BX 23 FEL Float problem

BRIGUY · Jul 15, 2004

I'm having a problem with the 4 way valve on my FEL. The float detent has disappeared and the hydraulic operation has become irratic.
After a quick call to the dealer He seemed to know what the problem was. He is ordering a part for the detent. (spring loaded piece???) I'm going to drop off the valve for repair when the part comes in.

Has any one else had this problem?
Did I do anything wrong?
I have done a lot of pulling with the bucket hooks.

16valex · Jul 15, 2004

I did lost my float possition for a while, it kept pop back to neutral. My oneman dealership came to my house and found some ice(winter time) inside the groove causes it to pop out.

My Bx also have some othe issue but not terrably bad yet.
Alex

ByronBob · Jul 16, 2004

My BX2230 lost the float with 10 hours on it. It happened in the winter but it wasn't the reason. Your dealer is correct. The detent is spring loaded which causes anything in the fluid to make it fail. The reason I was told was there was a few metal shavings in the cylinder making the detent stay open so the joystick would pop back to neutral. After they fixed it the float worked very smoothly for me. I believe it came from the factory that way and now it's much better.

You didn't do anything wrong but their excuse is a little funny. Either way their fixing it so it shouldn't be a problem. Pulling doesn't matter

bam · Sep 5, 2004

My float just stopped working on my BX yesterday.

Did you guys determine the spring for the detent broke?

If I get a chance tomorrow, I'll pull the loader console apart and see what I find.

BRIGUY · Sep 5, 2004

My problem isn't resolved yet. The dealer ordered the kit to fix the float detent and the wrong kit was sent. The dealer caught this before mine was taken apart so I wasn't inconvenienced in any way. (GOOD DEALER) Seems that there is two or three types of valves used on these loaders over the past few years. After checking my serial # the correct part was ordered. In the process of all this my detent started working again after being inop for over a month. I checked and the correct part was in but the manager who takes care of me was going to be on vacation for two weeks. Returning 9/1, so sense the detent is working again (FOR NOW) I decided to wait For him to come back just to simplify things.

bam · Sep 5, 2004

That seems odd. What would cause it to stop working and then start working again.

It must not be a spring like detent that I am use to seeing on old cars.

I looked at http://www.tractorsmart.com/Books/bx23.htm for the parts list and I didn't recognize any parts that looked like a spring loaded detent.

Do you know what the part number is?

Junkman · Sep 5, 2004

My guess is that it is a small chip or piece of dirt that blocks a port and then finally moves on to be caught in the filter. This foreign object might be a result of poor cleaning in the manufacturing process of the valve. Seems like all these occurrences happen when the tractors are relatively new and then we don't hear about them in later life.

bam · Sep 5, 2004

You may be correct. I have 30+ hours on my BX now.

BRIGUY · Sep 6, 2004

I talked to one of the mechanics at the dealer to get advice on me doing my 50 hour service, and he told me that chips could be the cause, but that a few times he has seen parts (not in the hydro circuit) to get rusty and bind up. He said he takes the mechanism apart and packs then with water proof grease and the problem goes away. He does use new parts to assemble them.

One funny thing, he asked me if the tractor has been wet? I replied that other than washing it a few times and getting caught in the rain on my way back to the garage NO. Plus I always blow it off with the leaf blower to dry it off. He said that with the way the valves are dry assembled that could do it, and packing it with grease will fix it. So I asked then why was it left outside for a month before I purchased it????

I'm not knocking the mechanic. On the contrary This guy is good I have seen his work (CLEAN!!!!!!) I am confident that his fix will work.

The BX 23 operation manual page 81 states " Also, lubricate joints of control lever linkage". I still haven't figured this out yet. To my knowlegge the Shop Manual for the BX 23 is still unavailable.