't stop the flow, but the relief can re-route the flow so the pump is protected.

A hyd gauge would have solved your problem.

If you plug your gauge in each of the work ports, you can verify pressure. .

 

[NHT1510]

Ok thanks. I am going to swap the hoses now and see if the curl will reach out.