New Holland L425 will drive and steer but no up/down or tilt fuctions

[russ2far]

Hi, Just got this little guy yesterday. I know I need a manual for it and have been looking online but haven't had any luck finding one yet any suggestion on where I should order one from? I bought this knowing it had issues, the guy told me over the phone that the hydo-stat light comes on and it stops moving when the fluid warms up. He dropped it off, drove it off the trailer parked it and left, I got in it started it up pushed the foot pedal's and nothing, no up/down no tilt. So I push hand levers goes forward/backwards, turns, and seems pretty snappy. I turn it off, get out of it and start looking, I can pick the bucket up and the tilt cylinder ram moves in and out freely, no resistances at all. I think there is a emergence bypass, or a relief valve that has failed, something you could use to let the boom down if the machine died has stuck open. Again I know I need a manual and I am going to have one soon, but I am hopping someone has a couple things I could try while I wait for a manual. Thanks Russell Foster

 

[Tazza]

Sounds like a safety interlock issue, seat bar or seat belt switch?
If the computer thinks you are not in the seat, it will lock the lift/tilt and sometimes keep the park brake on.

 

[Ivan]

Look under your seat and see if it has a switch. If it does make sure the wires are connected and trace the wire harness back to the firewall to see if it has a short pigtail that came unplugged

 

[russ2far]

Look under your seat and see if it has a switch. If it does make sure the wires are connected and trace the wire harness back to the firewall to see if it has a short pigtail that came unplugged

Thanks for your reply, the switch under the seat has been removed, the wire that would run to it has a plug on it that looks lik pe a flat 4 wire trailer lights plug, it has a 2 prong plug that is jumped plugged into it. Looks like it has been that way for a long time. I did pull it apart and clean the prongs.

 

[russ2far]

Thanks for your reply, the switch under the seat has been removed, the wire that would run to it has a plug on it that looks lik pe a flat 4 wire trailer lights plug, it has a 2 prong plug that is jumped plugged into it. Looks like it has been that way for a long time. I did pull it apart and clean the prongs.

Also from the reading I have done that switch just locks the boom and I should still have the bucket tilt function, I have neither fuction. Also where I can grab the bucket with my hands and move it freely I think the hydrolics to boom and buck tilt are bypassing.

 

[jerry]

Also from the reading I have done that switch just locks the boom and I should still have the bucket tilt function, I have neither fuction. Also where I can grab the bucket with my hands and move it freely I think the hydrolics to boom and buck tilt are bypassing.

If you can freely move the bucket by hand I would think the seals in the cylinders are completely shot. If the seals were good you would be forcing the oil back through the lines and valves to the reservoir and there would be quite a bit of resistance. I'd take the lines off the tilt cyl and plug the fittings first, then if you can move the cylinder the seals are certainly no good.

 

[russ2far]

If you can freely move the bucket by hand I would think the seals in the cylinders are completely shot. If the seals were good you would be forcing the oil back through the lines and valves to the reservoir and there would be quite a bit of resistance. I'd take the lines off the tilt cyl and plug the fittings first, then if you can move the cylinder the seals are certainly no good.

Tazza thanks for the reply, this is a late 70's or early 80's machine so no computer, hopefully I can keep it going with a couple wrenches and a pressure gauge. Jerry if the seals went out of the tilt cylinder I should still have up/down boom? I made a few calls and found out that the guy that had it before the guy I bought it from took it in, had it serviced, then was using it and the bucket just fell to the ground, nothing from that point except forward/reverse and steering. I pulled the plug and looked at the fluid, it is super clean, so I kind of want to believe this story. So now I am thinking one of 2 things, air lock in the pump or control valve. I have had irrigation pumps do this, get them going didn't set the pickup deep enough in the water and the pump sucks the level down to where it is bring in air, next thing you know no water pressure but everything appears to correct. Or the hydro pump just quit. I haven't seen a pump just quit, I have seen them get slow, and weak over time, until one day you just go to town and buy a new pump because it would be faster and easier to feed the cows by hand then with the loader on the tractor. Anyway is there any way to bleed the hydro system on one of these machines?

