Front-end loader issue

[CB in central NY]

I have a Ford industrial FEL (I think, it"s a 701 but not sure) mounted on a Ford 2910. It"s way too big for the tractor, but that"s another story. Anyway, when I try to lift the front end of the tractor up by pushing down with the bucket, the front end barely lifts up and the loader stops. It has an older-style two-lever hydraulic valve, one for up and down and one for bucket curl. If I keep pushing on the lever, it either does nothing or drops down some and starts raising itself up again.

BUT... sometimes it all of a sudden feels like it has much more power and lifts the tractor front way off the ground. I"ve checked the hydraulic fluid, the cylinders don"t seem to leak, and hydraulic pump up front looks OK. I haven"t actually dug into it to see whether some seals are at issue.

Any advice or ideas would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Have you noticed any difference when increasing throttle ? Sometimes I have to do that with my old klunker when using the loader to lift the front end up to grease etc., this one is old and the cylinders leak down, front pump seems strong though, has to be something in the hyd system, not getting the pressure to the cylinders.

 

[Mike M]

Do you have the brakes on or off at that time ? I have noticed on some tractors not being able to lift the front with the brakes on. I'm thinking it's a fulcrum thing ? not being able to piviot.