Hydraulic Question

[Retread68]

My new helper is a L2501 with FEL and BH77 hoe. It now has a total of 6 hrs on it and my concern is regarding the hydraulic system. After using the little feller it will not hold it's head or tail up for even 8 hrs. ie: the FEL will fall 15-18 inches and the BH77 bucket will fall 1/2 way through it's cylinder travel as does the dipper stick cylinder. The main boom only relaxes as far as the manual lock allows, so that's no big deal.

I realize every mfg in the world say that the hydraulics will "relax" during non-use periods; however, I'm wondering if this is not excessive relaxation. Reason for concern: My M-4900 with FEL will hold the bucket and a heavy box blade in the air for a month without any relaxation. Impressive, yes; but that's what I like to see.

I'm wondering what some other users experience is. I already know what the dealer says, but I would like some real-time experience expressions.

Thanks for your input.

RK

 

[D2Cat]

It doesn't seem like it should bleed down so fast. Many threads on the subject on this forum.

I do know the tractors I have with loaders do not bleed down like that. None are new. One is a '65 Case 730 with a Westindorf loader. One is a Kubota B8200 with Kubota loader since new. One is an L305 Kubota with a Massey Ferguson 1246 loader I fabricated mounts to work.... none of them bleed down.

I just had the L305 with a 60" Land Pride finish mower I was testing out on the back. When I got finished I left the tractor setting in the grass I was playing with. The loader was off the ground by 2 1/2 ft. It stayed there for a week, until yesterday when I removed the mower and used the tractor for another job.

All I know is, hydraulic fluid is moving when you wish it wasn't!

Here's a picture of the L305. Youngest it can be is 1985.

 

[Retread68]

Thanks D2Cat. What you describe is exactly how my 12 yr old M4900 acts.

Just wanted a sanity check before showing my senility at the dealers front window. That happens enough without special effort.

Appreciate the response.

 

[Rolling Stock]

I don't want to sound like the negative guy here, but I see a lot of questions regarding FEL drifting down over several hours. In all my years using hydraulic equipment I have never left a FEL or anything hydraulic up for hours, it always seemed like an unsafe thing to do and is putting undue stress on components for no reason. Most manufacturers will have this same mindset too. I would understand concern if it was drifting down visibly in a few minutes and would be concerned, but hours?

No offense to the OP just my .02. Stepping off the soap box now.

 

[Retread68]

Rolling Stock - No offense taken what-so-ever. I agree 100% that leaving a FEL in the air when not attended is a safety concern and 99.9% of the time I put the FEL on the ground when not in use. For that 0.1% of the time the FEL is not placed on the ground, it is because there is a lack of space; which I encountered the 2nd day of ownership.

What concerns me is the hoe more so than the FEL. I trailered the unit one evening to allow early morning deployment, setting the bucket onto the deck, the FEL on the deck, and everything strapped/chained ready to go. Early the next morning the hoe bucket had been forced inward due to the dipper stick falling until the pivot was on the deck. This is NOT how I want to transport.

So, it made me watch the hydraulics "relaxing" very closely for the last couple days. I've not had relaxing to this extent with my M4900 and being baby spanking new, I'm not thrilled about the situation since it won't get better as time goes by.

Your comment is taken in good faith and I appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Sammy3700]

I have the L3700SU and a BH77 backhoe and I will agree you do have a problem. Mine will stay up for hours.

 

[CurtisC]

If you bought it from the dealer I'd pursue a warrantee claim. There's no way you should be experiencing that much internal leakage with only 5 hours on the machine. I have 475 hrs on a B26TLB and have worked the BH to death in rocky areas and on large tree stumps. I don't get quite the leakage on the hoe as you do and don't get any noticeable drift in the FEL when in use (its not been left up overnight). You didn't mention the stabilizer cylinders - I'd guess they drop some overnight as well?
The fact that essentially all your hydraulic cylinders leak internally with only 5 hrs. on them suggests something wrong in the hydraulic system (maybe assembled with manufacturing trash in the lines / hoses?)or that most if not all the hydraulic cylinders used to build your machine were defective. The cylinder OEM could have used a bad run of seals but that doesn't seem likely. This is not normal for a new machine - don't let the dealer tell you it is. Good luck