Deere 4400 w/ leaking 420 Loader

[NAA36663]

I had all 4 loader cylinders rebuilt by local JD dealer last fall. I have only put on another 100 hrs or so since. The LH bucket cylinder has been leaking almost since day 1 of the rebuild (noticed about 3 months later). At first, I thought it was the hydraulic line, so I replaced it. Still leaking, I discovered the leak is between the cylinder body and the shiny nut that holds the connection the hydraulic line connects near the piston end (sorry about the poor description). Upon further inspection, the connections on both bucket cylinders are rotated a bit. On the RH side, this moves it further away from the loader frame, but on the LH side, the hydraulic conector just misses the loader frame when fully extended. Since there is some play in the loader, I think the hydraulic line may be hitting the loader frame when I fully dump the bucket less than very slowly. The loaders I see on the Internet all show these 2 connections facing each other - mine are rotated 45 degrees.
I'm now using the tractor much more and losing more hyd fluid than I care to pay to replace. The tractor is 2 hours away at hunting camp and I am looking fo advice. Is this an issue? Do you think it is causing my leak? Is it an easy fix?

BTW, I would not expect the JD dealer to stand behind their work - I already paid twice for the internal kit on 1 of the cylinders with another problem they didn't catch the first time. I noticed that problem the day the tractor was returned the first time

Thanks,
Mike M.

 

[Mike M]

Not totally familar with that set up ,but many times those fittings are an o-ring bore fitting you can point anywhere you want and then lock it with the jamb nut. You may need some new o-rings for those fittings. JD parts may show the size.

 

[Tx Jim]

(quoted from post at 13:09:07 08/10/11) The LH bucket cylinder has been leaking almost since day 1 of the rebuild (noticed about 3 months later). The loaders I see on the Internet all show these 2 connections facing each other - mine are rotated 45 degrees.Do you think it is causing my leak? Is it an easy fix?
BTW, I would not expect the JD dealer to stand behind their work

First how did you know it was leaking the first day if you noticed it 3 months later????????

Second diagnosing a problem over the WWW is difficult at best could you please provide a photo of your hydraulic dilemma????

Third the bucket hoses are swivel attached with an o-ring to seal them. Loosen hose nut,put hoses facing each other and tighten back. It doesn't require a rocket scientist.

 

[NAA36663]

First how did you know it was leaking the first day if you noticed it 3 months later????????

I don't use the tractor that much in the late fall - the second or third day of use was 3 months later.

Second diagnosing a problem over the WWW is difficult at best could you please provide a photo of your hydraulic dilemma????

I agree. I cannot get a picture until the weekend at the earliest.

Third the bucket hoses are swivel attached with an o-ring to seal them. Loosen hose nut,put hoses facing each other and tighten back. It doesn't require a rocket scientist.

That's good beacuse I'm not a rocket scientist I meant the cylinder itself, not the cylinder hoses. My question should have been: during the cylinder re-build procedure, is it possible to change (rotate) the location where the hose attaches to the cylinder? I assume the piston end can rotate freely, but I would expect the other end to be fixed. With the hose attached, the nut on the hose almost touches the oader frame, regardless of the direction of the hose.

My apologies for the lack of clarity.

 

[Tx Jim]

Being a retired JD service manager I can assure you it's not the dealers fault or his technicians fault that you did this with the loader(I don't use the tractor that much in the late fall - the second or third day of use was 3 months later.)
I need the serial number of the loader early model bucket cyl and late model go together differently. SN ( -013054) or (13055-)