I just picked up a Ford 7108 loader for my 1996 Ford 1620 tractor. None of the quick disconnects on the tractor or loader lines were marked in any way. So I guessed at which of the 4 lines plugged into where until it "worked". BUT...I noticed when I push forward on the control stick...the boom raises UP. When I pull back on the control stick...the boom lowers DOWN. The bucket controls work correctly. According to every other loader I have operated and the owners manual to this one, that should be the opposite way around. I took the two hydraulic quick disconnects to the cylinders that raise and lower the boom and swapped them. Then it didn't work at all. Seamed like it was fighting against itself and didn't want to damage anything so I put it back the way it was. So my question is: Do I have a problem in the way the Quick Disconnects are hooked up? Meaning I have one from the bucket cylinders plugged into boom cylinders vs/ver and its working but not hooked up 100% correct? OR are the hydraulic fittings swapped where they connect to the loaders stainless lines out front? If anyone has a photo of how the ford 7108 or even 7308 loaders 4 quick disconnects hook up, and what QD is hooked up to what line, and a pic of the connections at the front of the loader that shows what boom cylinder flexible lines are supposed to plug into which of the stainless fittings at the front location as well. I am hoping this can be solved by simply putting the 4 QD fittings in the right location. Any help is greatly appreciate.
Front-End Loader Ford 7108 Hydro lines wrong?
- Thread starter Quinn629
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WranglerX
Super Member
My first thought would be to simple trace the two lines back from boom cylinders back through any intermediate manifolds and reverse them at QD, that should work... Once you get them right, mark then (on both sides of QD's) with colored Zip Ties... I think you may have gotten off track some where in your tracing process.... Can not see any reason by just reversing the two (correct) lines would not reverse boom operation...
Dale
Dale
DL Meisen, I had the exact same thought. And that was the first thing I did. I took the two lines coming from the boom cylinders and swapped them at the QDs. Like my post stated, at that point it was like the hydraulics were fighting against one another. So I swapped it back. What I am wondering is: because I had no idea which of the 4 QDs plugged into where and just randomly guessed until it worked like it does now: I am wondering if I have some goofy combination of the 4 hooked up wrong causing the fact that when I simply swapped the 2 QDs for the boom cylinders it didn't work at all? Another possibility is that during its past, someone purposely swapped the hard fittings to the cylinder lines and the hard lines at the front of the loader to intentionally make it this way because that's how they wanted it? This is the reason for wanting pics of how one of these is plumed properly. Yes, once I get it right - colored zip ties are going on for sure! P.S. It is possible that when I swapped the two lines - that I grabbed one line to the boom cylinder and one line to a bucket cylinder and swapped those instead? I don't think so though but I can try it again to double check.
DonRybak
Gold Member
I think that your thought in the PS is right on. Reversing the boom lines should have reversed the way the control works and nothing else as far as I know.
DonRybak & DL, Thank you! At least my 1st instinct to fix the problem appears to have been correct. I will confirm tonight. I was wondering if swapping the lines was the way to go or not, and apparently it is - I just did that part wrong.
mykleh
Silver Member
I have a 1620 and the loader and have to mulch leaves tonight anyway if the snow lightens up and I'll snap you some pics.. right from the dealer they were color coded splotches of paint on the connections on both sides to avoid this not sure if they are still there don't take it off very often anymore. I never really paid attention if two on top were in and out or what the combination is but I'll look tonight..
chander
Silver Member
I have a TC 33 with a 7308 attached if this helps.
I want to know where you found a 7108/7308 loader LOL. I've been hunting for one for my 1650 for 6 months and have only found one for sale, but the dealer wanted $3000 for a bent one. No thanks.....
I'll snap a Pic of how my lines are run. My 1620 came with the front mount 715b blower so hopefully the hard lines aren't any different.
I'll snap a Pic of how my lines are run. My 1620 came with the front mount 715b blower so hopefully the hard lines aren't any different.
mykleh
Silver Member
here is my 1620 set up.. bottom two are paired to lift cylinders top two paired to curl.. Hope this helps..
So one of my guesses was correct. When 1st attempted to reverse the QD lines for the boom actuators - what I actually did was switch a hydraulic line for the boom with a hydraulic line for the bucket. Now that I actually swapped the correct dang lines, it (boom) now raises when the lever is pulled back and lowers when pushed forward as it should. Now, I am glad I did this post - mykleh: Those pictures will prove helpful in the near future. Last night I began disassembly of my 7108 as I am having it blasted and painted and I am pulling the hydraulics all apart anyway to paint the cylinders. I took before pics but yours will help in getting this thing back together the way the factory meant it to be after my paint is complete. Thank you.
I know you asked this a while ago...But I will answer your question: My search for a 7108 Loader lasted 4 years. That's right man...4 years. It all ended lase October when I sent an email to a dealer in PA that had a craigslist post showing many used loaders but no 7108. I sent them an email and 6 months later (last October) the dealer actually replied and said they'd taken a 1620 tractor in on trade with a 7108 loader. The tractor had a bearing knocking in the motor so they were parting out the tractor so they wanted to know if I still wanted the loader. That's the good news. The bad news is it was rusted pretty heavily and some hydraulic lines in bad need of replacing. And the bucket was not in great shape. BUT...The loader itself was completely straight and they offered it with a brand new bucket. For a price of course. From start to finish of purchasing (with new bucket) then blasting and painting and replacing hydraulic lines...all said and done I've got 4 grand into this one. BUT...The local dealer I visited 4 years ago said "you will never find one of those for sale" when I told them I wanted a Ford 7108 loader. I don't like being told I can't have something!! Good luck in your search! Here is a photo of the loader on the original tractor at the dealer and what it looks like now on my tractor.....Oh - and the loader came from Long Lane Tractor in Elizabethtown PA. He had a 7108 and also a 7308 that he sold the same day he sold me mine (7308 woulda worked too). Send him an email or call and let him know what your looking for. That guy is swapping parts all the time. I bet if I had his number in the beginning my search would have been much shorter.
fried1765
Super Star Member
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The "local dealer" was pretty much correct.
You got lucky....but only after 4 years!
My philosophy is to never buy a tractor without a loader, unless you WANT a tractor without a loader.
NOBODY takes a loader off a working tractor.
Only way is a junker.....which you luckily found.
Your 1620 certainly looks like new now.
I have it's bigger brother the 1920, with the same loader.
Did a complete refurbishment 3 years ago.
Mine now looks like new also (1056 hrs.)
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fried1765, I agree 100%. Now - I should fill you in on "Paul Harvey's the rest of the story": So this Ford 1620 was purchased with my home in 2014 from the previous homeowner and original owner of the tractor. He packaged together the following and sold them all to me along with the house: 1996 Ford 1620 w 900 hrs, Woods RM660 70" finish mower, 50 gal 3 pt Ag Sprayer, 3 pt lift boom, 3 pt fertilizer spreader, Ford 715A rear mount snow blower and a complete cab for the tractor and a large roller and a few other things including a generator....for 8 grand! Now...with that said; loader on the tractor or not - if I turned that deal down I woulda been a fool. I agree - the dealer who told me I'd never find one was technically correct. That same dealer did price out a Woods loader brand new, comparable to the 7108, painted to match my tractor and all that...tax and delivery and installation all together was going to be right around 7 grand. Almost what I paid for the whole setup. So I set out on my mission to find a 7108. You are 100% correct about NOBODY takes a loader off a working tractor. I asked every person with a tractor with a 7108 loader on it that was for sale from the Mississippi River to the Jersey Shore if they'd sell just the loader. You know what the answer was (though I got a few folks to think about it). I was told on this very forum I'd have to sell my tractor and go buy one with a loader. Didn't want to do that as mine is near mint and I know its history since new. SO - It worked out that I had emailed that tractor place and told them I was looking for a 7108. I got lucky - I agree with that. And now that I have this thing on my tractor and working and looking like new...I fully understand why no one in their right mind would ever take just the loader off and sell it. My thought when I was asking people was "This guys gonna get $3,500.00 for the loader and not reduce his asking price for the tractor by near that much, this is a good deal for this guy". Now that I have the setup I wanted I truly realize: Yes, the loader being with or without the tractor doesn't change the value of a tractor nearly commensurate with what the loader costs/is worth....but its not about money....its the simple fact that the tractor is nearly useless (unless your a niche buyer w some specific need for it without a loader) if it has no loader, so then it won't sell at all. I get it now. I'm just darn lucky it turned out. The reason I was willing to work on this for 4 years: My main need for the loader: I have a small dirt bike track on my property and every spring I rent a Kubota with a bucket and a tiller to do the annual track build. So if I didn't find my 7108 I'd just keep renting stuff for my track build. So anyway, Here are some more shots of the loader process and where she stands now, and the race track this 1620 tractor is now finally able to help maintain instead of renting stuff. It was a fun project. P.S. If some jackass ever contacts me wanting to buy just the loader off my tractor I'm gonna snap. HAHAHAHAH!!!! :shocked:
