small hydro leak issue

Dingo Man · May 8, 2012

So my DK40 hst is about a month old now. I've got a few hours on it but nothing that has even begun to test its true potential. This morning I started her up and while waiting for it to warm up I got down on a knee to look the under side over. I noticed some hydro fluid drips. I figured it was dripping about every thirty seconds. The fluid is dripping out of an elongated access hole of some sort. The entire hole and the area around it has fluid on it. I have attached a photo which shows the hole looking back towards the rear of the tractor. Any ideas where the fluid is coming from.

Thanks

Dingo Man · May 8, 2012

Wow, no one has anything?

kiotiken · May 8, 2012

I have roughly the same leak on my CK30hst. Mine started with about 70hrs after my dealer split the tractor to replace the hst. Mine is the gasket between the two halves of the tractor. We're waiting for a time I don't need the tractor for a while to re-split it and fix it.

IndyIan · May 8, 2012

I can't say I've ever noticed that access hole on my tractor. I'll have to go looking for it. Anyways I guess its going to be a warranty issue which hopefully won't take long to fix.

MotorSeven · May 9, 2012

I have not noticed that hole either...I'll take a look this morning. Ken I hope your wrong on the tractor split to fix.....that would suck.

Dingo Man · May 9, 2012

The hole in question looks to be in the area where the mid PTO would be if you were to get one. I have looked all over up and down and can not see where the leak is coming from.

kiotiken · May 9, 2012

MotorSeven said:
I have not noticed that hole either...I'll take a look this morning. Ken I hope your wrong on the tractor split to fix.....that would suck.

I hope that's not what it is either. I was pretty much against having to split my tractor for this exact reason, I never thought it would be the same. This is exactly how the leak presents itself on my tractor and we're pretty sure it's that big gasket that's leaking, but I'll know more in a few weeks when it's finally fixed.

Regardless of the source of the OP's leak is, it sure looks like a warranty claim to me. I'd just keep using it until it's convenient to give it up for a week or so and arrange to have it done then.

Highbeam · May 9, 2012

That hole is farther forward than the midPto. That hole allows you to see, touch, and rotate your front driveshaft. There are several seals that could be leaking and cause oil to escape into that cavity. My CK30 has been leaking for years now from one of the several (maybe a few) places where this tractor can be split. In my case, the joint that is leaking looks to have a cavity inside that contains some high pressure HST lines and 0rings that can fail. It is unfortunate but I can live with a slow slow leak if it causes no harm to the machine.

Dingo Man · May 10, 2012

Highbeam that makes sense. I can see a shaft of some sort up inside the hole. Last night I checked the steering lines to make sure they were not leaking. All was dry there. I have no warranty concerns since this is brand new and it will be fixed. With only a few hours on it I am not willing to let it slide for now. This will be a good test for my dealer. So far they have been great. They are currently checking with HQ to plan there next move.

Thanks

jimmyj · May 12, 2012

I've had minor ongoing leaks with my CK30 pretty much since new. All of them have been at connections between hydro lines and fittings. Two were the result of me hitting the lines when driving over stuff (bring on the skid plates), and another I think was a bad o ring. The dealer replaced the one with the bad o ring and the others I just live with.

I think every tractor or truck I have had has had a slow leak of some sort at some time. As long as it's a really small amount I live with them.

All that ramble said, I would want to find the source and since your machine is so new ask the dealer to help find the issue. You never know, better safe than sorry.