2320 FEL Will not move when hydro lines connected

[Mico75]

Hi All:

I am trying to reattach the FEL to my JD 2320 after winter storage and I am not able to get the loader (either lift or bucket cylinders) to move more than a couple of inches to reattach to the tractor. I have done the following with no luck:

Bled, and released the pressure from all lines on the FEL.
Connected the 4 hydro lines to tractor and checked for secure connections
Checked lines and bolt seals for leaks
Removed lines, cleaned the couplers and reattached to tractor (once again with secure connection)

Still, once the FEL lines are connected to the tractor and I move the stick there is slight movement on the bucket.

*Just minutes before attempting to attach, I had the 54" front blade attached and all joystick hydro controls functioned perfectly, so I can't imagine there is an issue with the tractor itself.


Thoughts, pointers?
Very Frustrated.

Thanks!

 

[aczlan]

Is it a couple of inches in each direction, or just a couple of inches in one direction?
My first thought is that you have one lift hose connected with one curl hose. That would cause your symptoms. Shut the tractor off, move the joystick in all directions (including to the corners) and double check that your hoses are all connected to the right ports.

Aaron Z

 

[Mico75]

Thanks Aaron. Is there an easy way to tell what hoses should connect where? Unfortunately, my FEL hoses are not properly marked.

 

[J_J]

This is a typical loader hook up.

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Instruct/I9-7401.pdf

Fig 2

 

[B8FISH]

Wouldn't you be able to follow the two lines from each cylinder and make sure they were connected at the correct spots--using how the 54" blade was connected as a guide.

 

[aczlan]

Thanks Aaron. Is there an easy way to tell what hoses should connect where? Unfortunately, my FEL hoses are not properly marked.

Your hydraulic lines may have colored caps (like: kubota B7800, front end snow blower Hose Attachment -- Snowblowers / Snow Plows / Removal), if so, match the colors.
If you dont have those, the simplest way is probbaly to move the joystick in all 4 directions (with the tractor on) and see which lines bulge/move when you go up/down vs left/right.
Then trace the hoses on the loader back to the cylinders.
The port that makes the line bulge when you move the joystick to "lift" should connect to the line that goes to the base of the lift cylinders (the end that doesn't have the chrome rod coming out of it).
The port that makes the line bulge when you move the joystick to "dump" should connect to the line that goes to the base of the bucket cylinders.

Once you figure out which hose goes where, I would use something (like colored wire ties) to mark them so that you can tell them apart next spring.

Aaron Z

 

[Ford tractor]

Hard to tell without being there, but it sounds like you have one of the lines connected and one NOT connected. Double check that you have the lines FULLY connected. I would disconnect the lines at one cylinder and see that there is unobstructed flow in each direction.

 

[J_J]

Install a hyd gage and tell us the pressure on the loader valve when you activate the levers.

 

[Ford tractor]

Oh, some tractors have a valve you turn when taking off the loader to direct flow. Was that done and turned back ?

 

[KennyG]

Oh, some tractors have a valve you turn when taking off the loader to direct flow. Was that done and turned back ?

On a 2320, this would only be an issue if you had the optional diverter valves, which you typically wouldn't use with a blade and loader. It does sound like the lines are mismatched. John Deere changed the color coding on the tractors and loaders a couple of years ago and it is very common for them to have to be connected mismatched. On mine yellow and black match, but red goes to silver and blue goes to green. No guarantees on yours.