CK30 joystick won't move until tractor warms up

DOCatRU · Dec 2, 2019

Hi folks:

2008 Kioti CK 30 with 700 hours. When I started it yesterday the joy stick wouldn't budge to move the bucket up or down for several minutes. After running for 5-6 minutes the stick did move sluggishly at first and then smoothly.

The tractor hadn't been run for 9 days. The outside temperature was 20 degrees.

I have had the tractor for three years and this has never happened before (even in cold weather).

Any thoughts?

Thanks a bunch,

David

saxnbees · Dec 2, 2019

When I first got my NX4510, I had a similar problem. Water got down into the cables between the joy stick and the actual hydraulic control and froze the cables. I had to use a heat gun to thaw the cables before I could use the bucket. When I had my 50 hour service done by my dealer, they fixed the problem. According to my bill, they said "Installed drains in loader cable housings and lubricated cable". Whatever you do, don't force the joystick too much before everything loosens up.

VictorW · Dec 3, 2019

As saxnbees mentioned, it could be water in the cables, which has happened to some members, but with a 5 minute warm up then good, it may also be moisture in the loader valve block spool end caps. This is where I had a problem on my 2004 CK30hst. If you look at the loader valve block under the right floor board, you'll see two silver aluminum cups attached to the front of the valve block. They're about 1 inch diameter and 2 inches long each held on to the valve block by two allen head screws. The end of the valve spools with return springs attached for centering the spool go into these. Mine had some moisture inside and would make my controls stiff until warmed up in freezing temps. I removed the caps, cleaned everything well, applied grease to the spool ends and springs along with coating the inside of the caps. When I remounted the caps, I used a thin coat of silicone gasket seal and haven't had a problem for over 10 years. The two caps are slightly different in that one has three steel very small balls in the end that allows for the float function to lock in.

justman777 · Dec 18, 2019

Isn't it odd how something so small can be such a big pain? Just takes a bit of water here and there and below freezing temps to muck things up. That's some pretty good troubleshooting by saxnbees and VictorW. Thanks for the insight!

CobyRupert · Dec 18, 2019

VictorW said:
As saxnbees mentioned, it could be water in the cables, which has happened to some members, but with a 5 minute warm up then good, it may also be moisture in the loader valve block spool end caps. This is where I had a problem on my 2004 CK30hst. If you look at the loader valve block under the right floor board, you'll see two silver aluminum cups attached to the front of the valve block. They're about 1 inch diameter and 2 inches long each held on to the valve block by two allen head screws. The end of the valve spools with return springs attached for centering the spool go into these. Mine had some moisture inside and would make my controls stiff until warmed up in freezing temps. I removed the caps, cleaned everything well, applied grease to the spool ends and springs along with coating the inside of the caps. When I remounted the caps, I used a thin coat of silicone gasket seal and haven't had a problem for over 10 years. The two caps are slightly different in that one has three steel very small balls in the end that allows for the float function to lock in.

:thumbsup:
(IMHO) If it was the cable freezing, it would probably stay frozen even after starting (unless you have a really warm cab, etc...), whereas the circulating oil eventually warms the valve.
I had same problem. When I took off the caps, what looked like a tablespoon of water fell out. Incidentally, or not, my loader control valve was made in Brazil. I seriously contribute the problem to the jungle air they installed in the caps when they assembled it and the problem doesn't manifest until winter.
I was tempted to drill a weep hole in the cap, but didn't as I want to reserve the right to bury my tractor in the mud and water up to the frame.