319D Hydraulic Drift

[wesgipe]

I recently purchased a 2011 Deere 319D for use around my property - cleaning up the woods, firewood, etc. - and have recently begun to notice hydraulic drift. The machine only had 202 original hours on it when I purchased it (had the dealer verify with the computer) and is incredibly clean - literally looks brand new. I know the previous owner took immaculate care of it, but it obviously didn't get much use. The drift is most readily noticable in the bucket tilt. if you tilt the bucket all the way back, it VERY gradually - one creak at a time - drifts down maybe 20 percent of the way if left long enough. I have also noticed that the bucket breakout force doesn't quite seem to be what it was. Additionally, if I use the bucket / boom to lift the machine to check track tension, that also drifts slightly. My question is this - there is clearly a ton of debate over internal seals leaking causing this (don't hardly think that's the case if the tilt and boom drift), and I don't know where to begin troubleshooting. I am very mechanical, but obviously no hydraulics technician. Any assistance you could offer would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SkidRoe]

Most of the time, like you said, it is internal cylinder leakage - either past the piston seals or past the piston/rod seal.
We had a tractor loader the drifted badly, and replaced the piston seals with no change. We then replaced the control - still no difference. It was not until we took the cylinders apart for a second time and took the pistons off of the rods that we realized that no one had ever installed an O-ring between the piston and the rod on one cylinder.
Cheers - SR

 

[wesgipe]

Most of the time, like you said, it is internal cylinder leakage - either past the piston seals or past the piston/rod seal.
We had a tractor loader the drifted badly, and replaced the piston seals with no change. We then replaced the control - still no difference. It was not until we took the cylinders apart for a second time and took the pistons off of the rods that we realized that no one had ever installed an O-ring between the piston and the rod on one cylinder.
Cheers - SR

Well.....as embarrassed as I am to admit this, the breakout force issue was entirely eliminated by adding some fluid. The sight glass was on the low side of normal, so I decided to fill it to the high side, and viola! Works just as strong as it did when I got it. Can't hardly believe that a quart or two would make that much difference when the total capacity is 5 gallons, but it sure did.