L4400 fel not working

bsamot69

Member

Equipment
M9000
Jul 31, 2018
51
0
6
Grapeland, Texas
We just got a l4400d recently and the bucket neither goes up or down, does not tilt either. The 3 point in back didn't move, however, turned the flow valve under seat and it went up after a few minutes. When push lever down it drops very slowly. Power steering works .
I changed the hydraulic fluid and filter. I shouldention the tractor has 151 hours and has been sitting for a long time. The fluid I drained out was dark and hideous.
New fluid and still no actuation. Disconnected hoses going to block under right side to verify there is flow. Then checked the quick couplers on joystick ...there is oil flowing. I have not seen any trash or debris at this point. With tractor running, now, moving lever for up the bucket moves an inch bit no further. The tilt up worked but did not hold. I cracked the lines at the t for rams and when raising had good squirt of fluid. Same with t for tilt , there is pressure. On the joystick, the covers over springs on plungers I removed. The larger spring was rusted and corroded. I cleaned it up so it moved freely. I checked all the inlets outlets in joystick and saw no debris . Put it all back together and the same issue. No up or down on fel. Hoses vibrate at each position but no movement. The tilt up no longer moves up. There are no external leaks. I'm not sure where to go from here. Is there a way to check pressure from.pymp? Or what have I missed on the hydraulic system?
Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. I have not done much work with hydraulics.
 

TheOldHokie

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3901/LA525, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
Apr 6, 2021
10,267
5,510
113
Myersville, MD
windyridgefarm.us
We just got a l4400d recently and the bucket neither goes up or down, does not tilt either. The 3 point in back didn't move, however, turned the flow valve under seat and it went up after a few minutes. When push lever down it drops very slowly. Power steering works .
I changed the hydraulic fluid and filter. I shouldention the tractor has 151 hours and has been sitting for a long time. The fluid I drained out was dark and hideous.
New fluid and still no actuation. Disconnected hoses going to block under right side to verify there is flow. Then checked the quick couplers on joystick ...there is oil flowing. I have not seen any trash or debris at this point. With tractor running, now, moving lever for up the bucket moves an inch bit no further. The tilt up worked but did not hold. I cracked the lines at the t for rams and when raising had good squirt of fluid. Same with t for tilt , there is pressure. On the joystick, the covers over springs on plungers I removed. The larger spring was rusted and corroded. I cleaned it up so it moved freely. I checked all the inlets outlets in joystick and saw no debris . Put it all back together and the same issue. No up or down on fel. Hoses vibrate at each position but no movement. The tilt up no longer moves up. There are no external leaks. I'm not sure where to go from here. Is there a way to check pressure from.pymp? Or what have I missed on the hydraulic system?
Any advice or suggestions are appreciated. I have not done much work with hydraulics.
Let me see if I have this right. Neither the loader nor the 3pt work. Is that correct?

Do you know the model number of the loader?

Do you have a backhoe

Dan
 
Last edited:

Russell King

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
6,688
2,238
113
Austin, Texas
Get a few (5?) posts so you can post pictures.

What is “the flow valve under seat”? Is it the speed control knob or something else? Speed control is to limit the down speed only of the three point hitch (TPH). Open it to fast and the arms will move down faster with less weight on them. There are some tractors that have a valve that must be turned to a certain position for both the FEL and TPH to work.

There is an operations manual at this site if you need it. I didn’t see a WSM but you may find it if you look closely (I just scanned the list). A similar tractors WSM might help you with troubleshooting steps.


If the fluid was terrible then you may need to get flow out of the hoses in steps to help clean out the hoses. By steps I mean get flow through the hose to the FEL inlet. Then out go the Power Beyond hose, then out of the hoses to the FEL cylinders. You have done some of that already it sounds like.

You may have a pressure problem but flow is OK so you may want to gather a method to measure the pressures on the tractor and FEL. A 3000 PSI gauge and some adapters will be needed. There are suggestions on other threads and @TheOldHokie will be able to give more suggestions as he gets into this more. He will give you good help if you will provide good information and feedback!