Loader control valve not curling bucket

[Winmac]

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/hydraulics/395644-loader-control-valve-not-curling-valve-2-jpg"/>

In the photo the cup shaped part goes up under the ball then a split pin holds it in place. See the small hole in above the green circle.
Guessing the pin is broken, if your hand was on the lever when you struck the object it may well have broken then.

 

[/pine]

No, that one piece was the only spare piece lying inside the boot when I opened it. Its not really a half ball, its more like a metal contact lens. I have no clue where it could have come from. The only thing I can think of is that maybe the previous owner rigged up one of the ball sockets to tighten things up or something.

The piece you found was part of the spring that holds the ball in the socket...I would replace all the joy stick ball joints and or articulated joints etc..etc...

A loose nut/bolt on the bottom of the spool will prevent spool from centering...

normally if you just pull the cups off the bottom of the spools...if anything falls out you need to replace it anyway...i.e., "detent kit" previously could you float the bucket using a detent ?

In the original picture it looks like the joystick is bent just above the lock nut?

 

[gs12jdg]

I have never been able to float since I bought the tractor. I just assumed that maybe the previous owner bought an after market control valve that didn't have a float option. I will remove the spool cap and see what falls out. Are these generic prices I can buy to replace or would they be specific to this valve?
I noticed the joystick looks slightly bent. Is this not normal? Should I just bend it back?

 

[gs12jdg]

In the photo the cup shaped part goes up under the ball then a split pin holds it in place. See the small hole in above the green circle.
Guessing the pin is broken, if your hand was on the lever when you struck the object it may well have broken then.

Thanks for the info. Yes I did notice the pin under one of the balls was missing. I just put a nail through the hole today and I still could not get the curl spool to go down. I will try putting that little piece of metal between the ball and the pin to see if that fixes it. Where can I buy that little pin? What is it even called?

 

[/pine]

Usually on spools with detents...the bottom cups are usually longer/deeper...

I've found similar joystick parts at the local repair shop that is also an equipment rental...they run around $10 per... same parts from a dealer may run twice that much...

It's possible that (if) there is a regen detent on the curl spool the sleeve/ball bearings may have become mangled (inside the bottom cup) and are blocking the spool...does that spool lift OK ?
...this could also explain the bent joystick...

 

[gs12jdg]

Usually on spools with detents...the bottom cups are usually longer/deeper...

I've found similar joystick parts at the local repair shop that is also an equipment rental...they run around $10 per... same parts from a dealer may run twice that much...

It's possible that (if) there is a regen detent on the curl spool the sleeve/ball bearings may have become mangled (inside the bottom cup) and are blocking the spool...does that spool lift OK ?
...this could also explain the bent joystick...

Yes, the spool lifts OK, it just wont go down. Can I buy bearings and/or springs from Tractor Supply Company? IT looks like I will be taking the plunge and taking the hex bolts off the spool caps this weekend. I will let you know what I find. Fingers are crossed.

 

[Egon]

Roll pin.

Generic valve showing caps on the bottom.

 

[J_J]

No, you can not just go to the TSC or hardware store and obtain parts for your valve. Pins and nuts maybe.

Those parts are specific to the manufacturer of your valve..

Your dealer would/might have them in stock.

Should you need a new loader valve, here is one that will work.

2 SPOOL COMPACT 10 GPM JOYSTICK CONTROL VALVE

 

[/pine]

Yes, the spool lifts OK, it just wont go down. Can I buy bearings and/or springs from Tractor Supply Company? IT looks like I will be taking the plunge and taking the hex bolts off the spool caps this weekend. I will let you know what I find. Fingers are crossed.

Just pull the bottom cups and see what you find...the valve will/should function even if the detent parts are wasted...remove any trashed detent parts (sleeve/ball bearings etc.)...make sure the nut/bolt that holds the spring is tight on the bottom of the spool rod...

IF it turns out to be that the culprit is wasted detent parts...the valve should work fine without the detent mechanism...you can replace the detent (new kit) at your leisure...

 

[gs12jdg]

Good news! I have a functioning valve now. I just removed the curl spool cap. I was expecting broken pieces to come flying out, but nothing came out. As soon as I removed the cap, the spool moved up and down freely. I don't know what the issue was (maybe one of the washers was jammed or something), but I just screwed the cap back on and everything is working well now. I would like to sincerely thank everyone who took the tie to respond to my dumb questions.
Speaking of dumb questions, which spool would control the float on my loader? I would like to see if I can get it to float but right now when I push the lever forward it just lowers the bucket.

 

[J_J]

Push the lever more forcely, snap it forward.

 

[Winmac]

Not all valves have float so don't force it to hard...,
look at both caps on the bottom of the spools , the one you just removed, are they identical? If they are you do not have float.
A spool with the float function will have a longer end cap to house the locking mechanism.

 

[gs12jdg]

Not all valves have float so don't force it to hard...,
look at both caps on the bottom of the spools , the one you just removed, are they identical? If they are you do not have float.
A spool with the float function will have a longer end cap to house the locking mechanism.

It must not have a float because I have pushed pretty hard. The 2 spool caps appear to be the same length.
After fooling with the spool and putting everything back together I do feel it click into what feels like an extra slot when I push the joystick hard to the right. Is this the regen? Is it possible the valve has regen but not float? Is dumping with regen considerably faster?

 

[J_J]

Yes, dumping with regen is faster, and with les power.

Is your FEL valve the original loader valve.

Most loaders usually have float.

Someone might have removed the float assembly.

The length of the cans is not an indicator whether there is float.

Both of these valves have float. Notice the length of the cans.

2 SPOOL COMPACT 10 GPM JOYSTICK CONTROL VALVE

2 SPOOL 25 GPM JOYSTICK LOADER CONTROL VALVE