Front loader drifts down: cylinder or valve leak
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Applies to: Tractors with front loaders (Kubota, John Deere, New Holland), All years
Symptoms
- Raised bucket sinks with engine off
- Bucket curls on its own
- Drift worse when hot
Why it happens
Worn piston seals let oil bypass inside the cylinder, or the control valve spool leaks.
How to fix it
- Raise the loader with a light load and time the drift.
- Isolate valve versus cylinder with the manual's test.
- Reseal the leaking cylinder or service the valve.
- Check hoses and fittings for external leaks.
Tools and parts
- Cylinder seal kit
- Wrenches
- Hydraulic fluid
What the factory service manual covers
Hydraulics: loader cylinder, control valve, drift test. The full procedure, specs and wiring diagrams are in the factory service manual for your machine.