B20TLB lacking loader lift power

[Gromano]

Hello,
I have a 1990 B20 TLB that is lacking loader lifting power. I know she is old, but she has been well-maintained, and it is now probably in need of some new hoses and seals. However, I have been reading that it may be possible to slightly increase the hydraulic pressure by installing shims to the main relief valve. I am hoping someone out there has experience doing this on a B20 that could give me some advice. Thank you.

 

[Russell King]

I would encourage you to get some fittings and a 3000 PSI gauge and test the pressure before you try to change it. You will need it anyway to shim the pressure relief valve.

You can put the gauge onto a FEL (cylinder) hose connection and operate that valve to test the pressure. So the fittings should adapt the gauge to the disconnect on the tractor side of the hose connection.

 

[Gromano]

I see a trip to the parts store in my future.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Hello,
I have a 1990 B20 TLB that is lacking loader lifting power. I know she is old, but she has been well-maintained, and it is now probably in need of some new hoses and seals. However, I have been reading that it may be possible to slightly increase the hydraulic pressure by installing shims to the main relief valve. I am hoping someone out there has experience doing this on a B20 that could give me some advice. Thank you.

A very frequent cause of loader problems is bad backhoe connections. That would be my very first suspect.

Dan

 

[Gromano]

Thank you, Dan. It is worth taking a look at.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Thank you, Dan. It is worth taking a look at.

Is the backhoe currently on the tractor?

 

[Gromano]

Most of the loader hoses are original (35years old). They are not leaking, but could they be part of the problem?

 

[Gromano]

Is the backhoe currently on the tractor?

Yes it is attached to the tractor

 

[TheOldHokie]

Most of the loader hoses are original (35years old). They are not leaking, but could they be part of the problem?

They would bot be high on my list

 

[TheOldHokie]

Yes it is attached to the tractor

Does it work as always? If its got normal power you dont have a low pressure problem

 

[TheOldHokie]

Yes it is attached to the tractor

What functions on the loader are weak?

 

[Gromano]

Does it work as always? If its got normal power you dont have a low pressure problem

It works, but it seems to struggle under what I would expect to be normal loads. (ex. bucket full of dirt).
Maybe I am just looking for problems.

 

[Gromano]

What functions on the loader are weak?

Lifting the bucket once it is full from the pile can be a struggle at times.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Lifting the bucket once it is full from the pile can be a struggle at times.

That could be as simple as worn seals in a lift cylinder. Not at all unusual on a machine that old.

 

[Gromano]

I guess I am going to slowly change the hoses and look into some new seals. I want the old girl to last.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I guess I am going to slowly change the hoses and look into some new seals. I want the old girl to last.

New hoses are fine. But please, do some a simple tests before blindly throwing new parts at it.

 

[TheOldHokie]

I guess I am going to slowly change the hoses and look into some new seals. I want the old girl to last.

After a little research it looks like the backhoe on the B20 has its own pump. That changes the hydraulic calculus on the loader a bit.

 

[Gromano]

I hope to spend a bit of time this weekend looking into it. I am going to put it through its paces and check exactly what is working and what is questionable. Thank you.