Tracy Gruetzmacher 3 #1 Posted November 3 I have a nice C 145 hydro with mower deck. The hydraulic cylinder lifts deck just fine, but it won't stay up. Cylinder probably needs a seal kit. I think it is a welded cylinder. Grandson wants to mow lawn next summer so need to get it fixed. Any help to get this fixed would be appreciated. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,912 #2 Posted November 3 Double check the valve as well. If it's the cylinder that's leaking you can send it to Wheelhorse parts and more. Lowell rebuilds them. @daveoman1966 has had success with adding a seal to the end of a cylinder. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 6,174 #3 Posted November 3 Do you mean it drops right away or just gradually drops back down. I think everything I own with hydraulics will gradually drop but it should stay up for a fair bit of time. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lynnmor 7,336 #4 Posted November 3 Depending on how your system is plumbed, a lift cylinder can have bad seals but still not allow a drop unless the oil can leak past the valve spools. In order to move, a cylinder needs more or less oil and it gets that by way of the control valves. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,912 #5 Posted November 3 1 hour ago, Tracy Gruetzmacher said: Cylinder probably needs Is there oil getting down to the ground? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brockport Bill 1,681 #6 Posted November 3 are you referring to the cylinder by your foot ... or the master cyl in the hoodstand? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracy Gruetzmacher 3 #7 Posted November 4 Cylinder by foot, and it drops deck to ground quick, less than 5 minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tracy Gruetzmacher 3 #8 Posted November 4 And no oil on ground Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,912 #9 Posted November 4 2 minutes ago, Tracy Gruetzmacher said: Cylinder by foot, and it drops deck to ground quick, less than 5 minutes. 1 minute ago, Tracy Gruetzmacher said: And no oil on ground So that would tell you you obviously have a bypass situation but it could be either in the cylinder or the valve. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Handy Don 12,337 #10 Posted November 4 (edited) 51 minutes ago, Tracy Gruetzmacher said: And no oil on ground 50 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: So that would tell you you obviously have a bypass situation but it could be either in the cylinder or the valve. If there is no oil on the ground, then IMHO the lift cylinder is likely doing ok (no guarantee, though). It is possible for oil to slip past the piston but with the volume differential on the two sides, to drop down you would need to add more oil to the cylinder (down “extends” the rod). Much more likely, to me, is that the spool in the control valve is no longer fully closing off the ports leading to the cylinder due to worn O-rings inside the valve. The repair is pretty easy but getting at the valve to get the spool out is, well, not fun! Edited November 4 by Handy Don Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cleat 6,174 #11 Posted November 4 There are two O rings in the spool valve to prevent external leakage at the valve but all internal oil passages are just tightly machined metal to metal. If valve is leaking internally I would think all you can do is to replace the valve. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lee1977 6,702 #12 Posted November 4 (edited) The mower deck height is set by the deck wheels so the hydrolic lift has no affect while mowing once it's down. Be a good ideal to have it fixed if its leakimg as your loosing transmission oil. Edited November 4 by Lee1977 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites