Snow Frozen joystick in my L5030

[jayhawk238]

I do a lot of snow removal with my L5030, however, I have been having a problem with the joystick freezing up at night or at times just shutting down for a couple of hours. If I start the tractor and let it run for 35 to 60 minutes I can get the blower to raise and turn the chute to the left but to get it to go down or turn the chute to the right I have to use my heat gun on the hydraulic block out side the cab where the quick connects are. I don't know for positive that's where the problem is but using the heat gun turned on high everything will eventually start to work. Any one else have or had this problem? I know there has to be some water/moisture some where but I don't know where or how to fix the problem and it's driving me crazy!

 

[Herkypilot]

No problems like that with two Kubotas. When was the last time you replaced the hydraulic fluid & filter? Check the fluid level?

HP

 

[s219]

Some front loader controls are notorious for trapping water in the bottom of the "cans" that covers the spool extensions. This can be a problem especially if the tractor is stored outdoors and gets rained on all year. If you remove the can, you may find water (or ice) trapped down there.

But if it's not the cans on the loader valves, it could be anywhere. I'd try changing out the fluid and all filters, and then start from scratch. Look the whole system over to see if there are any obvious places where water can get in or accumulate (on many tractors, the front loader controls are the only obvious place, but you never know).

 

[kuboman]

If you have cables it could be water in the cables otherwise it will be water in the spool returns springs on the end of each spool.

 

[burk1953]

My B7510 did you same thing. I couldn't get the bottom of the valves off and ended up taking the valve to the hydraulic shop and had it gone through. It worked fine then

 

[moship]

Jayhawk,

When S219 talks about "Cans", I believe he is referring to items circled in the attachment below. (Just thought a picture might help some folks referencing this thread)

Regards

 

[burk1953]

That the valve I had. A lot of the people responded with the kind that has the steel caps when I had my problem. I wasn't smart enough to take it apart myself and went for professional help.

 

[jayhawk238]

I put new filters and fluid in about a year or a year and a half ago. I will check the cans and cables, but, I don't think it will be today because it's only a nice balmy -11 degrees .

Thank you to all of you for your help!!

 

[TripleR]

The cables and controls on my L5030 were much more exposed than later models, almost seemed an afterthought and much more susceptible to moisture issues. Let us know what you find out, may help some of us given time and good luck.

 

[TomSeller]

Is the tractor stored outside?