B2400 hydraulic problems

[SteveV]

My 2400 just spent 40 min spinning the 5 ft rear mower and these are my observations upon completion: cast iron loader valve body is uncomfortable to the calloused fingers and the steel angle fitting from the hose to valve body is pretty close to painful on the backs of the fingers. Oil cooler tubing in front of the radiator is hot enough to prevent more than a quick grasp. Checking the radiator screen at the same time. I'd say your temps are in the neighborhood of what I'm seeing. This was hilly around a couple of dozen trees mowing at a good clip (seat belt on for a reason) type mowing that made these temps. How heavy is your counter weight and what is the air pressure in the front tires? My steering barely functions at loader capacity (700# if memory serves me correctly) with 400# on the 3PH with loaded rears. I use this as my warning that the tractor is at its max and shouldn't be tooling around corners anyways. 4WD winding up from soft tires on hard surfaces doesn't help either./forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif SteveV

 

[B2400]

When I last used the endloader I had a 420lb brushcutter on the back for counter weight. Bucket empty it has virtually no power steering at low speeds. This is especially true if rpm's are much below 2000. I seriously doubt that the endloader will pick up 300lbs, it stalls out trying to pick up 1/2 bucket of fairly dry dirt. Let's not even talk about gravel!! Oil temps are probably ok as my wife says I'm a real wimp about heat related things ( dishwater......!) I'm planning to borrow a friends infrared thermal gun and check the temps with it. Same friend is sharp with mechanical/hydraulics so I'm going to enlist his brain power with this also. Hoped it wouldn't have come to this as I thought the dealership where I got it would be more helpful,but they continue to insist that everything is within specs so there's nothing they can do. Pretty bad when salesman and service manager both say it's not right but I'll just have to live with it. Obviously I've spent my last dime there.

 

[TresCrows]

There must be something wrong with the power steering cylinder. It is bypassing or leaking or something. I would insist it be fixed so that it performs exactly like the new one on the lot--does it??? My 2410 steering does not fade out when hot and yes the fluid lines and FEL block get hot. Sometimes when I put a large and rapid steering imput into the wheel there is a momentary--very momentary and very slight increase in effort--almost like a pulse. It has been this way since new. It ain't no Miata but it steers with one finger. J

 

[SteveV]

The FEL capacity issue is pretty cut and dry. Either you have rated pressure or you don't and the dealer should have had a pressure gage to determine this. 3PH capacity is also determined by this same pressure. The sizes of the cylinders don't change by themselves. I'm not sure if there's a separate pump for the power steering or not. Indirectly, pressure can be calculated from lifting known weight in the bucket (like your cutter). Rated speed for rated capacity! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif SteveV

 

[B2400]

Hi everyone! I got my 2400 back from the dealership friday night and was told all pressures were within specs( just shy of 2000psi) and oil temps were consistent 180 and thats just the way the tractor was going to be. Needless to say I was not too happy. Took it out that night just to move some gravel and behold... endloader seemed to have good power! I was actually able to pick the back of the unit up off the ground with the loader buried in a pile of rock!! Is it possible they found a mistake( such as power beyond plumbed backwards?) and just didn't want to say? I'll probably never know. Either way we moved about 15 ton of dirt and 3 ton of rock over the weekend with no problems other than power steering still not as strong as I'd like,but it too appeared to be better. I love small miracles!!! Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and tips.


Mike Allen