Troubleshooting jerky lift cycles on front loaders

[Plowzilla]

I've noticed my L4701's loader isn't lifting smoothly anymore, it's started to jerk, especially when there's a load. I'm thinking it might be air in the system, a sticky valve, or maybe a bunch of other issues.
What steps should I take to diagnose the jerky hydraulics before I start bleeding lines and hoping for a miracle fix?

 

[Otto]

With over 3000 hours, your pump might be showing some wear. But first, take a look at your hydraulic filter and fluid condition. A clogged filter can starve the system, making it seem like the pump is failing. It's much cheaper to swap out a filter than to rebuild a pump, so tackle the simpler things first before you stress out.

 

[Axon]

That sounds like typical pump wear to me.
As the internal bypass worsens, it requires higher RPMs to generate enough pressure to counteract the leakage.
A pressure test will help determine if the pump is really shot.

 

[HaythereKubz]

It could also be an issue with your priority valve getting stuck or the relief valve being set too low. Before you dive into the pump, check all your settings and make sure the relief pressure is adjusted correctly. Often, it’s just a valve problem that makes it seem like the pump is failing when it’s actually fine.