bx22 FEL problem

copperhead1967 · May 19, 2006

Hi there all wise kubota owners. I have a problem with my FEL on my BX22. Its 3 years old and seems to have lost a lot of it's loading and digging power.
When the tractor was new it would cut thru anything as long as I didn't bury the blade in the ground. Now it bogs down and spins the tires even trying to pop out a small sapling. It also will "flop" or "roll" when trying to back drag gravel or what have you. It seems that the tractor used to lift it front tires up any way you pushed down on the FEL bucket.
I remember reading a post about taking apart something in the FEL control valve do hicky. water getting in it? I also wonder if the trip pressure can be adjusted on the FEL and wonder how to do this. Thanks for your help in advance.

copperhead1967 · May 19, 2006

Hi there all wise kubota owners. I have a problem with my FEL on my BX22. Its 3 years old and seems to have lost a lot of it's loading and digging power.
When the tractor was new it would cut thru anything as long as I didn't bury the blade in the ground. Now it bogs down and spins the tires even trying to pop out a small sapling. It also will "flop" or "roll" when trying to back drag gravel or what have you. It seems that the tractor used to lift it front tires up any way you pushed down on the FEL bucket.
I remember reading a post about taking apart something in the FEL control valve do hicky. water getting in it? I also wonder if the trip pressure can be adjusted on the FEL and wonder how to do this. Thanks for your help in advance.

rbarker · May 20, 2006

( I remember reading a post about taking apart something in the FEL control valve do hicky. water getting in it? I also wonder if the trip pressure can be adjusted on the FEL and wonder how to do this. Thanks for your help in advance. )

I think the water issue you are thinking of resulted in a loader that wouldn't move in one direction (can't remember which). I assume that you haven't seen any leaks or anything so I wonder if maybe you have a bad relief valve. That might make the loader less powerful by cutting in too soon./forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Keep us posted on what you find out!

rbarker · May 20, 2006

( I remember reading a post about taking apart something in the FEL control valve do hicky. water getting in it? I also wonder if the trip pressure can be adjusted on the FEL and wonder how to do this. Thanks for your help in advance. )

I think the water issue you are thinking of resulted in a loader that wouldn't move in one direction (can't remember which). I assume that you haven't seen any leaks or anything so I wonder if maybe you have a bad relief valve. That might make the loader less powerful by cutting in too soon./forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Keep us posted on what you find out!

ericbx1500 · May 20, 2006

The water issue is related to the control valve (joystick) not locking in the float position. Condensation would build up in the two caps where the detent balls are located. The fix is very easy. Just unscrew both caps and spray some penetrating oil inside caps until about half full and let it soak for about 30 min. Then before I screwed them back on I pumped three squirts of grease into the bottom of each cap and also smeared some grease on the two springs that are exposed when you unscrew the caps. I did notice last season that taking the joystick out of the float position was getting harder. After doing this fix the float position (valve) works better then the day I got my bx. Copperhead this doesn’t seem to be the problem you are having but I just wanted to answer your water question.

ericbx1500 · May 20, 2006

The water issue is related to the control valve (joystick) not locking in the float position. Condensation would build up in the two caps where the detent balls are located. The fix is very easy. Just unscrew both caps and spray some penetrating oil inside caps until about half full and let it soak for about 30 min. Then before I screwed them back on I pumped three squirts of grease into the bottom of each cap and also smeared some grease on the two springs that are exposed when you unscrew the caps. I did notice last season that taking the joystick out of the float position was getting harder. After doing this fix the float position (valve) works better then the day I got my bx. Copperhead this doesn’t seem to be the problem you are having but I just wanted to answer your water question.

Jimbrown · May 20, 2006

The bucket flop is quite common. Some have it some seem not to. Mine has done it since new. The answer from Kubota was to run more RPM. I find that if just raise it full height and cycle the the bucket full dump and back that mine stops untill I turn the engine off. I am sure the problem is int he valve body but no one seems to know how to fix it.

Jimbrown · May 20, 2006

The bucket flop is quite common. Some have it some seem not to. Mine has done it since new. The answer from Kubota was to run more RPM. I find that if just raise it full height and cycle the the bucket full dump and back that mine stops untill I turn the engine off. I am sure the problem is int he valve body but no one seems to know how to fix it.

copperhead1967 · May 20, 2006

Ok guys thanks for the input so far. I'll try to grease the springs and also try to cycle the bucket to see if that helps with the "floppy" bucket loader.( Too bad they don't make a blue pill for tractors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) I have some BH work to do today along the driveway cleaning out a drainage ditch. I will be using the loader to clear the muck out so will let you know if it helps any.

copperhead1967 · May 20, 2006

Ok guys thanks for the input so far. I'll try to grease the springs and also try to cycle the bucket to see if that helps with the "floppy" bucket loader.( Too bad they don't make a blue pill for tractors /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) I have some BH work to do today along the driveway cleaning out a drainage ditch. I will be using the loader to clear the muck out so will let you know if it helps any.