FEL creeps up slowly

[smauie]

I changed out my detent assembly on my FEL (up/down) and it works fine but the FEL always wants to rise up slowly. I don't recall this behavior prior to the detent change, probably because the detent was so rusted up it had "memory" spots in it. It's almost like the weight of the control lever is to heavy that it pulls the hydraulic cylinder into the position to rise, very slowly. This is dangerous as I'm backing up and find the bucket fully raised and the tractor is tippy. I constantly have to keep my hand on the control lever to ensure its not rising.
I tried adjusting the rod which connects the lever to the riser hydraulic cylinder but whatever position I tried didn't help.
Is this normal behavior or do I have something that needs adjusting or something missing in my detent assembly?
Seems like there should be a 'neutral' setting where I can lock the bucket at whatever height I desire.

Tractor is 2003 B2410 with LA352 with 450hrs

 

[Kennyd4110]

Can you give us more details on the "detent replacement"?

The springs and balls in a typical "detent" assembly at the end of the spool is what centers to the spool in the bore, so it sounds like something in the endcap is not assembled correctly.

 

[smauie]

I replaced the entire detent assembly which included everything inside the end caps. The only thing that is not in the assembly is the hydraulic rod, which passes through the valve body. So, everything in the end cap was changed, including the end caps. I compared the new to old assembly and it was identical. From what I recall, there is a black rod which holds the 5 bearings and spring (the actual detents). That black rod is threaded into the hydraulic rod...perhaps I screwed it too far into the hydraulic rod? I didn't think that was a means to adjust, seem to recall there was some locktite on those threads. Anyhow, hopefully that is enough detail for you. Thanks so much.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Why don't you give us the P/N of what parts you used, as there is three different valves for that loader.

 

[smauie]

Kubota Part No. 75536-65400
Detent Float Kit

 

[1970cs]

Picture of the valve? I would assume since 2 of 3 have that same kit number that your detent cap is captured by bolts? If so then you must have assembled it incorrectly.

Pat

 

[smauie]

See attached photos. Thank you. If I push the control lever all the way forward it sort of clicks and the bucket will automatically trend down, almost like a float option but it doesn't float. I don't think this ever had a float option and I was told the detent kit was for float and non-float valves.

 

[torch]

Is this the lift spool? Can that rod end be adjusted to fine-tune the spool position?

 

[smauie]

Yes, that is the lifting spool and it is adjustable. You can see the lock nut is loose because I tried various adjustments with no luck. It seems like the weight of the joystick pulls that lifting spool just slightly enough (1/8") to cause the bucket to rise. I tried lengthening and shortening that rod but it didn't help. Although I have yet to try it fully shorten, perhaps that is my problem?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If you have adjusted the rod back and forth and still acts the same, you have a cracked valve body or a severely scared valve, it's leaking fluid around the valve.

Only repair is to replace the valve body, and or valve body and valve, so in essence the whole valve.

To confirm this, just remove the detent off the valve, and then slowly move the control rod back and forth, if there is no neutral it's a crack in the body or damaged valve.

 

[smauie]

Interesting. I'll try this. Are you saying that once I remove the detent that I should be able to move by hand (without running tractor) and "feel" a neutral position or are you suggesting to start the tractor and operate the valve and watch the FEL for a neutral position?
Thank you

 

[Tooljunkie]

Lever full forward snapped into detent position, lift cylinders lower buclet to ground and it will "float" up and down over uneven ground.
There should be a spring or springs to center the valve in neutral position. If it worked ok before repaing float detent then something is assembled incorrectly.

 

[torch]

If, under Wolfman's experiment, you find there is a neutral position, maybe you can simply shim the detent to the happy place?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Interesting. I'll try this. Are you saying that once I remove the detent that I should be able to move by hand (without running tractor) and "feel" a neutral position or are you suggesting to start the tractor and operate the valve and watch the FEL for a neutral position?
Thank you

Run the tractor and watch for operation.
If it goes from up to down with no neutral that's a failure, and neutral will be more than just a very little space, if it's very small it's still a failure.

NOTE:
After re reading tooljunkie's post, I went back to reread your original post.
If you didn't have the issue before you "repaired the detent" then you have installed the detent wrong.

 

[smauie]

I removed the entire detent assembly and found there is about 1/4" worth of neutral position in the spool where the bucket stays put. I also found the detent kit is not exactly as my old one so its possible this is the problem as the threaded rod piece that holds the detents has an extra step in it than mine and thus the spring fits differently and perhaps enough that its resting spot is not in the proper 1/4" neutral position. The dealer probably gave me the wrong kit. At the time, I thought the difference in the kit was perhaps an upgraded design and it worked enough to get my job done so I moved on. Do any of you have the proper kit number that I need so I can contrast that against the dealer number when I go see them? Its a Husco and I can't find a number on the valve body, but there are pics in the early thread. Thank you

 

[smauie]

LA352
SN 10140
I find it uses detent kit 75536-65400

That is the kit the dealer gave me but does not match my old detent. Perhaps this is an upgraded design? Perhaps my valve body was changed out from stock?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes you have the right detent kit.

And yes it's very common for them to upgrade and change designs, but they will almost always work in place of older versions.

Put up a picture of what your working with in the kit and lay it out how you installed it.
Also pics of old parts is good if you still have them.

 

[smauie]

I cracked the detent rod when I was removing it so need to go purchase a new one again. I'll get pics comparing the old/new. The kits seem designed that you can only assemble them in 1 way so I can't imagine it being assembled any other way.
The new kit did come with a washer that I did not use as the diagram never showed that washer and my old one didn't have a washer either. The washer seems to fit on top of one of the spring caps which might serve as a shim for my particular case. It just might be the little difference I need to get that spool into the neutral position.
Based on my previous post, the test I conducted found about 1/4" travel on the spool indicating the neutral position. Based on that, do you feel my valve is good and its more likely with the detent assembly?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Yes a 1/4 of travel in neutral sounds perfect.
So yes I think it's an issue with the detent.

 

[smauie]

Attached are pics of the assembly. The new kit has a black spring retainer which goes on the detent rod. The old kit's spring retainers were identical so either one could go on the detent rod or on the spool. The new kit is a bit more specific.