2001 Deere 4300

[FormulaMatt]

Hello all! I recently sold my Kubota BX24 that was an awesome little tractor, just not big enough. I bought a 2001 John Deere 4300 to replace it. I am already starting to feel a little buyers remorse. Hopefully my friends here can help me though.

It feels like I am having some sort of hydraulic issue. The front bucket does not want to maintain its lift and drops a few inches as soon as i let off the stick from raising it. It also does not want to raise very high with any type of weight in the bucket. It kind of surges when it starts to get above the hood of the tractor with a half full bucket of sand/dirt.

Any thoughts on where to start trouble shooting? I don't have hydraulic gauges or anything like that, so if it gets to that point I will have to take it in. Just spent my money buying this though so REALLY trying to avoid that. Help please!

Thanks in advance!

 

[FormulaMatt]

I am thinking my 2 lifting rams may need rebuilt. I see some leakage coming out, they won't allow the bucket to lift the front of the tractor at all and just push in on them selves. Here are a few pics. Any ideas? How much generally is it to rebuild or replace the rams?

 

[jb1390]

I am thinking my 2 lifting rams may need rebuilt. I see some leakage coming out, they won't allow the bucket to lift the front of the tractor at all and just push in on them selves. Here are a few pics. Any ideas? How much generally is it to rebuild or replace the rams?

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Those cylinders don't look too bad......a slightly leaking cylinder will not cause the issues you are describing.

A hydraulic gauge setup isn't too expensive, it might be worth the investment for troubleshooting. How is the hydraulic fluid level? If the loader is generally jumpy, there is a pick up screen where the hydraulic pump pulls from the transmission. This screen can become clogged, which will cause poor hydraulic function.

 

[Wagtail]

Those cylinders don't look too bad......a slightly leaking cylinder will not cause the issues you are describing.

A hydraulic gauge setup isn't too expensive, it might be worth the investment for troubleshooting. How is the hydraulic fluid level? If the loader is generally jumpy, there is a pick up screen where the hydraulic pump pulls from the transmission. This screen can become clogged, which will cause poor hydraulic function.

If you're experiencing a slow leak, I'd ensure that the fluid level was, at least, topped up.

Indeed, at the age of the tractor and not trusting the previous owner to have performed all of the routine maintenance, I'd go ahead and perform a full filter/fluid change. Start clean & fresh, so to speak, before hunting any other faults.

 

[Leejohn]

Look at the loader lock lever, if it has 3 adjustments make sure it's in the top slot. If only 2 slots then forget that.

 

[RoyJackson]

First thing I'd do is to disconnect the Quick-Disconnects, and reconnect them. Simple and quick, so do this before anything else.

 

[kennyd]

I am betting the cylinders are leaking internally, this is not uncommon on these loaders. There are many threads on rebuilding them, the seal kits are about $40 each IIRC.

 

[FormulaMatt]

I am betting the cylinders are leaking internally, this is not uncommon on these loaders. There are many threads on rebuilding them, the seal kits are about $40 each IIRC.

Yep this was it. The right side was leaking internally. Then they had trouble getting it apart and some other parts broke while trying to get it apart they had to replace too. Ended up being about $620....UGH! East Coast Equipment John Deere here in New Bern NC did the work.

Now on to fix everything else....