Strange Grapple Behavior - Question on Hooking Up

[tractorshopper]

When I brought my baby home, the grapple had already been installed and was working perfectly. I used it a bit, then removed it. A couple weeks later, I put it back on, and it didn't open and close right away. I thought this was strange and was going to call my dealer, but after about 10-15 minutes, it started working and worked perfectly.

I used it a day and took it off and haven't had a need for it for several months, so it's been off. Saturday, I hooked it back up and it would not work again. Same as before; all FEL controls worked fine upon hooking it up, but the grapple wouldn't open or close after repeated attempts to cycle it. Probably played with it for 15-20 minutes including checking wiring etc. Finally stopped messing with it.

Texted dealer Monday and told him it wasn't working. He said bring it in. I went home early and hooked up trailer. Got on tractor and loaded it on the trailer and by happen stance, hit the open button and it worked perfectly. Texted back with a nevermind, but I don't understand what the issue is as to why it takes a while before working every time I connect.

Is this normal? My loader goes on and off a lot and it never hesitates when hooked hooked up. Why would my grapple do this? What should I check for?

This is a LP SGC0548 on a BX 2370-1. It has a diverter type valve hooked into the power beyond.

 

[Silvic]

First guess is that your fittings are leaking hydraulic fluid when it is disconnected so when you hook up you have lots of air in the line. Hydraulics do not work well until the air gets purged, then it works fine again until the next time it happens. Even if grapple fittings are not leaking it sure sounds like air is getting into the line and thus the issue each time you hook it up.
If you have one male and one female fitting on the grapple hook them together when you take it off might help.
If yours is plumbed so that you have two of each on each side then that does not work but most are plumbed with one of each to make hook up easier.

 

[k0ua]

Another thing that can happen is the quick disconnects can have a weak spring in the ball or popit that the fluid goes around when the quick disconnects are mated together the fluid flow itself can make a blockage of the fluid flow when these elements close up the fluid path.if that makes any sense. Solution is connect and disconnect a couple of times, and if that does not solve it, start replacing quick disconnects.

 

[tractorshopper]

Thanks guys. I stopped by dealer yesterday and chatted with him. He said that's not normal and that he'd be calling LP to see if they've had similar issues and what they recommend. He thought it might be electrical, which was my first thought as well, but I couldn't find any problems and when it does start working, it works from then on just as it should.

I also thought about air in the lines, and haven't ruled that out at all, but I don't get any abnormal leaking when it's disconnected.

 

[TMGT]

Can you hook up the lines for the grapple more then one way? Also is it a diverter running off the curl circuit or a 3rd function valve with 2 buttons?

If it's a diverter on the curl circuit you can get some odd operation if it's hooked up backwards due to the regen feature. If you push the joystick all the way to the right (past regen) it should act normal if that's your problem.

 

[J_J]

A 3rd function valve is connected to the PB, and a diverter valve is connected to the curl circuit.

If no hyd function, check your wiring.

It could also be a stuck solenoid.