420 blade not raising clear up

[bookman51]

When I put my 420 crawler away after the last snow storm we had here a few weeks ago, I noticed the blade would not raise to its full height. From the sound of the hydraulics it acted like it was straining against something but I did not see anything it was hitting. It was the end of a long afternoon of moving snow and pulling out neighbors, so I did not mess with it much. Anyone else have this problem? Am I missing something obvious...or not obvious?? Thanks in advance.

[dtoots1]

need to check hydraulic fluid level and also see if water contamination, is fluid clear or milky..muddy looking.
also is possible cylinder cups getting worn.

[bookman51]

Thanks much. I had used it quite a bit that day, and as I neared getting done moving snow, I thought it was not raising as much. When I got it back in the shop, I tested it and sure enough not going up as much as it should. I was too tired to do much with it then, but as the weather warms up I want to get it going right. I did not see any oil leaks around. I did not test it going down. On power down it should raise the front of the crawler off the ground.

[dtoots1]

my jd440ic had similar problem, found out it was the cylinder cups, took 1 to shop, they redid it to the tune of almost $300..had them give me extra gasket, cup sets...that cost me $50 and i did other one myself. make sure hydraulic fluid not milky, if is use sea foam in it.

[bookman51]

Thanks

[Ray III]

I have had ice form in there.

[bookman51]

Thanks again for all the help and good advice.