Checking Hydraulic Pressure

[lzicc]

I talked to a someone about the lift capacity of my BX22. I was told that the BX22 was set on the low side of the pressure specs.

I have ordered a high pressure gauge and shims from Kubota and am waiting for them to come in. I was told that I would hook the gauge up to the high pressure port on the the fel's control valve. Not sure which port this is, but I would have to remove the hydraulic line and put the pressure gauge in it's place. When checking the BX22, it is different from the newer models and I would hook the gauge up, put the throttle to high and that would give me the current pressure. I would not have to move the lever for the control box to since the I would already be in a direct port.

Has anyone done this on the BX22 and could you give me any thing that I should be aware of? Which port on the control valve is the high pressure?

THX.

 

[CHDinCT]

I talked to a someone about the lift capacity of my BX22. I was told that the BX22 was set on the low side of the pressure specs.

I have ordered a high pressure gauge and shims from Kubota and am waiting for them to come in. I was told that I would hook the gauge up to the high pressure port on the the fel's control valve. Not sure which port this is, but I would have to remove the hydraulic line and put the pressure gauge in it's place. When checking the BX22, it is different from the newer models and I would hook the gauge up, put the throttle to high and that would give me the current pressure. I would not have to move the lever for the control box to since the I would already be in a direct port.

Has anyone done this on the BX22 and could you give me any thing that I should be aware of? Which port on the control valve is the high pressure?

THX.

I have not checked pressure on a BX22 but I did do it for my BX1860 using one of the rear remote ports. Just as easily done on one of the FEL ports. The only info I can add is that if you hook up to one of the return ports, the gauge will not read any pressure. In that case, simply shut down, change ports, and try it again. I guess the BX22 is different than the new BXs in that the valve for your FEL stays on the FEL. Also, once you hook into the high pressure side and rev up the engine, you should hear the relief valve open. Don't run the machine long in this state. With my BX1860, I simply move the rear remote lever back to nuetral to shut pressure off to the gauge. Dosen't sound right to me that your's will build pressure as soon as you start it up, but I don't know anything about the plumbing on a BX22.

 

[dfkrug]

I was told that I would hook the gauge up to the high pressure port on the the fel's control valve. Not sure which port this is, but I would have to remove the hydraulic line and put the pressure gauge in it's place.

That won't work.

If your guage replaces the IN hose on your valve, there is no hyd oil
supplied to your valve anymore. What does your advisor say to do with
the disconnected hose? I do not know the BX22, but some tractors
depend on the relief valve in the FEL valve as the system RV.

If you mean put the guage on the high pressure IN HOSE instead of the
port, you can get a reading that way, but your tractor will go to relief
as soon as it cranks. Assuming the BX22 has a separate system RV. If
it does not, something will break.

What he may have meant is replace one of the WORK PORT hoses on the
valve and put the guage there. That WILL require you operate the
valve lever to take your reading. I do it that way, except I usually use
the cylinder end of the hose since it is more accessible and it often uses
cheaper JIC fittings. I also cap off the open cylinder port.

This test is not done very often, so you do not need to buy extra QDs or
T-fittings or SAE ORB fittings. If you have the correct QD fitting lying
around, and AUX ports available, that is a good way to go.

 

[lzicc]

I talked to a person from BXapanded. The way I understood it was to connect the gauge to the high pressure port on the control valve (the middle one) and connect the gauge to that. He said with the BX22 that you do not have to operate the valve lever to get a reading. He did mention that I could use a qd from the bh to connect the gauge.


Once I get the stuff in, I want to make sure that I connect the pressure gauge up to the proper port. He told me the middle port, but that doesn't really help me. That is where I am stuck at.

What you are telling me makes sense and connection to the hose end would make it convenient to do.

 

[dfkrug]

The way I understood it was to connect the gauge to the high pressure port on the control valve (the middle one) and connect the gauge to that. He said with the BX22 that you do not have to operate the valve lever to get a reading.

It is possible that your valve has a pressure test port. I had a Prince
stack valve with one, but you can not count on that.

FEL valves often have "load check valves" which often look like hex
plugs between the work ports. I wonder if your advisor is referring
to those. I hope he is intimately familiar with the BX FEL valves. I am not.

A work port is the safest universal way to test pressure, IMO.

 

[DiezNutz]

dfkrug is right, if the point is to test the system pressure of the FEL - thereby the FEL valve's pressure relief setting - then you need to hook the gauge to one of the cylinder WORK ports, and work the FEL valve (joystick) appropriately to build up pressure in that circuit until the pressure relief opens. At that point, there's your FEL max psi reading. The shims you mention would be to increase it.

I'm thinking it's a real bad idea to dead-end the supply line to your FEL valve straight into the pressure gauge, with nowhere for the flow to go. On my B there is NO pressure relief between the pump and the FEL valve, it's after...so if I were to do this I would be dead-heading the pump. Hopefully the gauge would be the first thing to blow apart... I assume it's a similar situation with the BX. Again, it's the relief setting of the FEL valve you're trying to test, not "critical mass" of your hydro pump.

Note most pressure gauges are Tee'd into a circuit, they don't dead-end a circuit.

 

[lzicc]

I guess that is where I am confused by checking at the fel. Although I did mention to the person at BX if this would give me the correct reading for both the fel and the bh. He said you check the system at the fel valve.

I got what I need today, gauge and shims. I am going to take a look at everything and see what I can figure out.

The pump for the shims I would imagine is located on the left, rear part of the tractor behind the tire.

I have a service manual for the BX22, but it can be hard to pinpoint from the partial pictures where everything is actually located on the tractor.

 

[lzicc]

I read the repair manual and it is says to remove the plug from the rear of the hydraulic cylinder body and connect the pressure gauge there. I found the plug and can get it out and I could connect the hose, but I know I won't be able to tighten more then hand tight. The plug is way under the gas tank and I really don't want to have to take the tank off. After that, it says to lengthen the feedback rod for the relief valve activation. I see the feedback rod, but don't really understand why I would lengthen it. Then it says to start the engine, take it to maximum speed, move the control lever all the up to operate the relief valve and read the gauge. I would imagine the control lever for the rear cylinder.

There has to be an easier way to test this from the fel. How do I find out which port to disconnect from the fels valve body and connect the pressure gauge to? I don't have a hose, but would like to connect it using and existing hose on the fel if that is possible. I've read different threads about using a tee, but is that necessary?

Sorry for all of the questions. I am trying to be very careful here so I don't break something or get hurt. I know we are talking high pressures here.

I did locate the where the pressure relief valve it behind the left wheel, I just need to check the pressure first before I put any shims in.

THX.

 

[Transit]

Izicc, you are over thinking the test. As suggested, the safest way for you and the tractor would be to remove one of the lines to a cylinder and connect a gauge to it. No need to run at full power, 1500 rpm will do and go slow moving the joy stick.

 

[lzicc]

Yeah, you are right. So it doesn't matter which line I take off then. Just pull one off, hook up the gauge to it and turn and pull the lever for the fel? Do I need to cap off the end that I take the hose off, or will fluid not come out?