02 BX22, hydraulic issue

[Dave.in.MD]

New member, frustrated by recent hydraulic issue.

We had an urgency to attach the BH (BT 600) and dig a smaller animal grave (imagine the tension!, and the mood). I got the BH attached and once in the pasture, I noticed a hydraulic leak under the BH. I tried to rush, and in the process had to refill the hydraulic reservoir a few times (the leak was healthy).

I was able to finish and get the BH packed up, and the FEL worked fine to cover the animal. I drove the tractor out of the pasture, it drove fine.

Now, I identified the hoses, and replaced them, and have added nearly 2 gallons of UDT2 to the reservoir to get the level on the dipstick.

So, here's the issue (with the engine rpms above idle) ...... the FEL operation is erratic (but will raise/ lower, tilt) , not the smooth operation I'm use to.

The BH is unresponsive.

I lowered the mower deck, and now it will not raise.

I apologize if this is addressed in another post/ thread, the tractor is needed again in a few days, and honestly I'm just too frustrated)

Thanks for your time!

 

[Henro]

New member, frustrated by recent hydraulic issue.

We had an urgency to attach the BH (BT 600) and dig a smaller animal grave (imagine the tension!, and the mood). I got the BH attached and once in the pasture, I noticed a hydraulic leak under the BH. I tried to rush, and in the process had to refill the hydraulic reservoir a few times (the leak was healthy).

I was able to finish and get the BH packed up, and the FEL worked fine to cover the animal. I drove the tractor out of the pasture, it drove fine.

Now, I identified the hoses, and replaced them, and have added nearly 2 gallons of UDT2 to the reservoir to get the level on the dipstick.

So, here's the issue (with the engine rpms above idle) ...... the FEL operation is erratic (but will raise/ lower, tilt) , not the smooth operation I'm use to.

The BH is unresponsive.

I lowered the mower deck, and now it will not raise.

I apologize if this is addressed in another post/ thread, the tractor is needed again in a few days, and honestly I'm just too frustrated)

Thanks for your time!

It sounds like you have an issue with one of the quick disconnect couplers. Check them by removing and reseating them, to be sure they are set properly.

If you have some kind of blockage like a poor fitting coupler might cause, it would likely affect the loader as well.

Just a thought until you get better advice from others...

Edit: Are you SURE you put the hoses back on the same way you took them off. I assume since you used plural you changed two (or more) hoses? In my limited experience only one fails at a time...

 

[Dave.in.MD]

It sounds like you have an issue with one of the quick disconnect couplers. Check them by removing and reseating them, to be sure they are set properly.

If you have some kind of blockage like a poor fitting coupler might cause, it would likely affect the loader as well.

Just a thought until you get better advice from others...

Edit: Are you SURE you put the hoses back on the same way you took them off. I assume since you used plural you changed two (or more) hoses? In my limited experience only one fails at a time...

Thanks for the info. Using the diagrams from the Messick site, I confirmed I have the hoses (2 of them, the supply and return to the tractor) connected correctly, however, my hose manufacturer lost some of the components of the inside of the new hose end couplers. My local kubota maintenance shop did not have replacements, but ensured that if I did not insert the inner components (spring, valve, cross bar) that the connector will still work, just be aware that when the BH is in storage, to protect the hose ends from foreign material, etc.

I did disconnect and reconnect the quick connectors, I'll run the tractor again tomorrow.

Thanks again

 

[Henro]

Thanks for the info. Using the diagrams from the Messick site, I confirmed I have the hoses (2 of them, the supply and return to the tractor) connected correctly, however, my hose manufacturer lost some of the components of the inside of the new hose end couplers. My local kubota maintenance shop did not have replacements, but ensured that if I did not insert the inner components (spring, valve, cross bar) that the connector will still work, just be aware that when the BH is in storage, to protect the hose ends from foreign material, etc.

I did disconnect and reconnect the quick connectors, I'll run the tractor again tomorrow.

