BX24 leaking fluid...

[Mowbizz]

Was 20 miles from home and 3 miles from the nearest Kubota dealer when I noticed a trail of fluid on the ground where I was taking a few inches off an old deck base (1 inch stone). I had no tools with me and couldn't see where the fluid was coming from because of my Brotek skid plate (front and rear)
I bit the bullet and hustled it back onto the trailer and took it to the dealer. The machine is past due for it's 50 hour service anyway...they said "middle of next week before they can look at it...

It's only affecting the FEL bucket curl function as it bleeds down when brought up to full. Everything else works as it should. I haven't really gotten "into" repairing or maintaining my tractor other than greasing every 10 hours...
A couple of times I had a bucket full of stone and when attempting to curl and lift the bucket to move the stone away, I noticed the loader's capabilities were at full capacity and I had to back off in order to lift and curl....do you think this is what caused the leak?? (forcing it too much?)

The service guy said the 50 hour service was going to be $350 which I thought wasn't bad. I have no clue what they're going to charge me to fix the leak...like I said, I hope it's just a connector or hose.

Just venting really but if anybody feels like chiming in I'd appreciate the knowledge about what may have happened...thanks!

 

[pintodeluxe]

Hydraulic cylinders, hose, or fitting could be the culprit. I would doubt it if the cylinder failed in the first 50-100 hours of operation. You may have had a defective hose that burst under normal working conditions.

 

[kchear1]

I had to have ALL the stainless steel lines replaced at around 60 hours because of a manufacturing defect. It was because of the way the flares were manufactured that made them cut into the gaskets. Took a long time to gather up all the SS lines from all over the US. Fortunately I was covered under warranty. This was not something the dealer was aware of and they had to call the regional service rep to determine the cause.

 

[Mowbizz]

I had to have ALL the stainless steel lines replaced at around 60 hours because of a manufacturing defect. It was because of the way the flares were manufactured that made them cut into the gaskets. Took a long time to gather up all the SS lines from all over the US. Fortunately I was covered under warranty. This was not something the dealer was aware of and they had to call the regional service rep to determine the cause.

Got a call today and the service guy said..."well I have some good news and some bad news..." Guess what? It's the same problem you had. The good part is it's covered 100% under the warranty and they will even discount the 50 hour service because if all the fluid loss...but...the parts had to be ordered from JAPAN!!! So I guess it's a waiting game for the lines to be shipped!! my machine is right at 60 hours too...I'm just happy the dealer was honest with me and admitted a manufacturer's defect as being the cause of the leak! You know darn well it could have gone "the other way" just as easy...

 

[rdsaustintx]

I had to have ALL the stainless steel lines replaced at around 60 hours because of a manufacturing defect.

On the implements or the tractor?

To the OP: Unless it is obvious misuse damage (e.g., you hit something wrong), your leak should be under warranty. They're used to it.

 

[santacruzer]

I had to have ALL the stainless steel lines replaced at around 60 hours because of a manufacturing defect. It was because of the way the flares were manufactured that made them cut into the gaskets. Took a long time to gather up all the SS lines from all over the US. Fortunately I was covered under warranty. This was not something the dealer was aware of and they had to call the regional service rep to determine the cause.

I have a BX 2350 and had the same thing happen to me with the wrong flares on the SS lines where they were hooked up to the valve manifold. My dealer was not made aware of the problem by Kubota either and as a result the tractor went into the shop 3 times.

At first the shop thought the wrong "0" rings were installed but the new "0" rings just kept getting eaten up and the leak would start again. The dealer hauled it back and forth for me till it was fixed. It also was under warranty but they didn't have to pay the hauling but they did.

Kubota knew about it but no word was given to my dealer...and it's a large dealership at that.

The tractor was down a total of 2 month...just because Kubota thought the problem was not significant...it was REAL significant to me and I wonder how many other people.

Paul

 

[Mowbizz]

To the OP: Unless it is obvious misuse damage (e.g., you hit something wrong), your leak should be under warranty. They're used to it.[/QUOTE]


If the tractor was not under warranty I don't think it would have been covered...of course unless it is a defective part, which it turns out to be.

What do you mean by "they're used to it"?

 

[rdsaustintx]

What do you mean by "they're used to it"?

Hydraulic leaks are a common nuisance on TLB's and a typical shakedown issue on new equipment. lotta plumbing on these babies.

e.g., my loader had a dripping hose within first 100 hours. Dealer replaced it toot sweet, on-site, no questions, no hassle, no worries, no more leak.

 

[kchear1]

On the implements or the tractor?

To the OP: Unless it is obvious misuse damage (e.g., you hit something wrong), your leak should be under warranty. They're used to it.

The SS lines are on the tractor. At first the dealer thought it was the o-rings too since they were cut. They replaced all the o-rings and had it back to me in two weeks (had to wait for the o-rings). Got it home and started leaking more fluid. After they found out what the problem, took about 2 months to wait for the new lines to come from all over the US (according to the dealer). Covered under warranty and the dealer hauled it back and forth.

 

[rdsaustintx]

The SS lines are on the tractor. At first the dealer thought it was the o-rings too since they were cut. They replaced all the o-rings and had it back to me in two weeks (had to wait for the o-rings). Got it home and started leaking more fluid. After they found out what the problem, took about 2 months to wait for the new lines to come from all over the US (according to the dealer). Covered under warranty and the dealer hauled it back and forth.

Thanks for the info. I find it amazing such a basic hydraulic screw-up got out of a Japanese factory, esp. with the reputation of Kubota.

Between these stories, making the HST fan inaccessible and the (obviously) under-engineered plastic, something *bad* happened between the '23 and the '24. The most successul innovation on that tractor was the loader and backhoe, and I assume those were built stateside.