Bucket will not drop

bstiger · May 15, 2010

Have a 2004 New Holland TC35 tractor. Previously the bucket was slow to go up, everything else work, bucket actcuated back and forth as well as the 3-point worked well as I used the Auger. The trouble shooting section in the manual indicated changing out the hydraulic filter. Just prior to changing the filter the bucket began working properly? I changed the filter and the bucket again began moving up slowly? No the bucket is stuck up and will not come down. The manual indicates a cause "relief valve clogged, needs cleaned". The manual does not identify the location(s) of this valve(s)?? Can anyone elaborate on where I can locate these or have other ideas on what is causing this. I did actuate the bucket up and down after changing the filter to bleed out the air

Thanks

kennyd · May 15, 2010

Welcome to TBN

The symptoms you describe (bucket moving slow, not dropping) is very often cause by QD's (quick disconnects) that are not properly seated. Before doing anything drastic, unplug all the QD's for the loader and re-seat them.

jinman · May 15, 2010

+1, What KennyD said. With your bucket in the air, it will be extremely hard to disconnect and reconnect the QDs. You may want to use a hydaulic jack and 2x4 to take off the weight of the bucket and arms on the hydraulic connections. Otherwise, you will have to loosen connections to allow hydraulic fluid to leak out.

You might have a problem with your joystick valve, but my bet is QDs.

bstiger · May 15, 2010

Okay. The QD's for the bucket have never been disconnected, would this still be the case. Why would it not be a valve?

milt in ny · May 15, 2010

i had the same thing witrh my bx 23. i floated my bucket the ground, then repeated up and down 10-15 times. must have flushed out whatever it was. works fine now. hope this helps.

AKKAMAAN · May 16, 2010

If the spool in the control valve is moving when operating the loader lever, bucket should come down...

unless....

On excavators main arm, I have seen a valve (similar to a spring loaded check valve), by the cylinder cylinder port, that stop the flow, and down movement, if the hose bursts.....if this valve is installed on your FEL lift cylinder, it could be stuck in locked position....
I have never seen a valve like this on tractor FEL.... but who knows....

This can be released the same way jinman describes....use a hydaulic jack and 2x4 to take off the weight and then lower slowly........

mjncad · May 16, 2010

A QD can come just loose enough to look still seated; but either be partially connected or even disconnected (I've had it happen). Get something solid under the bucket to prevent it from falling, relieve the pressure in the system and reseat the QD's.

jinman · May 16, 2010

bstiger said:
The manual indicates a cause "relief valve clogged, needs cleaned".

Okay. The QD's for the bucket have never been disconnected, would this still be the case. Why would it not be a valve?

The relief valve has nothing whatsoever to do with normal operation. Your system has only one relief valve for the FEL and 3PH. It does not open unless the system pressure is exceeded. This normally happens when you try to lift something too heavy or curl the bucket into a pile of dirt. The relief valve would open to protect the system from overpressure. A dirty relief valve would stay open all the time and you would not be able to lift your FEL or 3PH at all. Your FEL is up and will not come down. That indicates a hydraulic lock since no pump pressure is required to lower the FEL.

Many of us have had problems with QDs popping open. I worked all day moving brush for a neighbor and then suddenly after several hours, I could not lift my FEL arms. A QD had popped open all by itself, either due to high pressure or not being seated properly. Anytime your FEL does not go up or curl, and if it is stuck and will not move while the joystick feels normal, you have to suspect the QDs. That's the first and easiest thing to eliminate as the cause.

mmurphy · May 16, 2010

If you have a big ugly tree in the back 40, run bottom of bucket in to the tree where it will slightly raise loader. That will hold loader in air why you disconnect QD's. As everyone else is saying, some times can not see that they need unhooked and rehooked.