 

[Mike10]

Tazza thanks for the reply, this is a late 70's or early 80's machine so no computer, hopefully I can keep it going with a couple wrenches and a pressure gauge. Jerry if the seals went out of the tilt cylinder I should still have up/down boom? I made a few calls and found out that the guy that had it before the guy I bought it from took it in, had it serviced, then was using it and the bucket just fell to the ground, nothing from that point except forward/reverse and steering. I pulled the plug and looked at the fluid, it is super clean, so I kind of want to believe this story. So now I am thinking one of 2 things, air lock in the pump or control valve. I have had irrigation pumps do this, get them going didn't set the pickup deep enough in the water and the pump sucks the level down to where it is bring in air, next thing you know no water pressure but everything appears to correct. Or the hydro pump just quit. I haven't seen a pump just quit, I have seen them get slow, and weak over time, until one day you just go to town and buy a new pump because it would be faster and easier to feed the cows by hand then with the loader on the tractor. Anyway is there any way to bleed the hydro system on one of these machines?

There is a screen right before the pump. It looks like a "Y" fitting with a thumb screw on the end. Loosen the thumb screw and remove lower cover to remove sreen. It is a small screen and can get plugged. If that is not the problem then remove the hyd pump and check if the pump shaft is broke or the splines worn out..........Fix your seat switch, it may save your life.

 

[russ2far]

There is a screen right before the pump. It looks like a "Y" fitting with a thumb screw on the end. Loosen the thumb screw and remove lower cover to remove sreen. It is a small screen and can get plugged. If that is not the problem then remove the hyd pump and check if the pump shaft is broke or the splines worn out..........Fix your seat switch, it may save your life.

Been awhile since is have been here. I found the "Y" and opened it up. there is no screen in it so I will be buying one for it, also it didn't drip any fluid at all when I opened it, I expected it to be full of fluid and to make a good mess when I opened it, could this mean that maybe I have a blockage in the tank? not sure but I am going to run a snake down the tube into the tank just for the fun of it. I am guessing you are right about the pump. I did crack the line on the output side and when it was running I ended up completely taking the line off and the pump would only spit out fluid every 10sec or so. Thanks for your reply, Russell Foster. Oh yea, I on eliminating the obvious troubles so the seat switch was replaced early on hoping it was problem.

 

[russ2far]

There is a screen right before the pump. It looks like a "Y" fitting with a thumb screw on the end. Loosen the thumb screw and remove lower cover to remove sreen. It is a small screen and can get plugged. If that is not the problem then remove the hyd pump and check if the pump shaft is broke or the splines worn out..........Fix your seat switch, it may save your life.

Ok so I lied, after getting a new screen and going to put it in I found a screen laying on the floor of the skid steer. best I can figure I when I pop of the bottom cap it fell out and I didn't notice it. Anyway it was 3/4 full of junk, had to push it out with a screw drive, and even then you couldn't see light thru it. I just put the new one in. So hopefully when I start it up things will work, thanks again for all the help from you guys

 

[Tazza]

Ok so I lied, after getting a new screen and going to put it in I found a screen laying on the floor of the skid steer. best I can figure I when I pop of the bottom cap it fell out and I didn't notice it. Anyway it was 3/4 full of junk, had to push it out with a screw drive, and even then you couldn't see light thru it. I just put the new one in. So hopefully when I start it up things will work, thanks again for all the help from you guys

*fingeres crossed* lets hope that is the cause of the issue.

 

[russ2far]

*fingeres crossed* lets hope that is the cause of the issue.

Thanks for the crossed fingers they worked. I had up/down boom and tilt function for several minutes then they stopped. I pulled the screen and it was clogged again with a thick gray syrupy consistence stuff. I sprayed it of with some engine degreaser put it back in and the functions work again for 5-7 minutes then stopped again. So I cleaned it again and got them working again. I back drug my drive way, pushed around a few bigger rocks, didn't use it hard but did get 15-20 minutes of use out of it then shut her down. I changed both filters after that. I think I will run and clean the screen after 15-20 minutes couple more times then see if I can't drain the hydraulic fluid and put in new, change the filters again and hopefully she will be good to move my snow this winter. Anyone have any cool starting tip for these old Wisconsin engines? Anyway, thanks for all the help, I think I am going to really enjoy this little machine. Russell