ZL 30 FEL – Clyinders do not hold

Len,

   A FEL control valve left in the float position will cause the FEL to raise when pressure builds up anywhere else in the hydraulics, such as activating power steering or raising the 3PH. This is normal. Now, I doubt that you are accidentally leaving the FEL in float, but the same principle would probably result if your FEL valves were leaking, bypassing, basically bleeding from the work ports to the high pressure line. I am certain some of the other guys will have more details. I always put the FEL in float when I park my 254, and then most of the time remember to take it out of float after I shut it down. I have however on a number of occasions scratched my head when I go to raise the 3PH next time I start her up and nothing happens! Then I let off the 3PH and hear the FEL bucket fall back to the ground!! Duh, left the FEL in float.

Len,

Here is the technique that I used to check the possible leakage on my FEL cylinders.

1. Raise the bucket about 3 feet off the ground with the bucket level with the ground.

2. Block up the bucket to hold it in that position.  I used a combination of a 4×4 and a floor jack.

3. Turn off the tractor and wiggle the FEL controls to release any pressure in the lines.

4. Remove and insert plugs into all of the hoses that feed the FEL cylinders.

5. Remove the blocking from under the bucket.

6. Use a ruler to measure height from the ground to both the back and front of the bucket.

7. Leave it that way and periodically remeasure both the front and the back height of the bucket also record the times.

This takes the FEL control valve out of the picture and should give you some data points to determine whether there is leakage in the cylinders, how much and whether it is both tilt and/or lift cylinders.

RonJ

I will add to what Ron said.  If it is leaking down then isolate by plugging one cyl at a time.   When they are connected to the valve the cyls are tied together so it only takes one bad cyl and it will leak down.