Does a hydraulic oil leak affect the kit, and how do you tell?
An internal leak does not break the kit but it does spoil the result: the motor pulls the cable, the lever moves, and yet the arms do not rise or slowly drop. If the same behaviour continues when you pull the lever manually by hand, the problem is in the hydraulics. An external leak is recognised by oil traces around the cylinder, hoses and the area near the lift arm shaft.
The distinction is made with a simple test: disable the kit and pull the lever by hand. If the result is the same, the kit is not at fault.
Symptoms:
- Internal leak: No oil is visible outside, but the arms cannot hold the load, they drop over time, lifting slows down and the oil heats up more than normal. It is usually cylinder seal or control valve wear.
- External leak: Wetness and a dust-covered oil film are seen around the cylinder rod, the hose fittings or the lift arm shaft seal. The oil level drops regularly.
Order of checks: oil level and condition (if it looks milky, water has got in), filter blockage, hose fittings, cylinder seal.
The point to watch on the kit side is this: as the hydraulics get heavier, the lever's movement resistance increases. The LFT20 pulls the cable with at most 10 kg and the LFT54 with at most 15 kg of force. If the mechanism has stiffened due to lack of lubrication, rust or a seized connection, the kit may not be able to move the lever fully. In that case, lubricate and free the mechanism first.
The full topic: Converting a tractor hydraulic lever to electronic control