CK30 Hydraulics Problems

[Blink113]

Borrowed this tractor from a friend (1st mistake). It had 17hours on it. While moving some brush around with the front end loader, it stopped raising. After inspecting it, I found a puddle of hydraulic fluid on the ground under the seat area and found the hydraulic filter had snagged or hit on something and broke off, along with some of the housing that holds it on (Now at 18 hours). I could not believe it.

I am not even sure where the heck it came from - somewhere underneath for sure. It is hard to believe that it could break off that easily, since there was nothing memorable that I hit or ran over, and that it is in a spot where it could be exposed to damage.

Are these just designed for landscapers who never go over much rough ground? Now the dealer (Crossville, TN) says it will be at least 2 weeks before he can even come and get it to do the work on it and I am sure it will be cost plenty of $$. I can take it to him, but I cannot load it on the trailer because the bucket and box blade are both down on the ground.

I am taking the part by the dealer to see if he can at least go ahead and order it, if not in stock, but I don't know about putting it back on. The housing seems to be made from aluminum or some other lightweight (flimsy) metal.

Needless to say, I am not going to be promoting this brand unless something dramatic happens to change my mind. Any thoughts?

 

[Dargo]

Any thoughts?

Sounds like you had a crappy day. Hopefully one of the dealers on here will join in and be able to help you out. Otherwise, sorry to hear about your experience.

 

[Blink113]

Thanks!

 

[Highbeam]

All equipment has weak points. The low slung filter on the CK30 is damage prone as is the low slung tie rod.

Here's what you do. Unhook and abandon the boxblade, the 3ph arms won't drag. I'll assume you can't unhook the loader. Raise the loader manually using a hi lift jack, comealong, or another machine. As you raise the implement place the joystick all the way forward into the float detent. Once it is up high enough, move the joystick back to center and release the jack. The loader should stay up. You only need hydro pressure to move it, not to hold it in place. This is also true for the boxblade. Now start the CK and load onto the trailer. I am a little surpized that the tractor moves under its own power and it would be much safer for the tranny to use the comealong to drag the dead machine onto the trailer.

I smashed one of those hydro filters and have dinged up the new one too. Tractors in general are not ideal for working in the brush without protective skidplates. You could have done a similar thing on any other brand.

 

[dfkrug]

Yeah, exactly that happened to one of the CK30s I bought last year.
The good news is the cast alum part is less than $60. The filter is
a bit less. It is an easy field repair. Do not run the tractor or you will
lose more of your $10/gallon oil! The worst part is....you can not drive the
machine with the hydraulics open.

Oh, yeah, all CK30s need a skid plate or b/h subframe to protect the
vulnerable hyd lines underneath.

 

[Blink113]

Thanks! That worked like a charm and is on the trailer now.
Once I figured it out, I like the design of the 3ph system. I could not have pulled that off with my JD because when they are in the down position, they are ALL the way on the ground.

 

[Greenecho]

Don't feel bad Blink. I bought my CK25 and within 20 minutes of dropping it off, proceeded to take off the filter. Broke the treads off the housing. That was a bummer. Needless to say - we'll be looking for a skid plate for it.

Which brings me to a question. Does anyone make a skid plate for the CK25, or do I have to make my own?

Hey Highbeam - I see we share the same town.

 

[Highbeam]

Green, cool, we are neighbors. I am actually in the county between Buckley and Bonney Lake. I'll be trailering out of town towards the puget sound at 5:15 tomorrow morning.

I wish someone would make a skidplate for us. I have damaged some parts under there. None yet that I have found but I believe a user named RedRocker (sorry I forget names) made a custom plate for his CK30. The backhoe frame provides some protection and a place to mount a skidplate.

 

[RedRocker]

Tractors aren't bull dozers, most all of them have a lot of vulnerable stuff underneath that you have to be mindfull of when treading over rough terrain.
One method I use is to lower my bucket and let it clear the way when I'm in brush or a rough area. To diss the brand because you tore off a filter is kind of like saying my Chevy truck is a POS because I hit a pole and the bumper bent.

 

[DirtHauler]

I've looked at that filter on my CK30 and woundered if somebody somewhere makes a shorter filter that would fit even if it was only an inch or two shorter, I think it would help.