Slow hydraulics

[r40kh]

I have a M7040 with an LA1153 loader. At the end of last winter I felt the hydraulics were slow when trying to stack snow. Of course once the winter ended I forgot about it and I don't use the tractor much during the summer. As I was getting ready to install the blade for the upcoming winter I decided to check the raise troke speed. I timed the raise stroke with the bucket flat on the ground until it reached full height. This movement took 7 seconds. I checked my manual and it states the raise cycle should be 4.7 sec so I'm assuming there is something wrong. I notified my dealer and he asked me to check the travel distance on the spool with the cable on and with the cable removed to see if there was a difference and if so to adjust the jamb nut accordingly. I measured the stroke as suggested and there is no difference. The dump/curl functions seem fine so for some reason it's just seems to be a raise issue. I've done the obvious in removing the QD's cleaning and reinstalling and have checked for any visible signs of a hose problem but none to be found. The tractor has 200 hours on it with the hydraulic filters being changed at the 50 hour interval. Anybody else out there ever have this sort of problem that could chime in. Also When I checked the stroke I did it with the tractor warm and running at 1800rpm

 

[Tx Jim]

Have you considered checking hyd pressure with a gauge?

 

[r40kh]

I thought about checking the pressure but from what I read on this site it sounds more like a flow problem than a pressure problem. I have contacted my dealer again and he's going to talk with a mechanic about my problem. If it were a pressure problem wouldn't I not see the problem with the curl as well? That seems to be fine. The dealer may recommend that so I may end up having to source some pieces to do the pressure test. My machine is over two years old so no warranty...that sucks.

 

[J_J]

What is your max engine rpm?

If you are running the engine at half engine rpm, then you can expect half flow and therefore half time to raise.

If your spools move the same connected or not, then you are doing as expected.

GPM dictate speed of operation.

 

[r40kh]

JJ: I understand that gpm is a function of rpm. I timed the stroke at 1800 rpm and I seldom run the engine above 2200 rpm when plowing. Something seems to have changed as I never had a problem with the raise speed before. I'll time the stroke again tomorrow with the rpm maxed out to see what the difference is. Thanks for your input

 

[Tx Jim]

r40kh
Yes flow dictates speed but flow requires a more expensive tool(flow meter) to check than pressure. By chance have you tried your FEL operation with 3 pt lowered from max lift just a little? Does tractor have hyd or sync shuttle? It's possible FEL relief valve isn't seated properly. I will check my M7040/LA1153 cycle time @ 1800 rpm today to compare with your FEL..

 

[r40kh]

Tx Jim
For me it's expensive either way because I live in the sticks and I'm a four hour return trip to pick up what's required to do the test. I haven't tried it with the 3 pt lowered a bit but I will today. The tractor is a sync shuttle. I notice on this tractor that I never hear the relief operate. Even when I try to lift something over the limit of the loader I don't hear anything bypassing. In my old Massey I could certainly hear a loud groan when I did this. I'd be very interested in what you get for a cycle time as I see we both have the same tractor but you have the 1353 which I believe has faster cycle times which will be interesting to compare.

 

[J_J]

Have you ever checked your relief pressure.

You can flow test into a bucket.

 

[r40kh]

JJ: Never did check relief pressure and honestly wouldn't know where to start

 

[J_J]

For permanent installation, plumb the gage in a tee and connect to the IN port of the loader valve and then you can measure any pressure developed by the tractor hyd system.

You can then monitor and troubleshoot the hyd system using indicating values.

For temp pressure. make a hyd gage/Quick Disconnect that matches your loader cyl and plug into one of them and activate the loader control to measure pressure.