Re: After 1st Day\'s Use
( After further inspection, it appears that the leak is coming from one of the quick connect couplers up @ the joystick control box. Also, when I disconnect the coupler, there should be no hydraulic pressure on it (as long as the tractor is not running), right???? Will any fluid leak out when I disconnect?)
I truncated your post for the sake of clarity, not as an insult.
You must relieve all hydraulic pressure on the line which you want to disconnect. You may be able to disconnect under pressure, however, you will not be able to reconnect the line with pressure at the check balls. Been there done that. It's messy and gets UDT all over you and the tractor, so, so as not to have a mess, before you disconnect any couplers to clean them (and it's possible though highly unlikely that dirt within the coupler will cause it to leak), follow the loader dismounting procedure to relieve all pressure on the couplers. You can shortcut the whole dismount procedure (if you don't actually want to dismount the loader) by setting the loader on the ground with the bucket flat. Turn of the engine and rotate the joystick in a circular motion (between all detents) 2 or 3 times to relieve pressure. Then you can part any of the couplers at the joystick. I suspect your problem isn't the coupler itself but, rather the nuts which attach the coupler to the hose and hard pipe. With the loader relaxed, I'd check all the fittings for looseness in as much as your tractor is new.
I know that sounds complicated but if you disconnect a coupler with pressure present, it's a B***H to recouple. There are couplers specially designed to uncouple under pressure and re couple but they aren't used on FEL's
One other thing. When you recouple, push the female (hose end) on the male (hard pipe or valve body). don't twist it, push it straight and deliberately on. Twisting the female fitting is real hard on the rubber seal inside.
