What's wrong with my FEL ?????

[Madman_Mark]

What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

Finally got around to changing the hydraulic/tranny fluid in my tractor this afternoon.
The tractor is a 4WD Fiat 55 HP.
Now that it is all topped up with new fluid and filter (filled filter with fluid also) the FEL doesn't work right.
The joystick is stiffer and I can't curl the bucket up or down.
I can raise and lower it though but that's it.
Is there air in the lines ?
Was I supposed to bleed it like brakes on a car or something ?
The manual didn't say anything like that, just drain, change filter and refill.
When it was sitting there draining (not running) I lowered the bucket and this caused more old fluid to flow out (which I thought was a good thing).
I"m thinking maybe I shouldn't have done that ?
Now what ?

 

[thcri]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

Just a thought but you may have pulled a bunch of air in the system when you lowered the bucket.

 

[Madman_Mark]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

That's what I was thinking, what do I do now ?

 

[DavidJ]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

Have you raised and lowered it to the extermes a few times to expel most of the air. Also hold the stick one way then the other several seconds in the curl positions. Also, do you hear the popoff valve when you try and move the bucket?

 

[Madman_Mark]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

No I haven't tried that, I'll try that next time I use it.
Any other sugestions?

 

[jinman]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

If you lowered the arms, you might try loosening the fittings on the lift side of the cylinder and see if you expel air or fluid. On many hydraulic systems, the operation of spools relies on fluid pushing on a larger surface area on one side of the spool than the opposite direction. If this is the case in your system, the side with the air pocket may not have enough pressure to get things going. Before I did anything drastic, I think I'd loosen some connections and try to bleed out any excess air. Have you tried cycling the 3PH as well as the joystick?

 

[Madman_Mark]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

Yeah, the 3PH raises and lowers no problem.

 

[slowzuki]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

I'm guessing you're the fellow with troubles on the forestry forum! Could there be water and ice in your valve?

 

[Madman_Mark]

Re: What\'s wrong with my FEL ?????

Thanks DavidJ, your advice worked.
I raised the loader all the up then all the way down a dozen or so times and it works fine now.
Actually seems to work better then it ever has (seems more responsive).
Lots of good advice on this site.