Thanks again

Just another thought, because occasionally more than one thing happens at the same time and can confuse things. Way life works at my end anyway.

if the issue persists, you could try reseating the couplers on the loader. The loader could affect the backhoe, just like the backhoe could affect the loader.

A second thought is something does not add up. Not sure what the backhoe not being responsive means, but it almost sounds like you hooked up the new hoses in a way that bypassed the backhoe. I don’t know your tractor. Can you check and be certain that the hoses are not hooked up like they would be if the backhoe was taken off?

Just thinking you could have two issues…just trying to help.

edit: it’s true if the guts of the quick couples are missing that should not cause a problem. The hydraulics could be connected without quick couplers and would work fine with straight thru hoses.

 

[Chanceywd]

If you were to connect one half of the coupling missing inner parts to another that had parts intact it wouldn't pass fluid, right? There would be nothing to push the opposite side open.

 

[whitetiger]

If you were to connect one half of the coupling missing inner parts to another that had parts intact it wouldn't pass fluid, right? There would be nothing to push the opposite side open.

If the delivery coupler is missing its ball or pintle, the flow will unseat the receiving coupler ball or pintle in most cases. If the delivery coupler has its components and the receiving coupler is missing its ball or pintle, I doubt any oil will flow as the flow is pushing the ball or pintle tight against its seat.

I am wondering why would they have disassembled the couplers????????????

 

[Dave.in.MD]

If the delivery coupler is missing its ball or pintle, the flow will unseat the receiving coupler ball or pintle in most cases. If the delivery coupler has its components and the receiving coupler is missing its ball or pintle, I doubt any oil will flow as the flow is pushing the ball or pintle tight against its seat.

I am wondering why would they have disassembled the couplers????????????

Thanks White Tiger.

My hunch is the young gentleman that made the hose failed to identify the coupling as a stand alone unit. I was not at a hydraulic shop, it was a reputable auto parts store, and to date I've replaced several of the FEL hoses made at this location and they've all worked fine.

I ordered new couplings from Messicks, hopefully they go on without any bother, then i can pursue the BH more intelligently.

For today, I'll wrestle the BH hoses and disconnect the BH hydraulics and focus on the rest of the tractor.

I appreciate the input, I'm am electrician by trade, but I'm willing to do my equipment and vehicle maintenance up to a degree of difficulty!

 

[Henro]

If the delivery coupler is missing its ball or pintle, the flow will unseat the receiving coupler ball or pintle in most cases. If the delivery coupler has its components and the receiving coupler is missing its ball or pintle, I doubt any oil will flow as the flow is pushing the ball or pintle tight against its seat.

I am wondering why would they have disassembled the couplers????????????

Had not thought about that!

If the guts are missing from ONE HALF of a quick coupler pair, the quick couple essentially turns into a check valve!

That’s my “learn something new” for today…

 

[Dave.in.MD]

Final update, the tractor is running and operating correctly.

Whitetiger is correct about the couplers.

The fix, Messicks sent two sets of couplers (2 male, 2 female) I had to return to the hose dealer and get the correct ends placed on my new hoses. I replaced the original couplers on the BH supply hose and the tractor mounted fitting. (The original design couplers are no longer available, so some challenges had to be worked through). Then connected this bypass hose (removing the BH from the hydraulics) back to the tractor and started the tractor. The FEL and mower operated just as expected. Then turned the engine off, and connected the BH to the hydraulics, started the engine, and the BH operated as if nothing had changed. I cycled all hydraulics for full range of motion.

I removed the BH, then the FEL. I parked the tractor, checked the hydraulic level, had to add more fluid, but I did have enough to raise the level to between the marks.

Thanks to everyone that reached out, it's been a very hectic week here, too many priorities, but I can relax about the tractor.

Also, the customer support at Messicks deserves being acknowledged. My lack of knowledge, my frustration, were no match for the customer support. I originally ordered just one set of couplers, needed two sets, but trying to get me to understand that too time, but I caught on after a few minutes!