Front loader bucket is stuck pointing down

[Tony L]

Went to load it, bucket felt like it dropped down. Stuck in asphalt, had to lift arm to unstuck it. Now bucket won't curl up or down??

 

[Dustball]

Went to load it, bucket felt like it dropped down. Stuck in asphalt, had to lift arm to unstuck it. Now bucket won't curl up or down??

What have you looked at closely already?

 

[RCW]

Are we talking about the BX1870 in your profile?

My first thought is pull all 4 quick connects off and re-seat them.

Always start with the simple stuff….

 

[D2Cat]

Are we talking about the BX1870 in your profile?

My first thought is pull all 4 quick connects off and re-seat them.

Always start with the simple stuff….

One at a time!!

 

[Tony L]

Are we talking about the BX1870 in your profile?

My first thought is pull all 4 quick connects off and re-seat them.

Always start with the simple stuff….

It is. I've looked as closely as I can with the limited understanding I have. I did think to try that, and removed and replaced all hoses. I feel like it's some kind of forced lock position, but I can't find anyone who's run into it.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

hmm... Is the control valve LOCK is engaged ?????

 

[TheOldHokie]

Went to load it, bucket felt like it dropped down. Stuck in asphalt, had to lift arm to unstuck it. Now bucket won't curl up or down??

Does the engine load up when you try to curl or dump?

Any noise from the valve or hydraulic system when you curl or dump?

Dan

 

[Tony L]

hmm... Is the control valve LOCK is engaged ?????

If that is the lock feature on the arm that controls the hydraulics, I don't believe so, but have both locked and unlocked it.

 

[Tony L]

Does the engine load up when you try to curl or dump?

Any noise from the valve or hydraulic system when you curl or dump?

Dan

Feels like ot. There's some slight movement in the bucket and the arm will still go up and down, so somethings engaged hydraulically.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Feels like ot. There's some slight movement in the bucket and the arm will still go up and down, so somethings engaged hydraulically.

Took me a bit of study to understand your description of the failure. Take the pins out of the rod end of both bucket cylinders and see if the cylinders will retract and extend.

Whoops - only one bucket cylinder on an LA203. That actually simplifies things....

Dan

 

[Tony L]

Took me a bit of study to understand your description of the failure. Take the pins out of the rod end of both bucket cylinders and see if the cylinders will retract and extend.

Whoops - only one bucket cylinder on an LA203. That actually simplifies things....

Dan

I'm sure it's my poor explanation. Need to shar0en my skills in general.
I'm not fully following you, but this gives me something specific to search on. Stay tuned, ill be trying later today. Appreciate all of the insight

 

[TheOldHokie]

I'm sure it's my poor explanation. Need to shar0en my skills in general.
I'm not fully following you, but this gives me something specific to search on. Stay tuned, ill be trying later today. Appreciate all of the insight

Let me clarify my poor description

Remove the pin that connects the cylinder to the top of the bucket and see if the cylinder will retract with the bucket disconnected.

Based on your description I suspect the cylinder has come apart internally.

Dan

 

[Tony L]

Let me clarify my poor description

Remove the pin that connects the cylinder to the top of the bucket and see if the cylinder will retract with the bucket disconnected.

Based on your description I suspect the cylinder has come apart internally.

Dan

Oh boy, sounds beyond me, but ill post back, going to tackle this tomorrow.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Oh boy, sounds beyond me, but ill post back, going to tackle this tomorrow.

Not teally. Tske the cylinder off and have it repaired by a shop. Or possibly just swap in a new one.

Dan

 

[Russell King]

Just for safety…

Be sure the bucket is down on the ground and won’t move when you disconnect the cylinder pin.

think about where it could rotate around and make sure it won’t move or crush your foot before removing the pin.

 

[Tony L]

Just for safety…

Be sure the bucket is down on the ground and won’t move when you disconnect the cylinder pin.

think about where it could rotate around and make sure it won’t move or crush your foot before removing the pin.

Good call - ill be at it soon enough.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Good call - ill be at it soon enough.

On a lirrle machine like that I find it easier to pin and unpin the bucket with it off the ground and in the dump.position.

Once you have the rod disconnected see if you can push it into the barrel of the cylinder. If you can its busted inside.

Dan

 

[Tony L]

Not teally. Tske the cylinder off and have it repaired by a shop. Or possibly just swap in a new one.

Dan

Thought I'd send the conclusion and thanks. Neighbor and I took apart the cylinder, seals looked great, inside looked great. Put it all back together and worked like a champ. He and i think someone else on this thread speculated that some air so egow got in and screwed things up, im thinking Gremlins.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Thought I'd send the conclusion and thanks. Neighbor and I took apart the cylinder, seals looked great, inside looked great. Put it all back together and worked like a champ. He and i think someone else on this thread speculated that some air so egow got in and screwed things up, im thinking Gremlins.

Glad to hear its fixed.

Gremlins yes but not a snowball's chance in Hades that it was air.

Dan

 

[Tony L]

Gremlins it is.