How do you leave your tractor's hydraulics at the end of a day?

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

It seems I remember someone from my past who told me when you are done with the tractors hydraulics you should take the load off. Meaning drop them down to where they are not holding up pressures.

I almost always (rarely forgetting) to drop the FEL down to the float mode, lower the 3 pt down to its lowest level at the end of a day. Is this something ya'll do? It made sense to me...

I see a lot of folks talking about their hydraulics needing to be rebuilt, dropping after a period of time. Is that perhaps why they get that way?

Enquiring minds wanna know..

 

[WranglerX]

Always drop them to ground.....

 

[Bavarian]

You don't need to lower the three point arms if you have nothing attached to it.
Anything else, drop it to the ground. Putting the loader in float is a bonus.
It also helps the tires to stay round.

 

[bearthebruce]

Yep, always parked as you have described... even when taking lunch or stopping to get off the machine... and leave it for any time - the loads are dropped.

Now ask how many times I forget to lift the ballast box on the 3 point! I just love fixing gravel!

 

[oldnslo]

Leaving a load sitting on the FEL or 3 point should have little to no effect on seal failure causing drift down or requiring cylinders being rebuilt. The main reasons to lower a load is safety so doesn’t drop unexpectedly and like Bavarian states help reduce tire flat spots in cold weather

 

[akadave]

Lower. Even a newer tractor will bleed down with the engine off. Don't want anything damaged.

 

[Roadworthy]

I like to leave the loader with all cylinders retracted so bare cylinders are not exposed to air, dirt, water, or whatever. I will drop the three point, turn off the tractor, then move the lever back where it was. This way the load is off but I don't need to remember to raise it before moving the tractor.

 

[bearthebruce]

then move the lever back where it was. This way the load is off but I don't need to remember to raise it before moving the tractor.

I'm gonna have to train myself to do that! Old dog, new tricks...

 

[scootr]

I was taught to lower all implements cut the motor off and exercise all controls to ensure there was no pressure left on the cylinders.
Been doing that for nearly 50 yrs without a problem. I do it for everything including the forklift and SS.

 

[Beaver Cove Deere]

100% neutral pressure.
3pt if attached on the ground.