Kubota BX25 Lift Arms Not Going Down

[CompactTractorFan]

On my BX25 the backhoe is currently attached right now, and I need to check the hydraulic fluid level. This needs to be done with the lift arms down. Since there is no 3-point hitch on the arms, they won't go down. I tried adjusting the draft control, and after I turned all the way to one side it went down a little but then stopped before reaching the bottom. I tried to push it down with my hand and ended up with a cut on my finger...:ashamed: So, how do I get them down without taking the backhoe and putting some weight on them?

 

[leonz]

Use a heavy hammer and a piece of hardwood blocking on one of the arms temporarily set in place-privided the boom is moved fully left or right IF there is room and it will drop.

BE VERY, VERY, sure to lay the hardwood block along the arm rather than across it as you will have some issues with the blocking bouncing and possibly hitting a lot of important body parts-and you can and will have a heavy bruise on your forehead that will shine for quite a while.

If the lower link arms splines are the only part accessable to you-

Get a very heavy old rag and wrap it thickly around the spline and use a small pipe wrench to turn it pulling down until it stops-dont push it after it stops as you will only have a 1/4 of turn of arc to move the spline!!!!

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Thanks! I'll try that.

 

[Shutesbury]

On my BX25 the backhoe is currently attached right now, and I need to check the hydraulic fluid level. This needs to be done with the lift arms down. Since there is no 3-point hitch on the arms, they won't go down. I tried adjusting the draft control, and after I turned all the way to one side it went down a little but then stopped before reaching the bottom. I tried to push it down with my hand and ended up with a cut on my finger...:ashamed: So, how do I get them down without taking the backhoe and putting some weight on them?

Sounds like Leonz has dealt with this, but I have to wonder if it is necessary to force them down for an accurate fluid level reading. Since the bypass hose which powers those arms is now connected to the BH, wouldn't the 3pt arms position be irrelevant, as there is no "pressure" to release from them?

Rather, it would seem that lowering the arms and releasing active pressure from the BH plumbing would be the appropriate measures to take??

 

[stevess]

maybe i'm misreading your post but i've never had to adjust anything on my bx25 to check the hydro fluid. do it all the time
steve

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

maybe i'm misreading your post but i've never had to adjust anything on my bx25 to check the hydro fluid. do it all the time
steve[/quote
Me to.

 

[Shutesbury]

Lowering the FEL and 3ph prior to checking the level is mentioned in my 2008 BX24 manual. It doesn't really jump out at you... as with many topics or instructions throughout the manual! In fact, there is no diagram or discussion of how to attach the 3ph at all, and I got the tractor with it off the machine. Figuring THAT out was an exercise in frustration, as a new tractor owner, and never seeing it attached.

Anyway, it's likely manuals for all models advise releasing all pressure for a true reading, but if the cylinders have the same fluid volume, just on opposite (or variable) sides of the piston, should it really make a difference?? I don't know...

 

[CHDinCT]

but if the cylinders have the same fluid volume, just on opposite (or variable) sides of the piston, should it really make a difference?? I don't know...

Actually, a retracted cylinder will "use" less fluid than an extended one given the ram is inside the cylinder and will displace an equivalent amount of fluid. Lowering the 3PH will result in more fluid in the HST tank than with it up. I do get a slightly lower reading on my HST dip stick with the 3PH at any position other than full down. If I check the fluid with it up and see it a little below the full mark I just note that the 3PH is up and accounts for the slightly less than full reading. Of course the FEL should be down with all pressure relieved as well.

 

[art]

Sometimes we get a little carried away with following the manuals and we need to use a little thought. Not all things need to be exact all the time!

It is a good idea to keep up and be sure that the levels are close to where they need to be.

The levels do fluctuate with temperature and from time to time it might just be on different slope ground.

To worry over the hydraulic arms, I wouldn't!