JD 3038e Loader won't hold curl

[omrebel]

My 2011 3038 won't hold bucket in curl. If I don't bump it up every 100yds it dumps. I had a 790 that did the same thing and was one of the reasons (although the hydrostat and hp were the main ones) that I traded. Any idea what would cause this problem? Thanks.

 

[beenthere]

Disconnect and reconnect the couplers on the four hyd. hoses. See if that helps... may or may not be the problem.

 

[Spindifferent]

Check hydraulic fluid level.
Check for a stuck loader control lever connected to the spool valve.

 

[Deere Dude]

Curl cylinders more than likely need new seals. Mine acted the same to the point where you could see it uncurl in 5 seconds.

 

[omrebel]

I'll try disconnecting and reconnecting the hoses and see if that helps. The hydraulic fluid level is not low. Would the curl cylinders need seals after just 4yr and 275hr? I can also check the loader control lever. Thanks for your help, I didn't know where to start..

 

[omrebel]

I haven't found anything that made a difference so far but I did find that it drops much faster when the engine is running. Not running-an inch and a hald in an hour, running-an inch and a half in 15min. I don't know if that means anything or not.

 

[whis]

deere dude is probably right, need cylinders rebuilt

 

[Deere Dude]

I'll try disconnecting and reconnecting the hoses and see if that helps. The hydraulic fluid level is not low. Would the curl cylinders need seals after just 4yr and 275hr? I can also check the loader control lever. Thanks for your help, I didn't know where to start..

Had to replace mine at about 300 hours or so, and after that it held like a rock, almost.

 

[omrebel]

I guess that'll be next on my list. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Deere Dude]

I haven't found anything that made a difference so far but I did find that it drops much faster when the engine is running. Not running-an inch and a hald in an hour, running-an inch and a half in 15min. I don't know if that means anything or not.

After reading these posts again I stumbled onto this post that I didn't remember. If the front of the bucket only drops a couple inches in 15 minutes, I would say that would be normal enough. I wouldn't rebuild cylinders if it was that rate. With mine, you could physically see it uncurling. It would uncurl all the way in 1 minute.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Its probably the loader control valve. If you pop the QCs for the curl circuit off the valve does it still happen?

 

[Ty swain]

Pistons might need to be repacked or replaced, have you done any unusually rigorous work with it lately?

 

[omrebel]

It wasn't the cylinders, I had them rebuilt but they said they didn't see any obvious problems. I put them back on and there isn't much difference. It'm thinking it must be in the loader control valve. Does it have any kind of adjustments?

 

[omrebel]

Its probably the loader control valve. If you pop the QCs for the curl circuit off the valve does it still happen?

It doesn't have QC but I could unscrew, but wouldn't the hydraulic oil just drain from the cylinders?

 

[arlen4720]

It doesn't have QC but I could unscrew, but wouldn't the hydraulic oil just drain from the cylinders?

Yes it would. With quick connects, it would tell you if the problem were in the cylinder or in the valve.

 

[SPYDERLK]

It doesn't have QC but I could unscrew, but wouldn't the hydraulic oil just drain from the cylinders?

Yeah 2. But youve already determined that it isnt the cyls - so no point. If its not drippin on the floor somewhere it is the curl spool in the valve. It will have to be disassembled to fix. JD ought to have a clue about the valve they use / whether fix is feasible.
larry

 

[omrebel]

OK. Thanks for the responses. Now I have a better idea of what to do next.