2520 Front Blade Problem

[hillbilly rick]

I hooked up my 54" front blade for the first time and cannot get it to work. The manual is pretty worthless. I talked to the dealer today and got the color combination right (2 colors do not match - gray and green). However, I still can only turn it side to side. I swapped gray and green with no success. I won't be able to call the dealer tomorrow, so I'm hoping you have some ideas.

There was a leak at the bottom of the vertical cylinder on the blade. It started leaking when I put pressure on the line. I tightened the nut to stop it, but it still won't raise. It leaked a decent amount, but nothing huge by any means. Is it possible it leaked enough to not make it raise? When I was trying this (in the garage - fairly level), the transmission sight glass was empty. I unhooked the blade and moved the tractor so the back was downhill. The sight glass filled up after a couple of minutes. When I pulled it back in, it remained about 3/4 full. I don't think it ran enough to expand that much. Does the blade take extra hydraulic fluid in the cylinders? The book does not mention anything. I never had an issue with the loader and I had it on Sunday. The 3 point hitch and power steering work normally. Could I have had an air bubble in the line somewhere and would that have caused the sight glass to be empty? It was getting dark and I was frustrated so I did not try to hook it up again.

One other thought I had was that I was idling (about 1600). Surely I would not have to run it faster to raise the blade. I can raise and lower the loader at those speeds.

Any suggestions?

 

[glc24]

Hey Rick
Sorry for the problems.Yeah,the manuals do suck.Haven't found one yet that was right.
Are your FEL hoses like mine in the pic?
black and black
yellow and yellow
red and silver (gray)
blue and green
Does your blade hoses have the same colors?
As for the fluid,no you don't need extra for the cylinders.
When you check your tractor fluid level just make sure it's pretty level,it's been off "cool" for awhile,and all your hydraulics are relaxed.


Greg

 

[hillbilly rick]

Your hookup is how the dealer told me to do it. The FEL colors match the tractor (black/yellow/red/blue). I just checked the fluid level since it has had time to cool and it has not changed.

 

[glc24]

When I was trying this (in the garage - fairly level), the transmission sight glass was empty.

If your 3PT was raised the sight glass will be empty. Fluid level can be very deceiving.

I don't remember which FEL hoses "colors" are for the lift cylinders. Try to trace which hoses on the FEL those are,and make sure those tractor connections are the same ones you're using for the blade lift cylinder.

Could be confusing if others chimed in because the hose colors changed (thanks JD) after late 2008 ( I think).:confused2:

Greg

 

[Dutch445]

JD changed their tractor port colors, but have yet to get all the
attachments changed to match. Makes it a bit confusing
to say the least!

 

[hillbilly rick]

I have it figured out. Tracing is the way to go - thanks. None of the colors match. Here is the right combination.

Tractor to Blade
Red to Black
Black to Yellow
Yellow to Gray
Blue to Green

Why wouldn't you change all of the colors if none of them match...

As soon as you start the tractor with the blade, the sight glass empties. I was paranoid about that. How much fluid do you have to lose before it affects the tractor? It has 4.9 gallons when full.