Loader boom cylinders uneven

[Seven Gables]

My thoughts on the issue is there’s two possible causes. First is the cross tube is bent/twisted as others have suggested. OP however doesn’t feel there’s been any misuse to cause this. Second possibility I think could cause the uneven extension of both cylinders is the right side piston seal is shot causing a unequal force of the two boom cylinders.

 

[4570Man]

Second possibility I think could cause the uneven extension of both cylinders is the right side piston seal is shot causing a unequal force of the two boom cylinders.

The cylinders are just plumbed together with a T and don’t have flow dividers. If one cylinder is bleeding off pressure it will make both sides equally weak.

 

[Seven Gables]

The cylinders are just plumbed together with a T and don’t have flow dividers. If one cylinder is bleeding off pressure it will make both sides equally weak.

The pressure in both cylinders will be equal in both cylinders because there plumbed together. The cylinder with the good seals will convert this equal pressure into more force than the cylinder with bad seals .

 

[4570Man]

The pressure in both cylinders will be equal in both cylinders because there plumbed together. The cylinder with the good seals will convert this equal pressure into more force than the cylinder with bad seals .

Equal pressure in both cylinders will make equal force from both cylinders. If the leak was bad enough there wouldn’t be any pressure and you wouldn’t have any lift from either cylinder.

 

[Seven Gables]

I see what you’re saying now 4570 .

 

[Fallon]

Have you checked tire pressure? Not likely, but the the machine could be a little off & you are only noticing it on the loader. It would be the rears not the fronts as they are mounted solid. The pivoting front axle provides no stability & everything comes from the rear.

Not ruling out the loader being tweaked, but easier to check & remedy.

 

[Ken P]

Thanks for the reply. I did try to shove on the bracket of the cylinder that is further out, and could only manage to push it in perhaps a 1/2 inch, and after I release the pressure, it moves right back out.

Given how cold it is, I may not be able to properly mess around with this until spring. I will try to take some pix to post.

Appreciate all of the responses and time to post them.

Ken

 

[Ken P]

My thoughts on the issue is there’s two possible causes. First is the cross tube is bent/twisted as others have suggested. OP however doesn’t feel there’s been any misuse to cause this. Second possibility I think could cause the uneven extension of both cylinders is the right side piston seal is shot causing a unequal force of the two boom cylinders.

Thanks for the reply. If the piston seal went, would I see leakage of hydraulic fluid?

Ken

 

[Seven Gables]

Thanks for the reply. If the piston seal went, would I see leakage of hydraulic fluid?

Ken

not if it was the piston seal. However the more I think about it kinda doubt it’s the piston seal . As 4570 says both the boom cylinders would become weak . The cross tube should still keep the cylinders extended the same length

 

[Seven Gables]

Thanks for the reply. I did try to shove on the bracket of the cylinder that is further out, and could only manage to push it in perhaps a 1/2 inch, and after I release the pressure, it moves right back out.

Given how cold it is, I may not be able to properly mess around with this until spring. I will try to take some pix to post.

Appreciate all of the responses and time to post them.

Ken

Yeah pictures would be great , another possibility i think could cause the uneven cylinder extension is if when you last attached the loader frames back into the loader mounts the lower part of one side wasn’t fully seated back into the mount. This I believe would necessitate that cylinder being extended less than the other side that was correctly attached.

 

[Seven Gables]

I appreciate all the replies. This is not a quick attach type of loader; I am not certain what "mounting plates" refers to (my tractor terminology knowledge is poor, my apologies). What drew my attention first is that the part called, in the manual, the "loader side frames" were not aligned. One is tilted corresponding to the cylinder that is extended vs the other. (If I understand the term correctly, loader side frame is the part of the loader sticking toward the operator that you maneuver into the frame of the tractor itself, hope I'm using the right term)

I don't appreciate any other twist or bend in the tubes holding the sides of the tractor together, but I'll get out there with a straightedge on Saturday.

If I can remove the snowblower (weather depending), I'll try to remount the loader and see if I can get more information, and maybe try the procedure from that video.

I'll post back when I learn more.

Ken in North Granby CT

Your explanation here more or less supports one of the frames not being correctly seated into the mount that stays with the tractor. Next time you attach the loader make sure both frames are seated into the mounts correctly and this maybe was the issue

 

[RayIN]

100% wrong & useless information. Lift cylinders (and most curl cylinders) are teed together on the tops of the cylinders & the bottom, they self equalize every time they move. WTF does a gland nut have to do with anything? He never said the cylinders are leaking.

As others have noted, the loader or frame got tweaked at some point. Many or most buckets don't sit perfectly level after a while as things get tweaked over the years.

Here I sit, hat in hand, asking for forgiveness. I was totally wrong.