slow or not at all when lifting bucket (fel) GC2310

[russen99]

I am borrowing a tractor that my friend recently purchased. It is a 2008 GC 2310 with about 915 hours on it. My friend had some basic maintenance done and the previous owner stated the bucket control was recently rebuilt. I had been using it for a weekend but there was a bad leak with the hoses from the bucket control to to the steel lines, as well as one of the hoses that went out to the backhoe. I replaced those hoses about two weeks ago.

Lately the bucket seems to struggle to raise whether it is loaded or unloaded. If it does raise, it is very slowly and maxes out about 3 feet off the ground. I have noticed sometimes with an empty bucket at half throttle it won't raise, but going to full throttle might get it to raise to the 3 foot point. Every other hydraulic function seems to work including: all of the backhoe controls, the power steering, and all of the bucket controls except raising it. I also have noticed if I shut it off and let it sit for 15-20 minutes then use it again I can sometimes get the bucket to work. Additionally, sometimes if I work the controls back and forth it would occasionally work.

I have disconnected and reconnected the quick connect fittings and I haven't touched the pto controls. I just changed the transmission fluid so it is at the appropriate level.

Any help or guidance and what the issue could be would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Don87]

Welcome to TBN.

Could be air in the lines, in which case you need to work the controls til they hit the limit and hold it there for a couple of seconds. It may take several times of doing this to eliminate the any air in the system.

What 'transmission fluid' did you use? Did you replace the filter, and clean the suction screen?

 

[russen99]

I used the tractor supply permatran III equivalent, as from what I found people had mixed but generally positive feedback. I changed the oil at 50 hours, so i did not touch the filter. Only reason for doing so was I was concerned I had put too much fluid in (difficult for me to tell with the sight glass) and saw a post that this could have caused the issue. I did not clean the suction filter, but I will do that as well as exercise the controls if I can manage to get the bucket up.

 

[ray66v]

Unfortunately, the fluid you put in is not as good as what you threw away. Next time, try to get the Permatran, it will run cooler, and last longer.

You will loose a lot of fluid removing the suction screen, (like all of it). And, most likely it is not the cause since the B/H is working.

The control valve is where I would concentrate.

Make sure it is hooked up properly, (i.e. the hoses are in the right order). And, the operating handle has not come loose under the rubber dust boot.

 

[russen99]

I will probably change the fluid again before returning it so I will try to get permatran. I ended up not doing the suction screen because I agree that there should be symptoms across the board.

I worked the controls again I was able to max it out up high for little bit. I have 40 yards of fill to distribute and was able to one or two buckets, but could barely lift them off of the ground. I noticed one disconnect was slightly different then the other three but had not need paired up probably. I took care of this and nothing changed. I am pretty sure the hoses are hooked up correctly, I marked them welly when they were changed and tried changing the bucket raise/drop ones and it didn't work at all. I also noticed the cylinders slightly respond (jump a little) when the bucket is supposed to raise, it just seems like they are jot building pressure.

I am not sure if this could still be a result of air not bleeding from the lines, even thouh it is supposed too.
Additionally, I found someone who had lost some of their backboe controls and it was advised to check every line to makesure they weren't unacceptably bent or cinched. I will do this later in the week.

I am also thinking a cylinder may have an internal leak.

I have little experience with hydraulics and I do not want to disassemble the control box.

 

[DMW]

If it is the lift arms that won't raise, but the bucket curl works ok, try checking under the detent spool cap. If the bolt that connects the detent to the spool loosens off, it can prevent the spool from shifting fully. With tractor shut off and the bucket on the ground there is no hydraulic pressure. Just be careful that no parts are loose when removing the cap (there shouldn't be any loose parts). Otherwise it sounds like a blockage in the quick connects. Trace back the lines from the loader arms, remove the quick connect from the hoses, and take a look at the inside. When changing out the control valve, something might have been knocked loose.

Dennis

 

[amkfken]

Same thing happened to my fel, bucket would not dump, all else ok. No air in system, problem was the female connect had half of one of the little internal balls partially broken, would not seat far enough on the control male to open the ball valve in the male end.
Bought new female connector, problem solved!!

GC2300/2350 700+ hrs

Ken

 

[russen99]

The owner decided to have someone from the local dealer to come out and do a service call. He demonstrated that one of the cylinders had failed- he disconnected one of the lines and fluid flowed through it when it should not have. I have since replaced it but there seems to be little improvement. The bucket will lift consistently, but really struggles when there is anything in it. I did operate it to both limits to bleed the system. I also noticed the roll function was starting to get temperamental as well. After about an hour I really noticed it squealing, I shut it off and it looked like fluid was really low. It turned out it wasn't and I drained the system because I had added quite a bit. I am not too impressed with the sight glass, very difficult to tell the fluid level. When draining I also checked the suction filter which had collected some stuff but not much. When reinstalling the suction filter, I overtightened it and snapped it in half....so it will sit until I get a new one, hopefully the dealer has one in stock.

Are there any other possibilities? Is the pump failing/failed, is the squealing a sign of something? I think it is strange it has to be at half throttle to go up.

I did extensive experimenting with the quick disconnects, shifting them between ports and it didn't make a difference. In the process though I operated the control valve and it seemed to be functioning properly- the pistons moved and the valves opened as expected.

Thanks again for your feedback and all of your help.

 

[ray66v]

The squealing is the pump going into bypass, that is usually an indication that the fluid is not flowing.

If the backhoe is still operating properly, the pump is not the problem. We have not seen one fail in that manor here. Usually it's all, or nothing.

The FEL control valve, or fittings are still the prime the suspects.

Sounds like perhaps there is a blockage or something is not opening all the way?

 

[russen99]

Got a new suction filter. Installed it, refilled the oil and now none of the hydraulics work.

I called the dealer and they said the system has to be bled. There is a pipe cap on the top of the pump...I can't seem to find it and now the person is gone from the dealer.