Limp Bucket and etc

[Scrounger]

After doing a search I'm not finding what I'm looking for. I have a limp bucket on the BX and I've noticed a general lack of FEL / BH capability overall. No leaks that are noticeable after an inspection and my fluid level is fine. The fluid level has not dropped either.

Could I have a leak that only happens under load?

I'm looking for things to check so I dont have a loaded bucket that is all floppy.

 

[JerryG]

For the limp bucket, do a search for "captivation".

 

[MadDogDriver]

Matthew,

You've probably already checked this, but you're sure you don't have any air in the cylinders?

 

[teachdocs]

Air is a good thought.
Hold the joystick at each position (up/down/dump/curl) til you put strain on the hydraulics for 15-30 seconds in each position. This usually helps to get the air out of the lines.
Let us know if this works.

 

[john_bud]

Ewwww, I hate when my bucket goes all floppy...

You may have a pressure relief valve that is stuck open. This happens once in a while. There are probably 2 in your tractor. One for the loader and located in the control valve and one on the bh and located in it's control valve. (there may be a 3rd for the system located under the seat on in a block somewhere. You can run the tractor for a while using the loader to it's limits. After a bit feel the contol valves around the relief's. If they are stuck open, they will feel pretty warm to hot.

Or just take them out and look....

jb

 

[Berniep]

Check the 3ph lever to make sure it's not a little bit off center, this has caused many bx owners headaches, me included.
JerryG, I do find the conversaation around here "captivating" at times, I think you wanted him to search for "cavitating" or "cavitation"

Sorry just couldn't help it.

 

[JerryG]

"cavitation"
That one...

 

[JerryG]

I wrote this a while back and looked it back up.



The dump cylinders are captivating. They do that when the weigh in the bucket pulls the bucket down faster than fluid is going into the backside of the cylinder. Air separates from the fluid and causes the slow down. A regenerative valves will eliminate it almost entirely if the lever is put directly into the regenerative position when you need to dump. If you use the regular dump position to start and then go to the regenerative position, then the separation has already taken place and the slow down is already set up. If a heavy load is in the bucket it is important to go directly to the regenerative position if you want to dump fast and over come this lag.

 

[Scrounger]

So far with the lever held in every position for 15 to 20 seconds, no improvement in the floppy bucket when loaded. Not sure if the BX even has a regenerative valve. Also, how do you know if you have air in the cylinders, can you bleed them like brakes on a bike or car? So far the manuals have been pretty useless. This is not a show stopper for the tractor, but I'd like to figure out if a fix is possible.

A dealer trip is out of the question, that would be a several hundred dollar diagnostic trip for sure.

 

[JerryG]

Not sure if the BX even has a regenerative valve. Also, how do you know if you have air in the cylinders, can you bleed them like brakes on a bike or car?
I think all BXs have regenerative valves at this time. I don't think they did when they were first introduced. The way to bleed the the system is to run the loader up and down and or hold the control to the extreme in one direction for a few seconds. As you do this the air will be purged into the sump.
but I'd like to figure out if a fix is possible.
The easiest way to get rid of most of it was in the last post. You can put a reducing orifice in the lines and that will also take care of the problem. But, that will slow the loader down.
All of this is just the nature of the beast.

 

[fish6942]

The dump cylinders are captivating. They do that when the weigh in the bucket pulls the bucket down faster than fluid is going into the backside of the cylinder. Air separates from the fluid and causes the slow down. A regenerative valves will eliminate it almost entirely if the lever is put directly into the regenerative position when you need to dump. If you use the regular dump position to start and then go to the regenerative position, then the separation has already taken place and the slow down is already set up. If a heavy load is in the bucket it is important to go directly to the regenerative position if you want to dump fast and over come this lag.

What is the regenertive valve and is this std on the BX?

 

[kennyd]

What is the regenertive valve and is this std on the BX?

Welcome to TBN
Not sure if they are standard or not, but as stated I think they all come with the 4-way valve now...
Read THIS post to learn about regenerative valves and the difference between 3 and 4-way valves.

 

[Singlecoil]

Thanks for posting that link, KennyD. That's a good read for us newbies

 

[teachdocs]

Scrounger,

The more I think about this, maybe you are not getting into the regen valve function.

Try this:

Lower the FEL and bucket to sit flat on the ground. Throttle about mid way. Joystick gently to the right. This will "dump" the bucket some but probably not lift the front tires off the ground very much.

Now push the joystick to the right even farther. You will go past a little resistance for the detent and now you are in the regen circuit. This will likely lift the front tires off the ground easily.

This is the way that you need to cycle the FEL several times to get rid of "air" if that is the problem. I get the floppy bucket as you describe on occasion. It is always remedied by raising the loader all the way, then lowering all the way, followed by a dump "regen" as I described above.

According to the detailed thread about 3 vs 4 valve and regen circuits, this should work. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-buying-pricing/9403-3-position-valve-vs-4-a-3.html

If not, then maybe you have a bad cylinder???

 

[638]

I think that the first dump position is regen. That make for a faster dump cycle. The second dump position is slower and has a lot more power (will lift front end whereas regen is faster but lower in power) You don't normally need much power when you dump the bucket, gravity helps.

ron

 

[Berniep]

I think that the first dump position is regen. That make for a faster dump cycle. The second dump position is slower and has a lot more power (will lift front end whereas regen is faster but lower in power) You don't normally need much power when you dump the bucket, gravity helps.

ron

Yep thats the way it is on my BX23, regen in the first part of the stick movement. It caused some problems when installing my grapple(had to hook it up backwards from the way I initially wanted it)