Mysterious leak - B2710

[Alan L.]

I fired up the tractor this morning, let it warm up and when I came back to use the tractor I noticed a 12" puddle on the floor. I checked it with my finger and it was thick, definitely UDT fluid, clear and clean. The only source that seemed possible was the rubber tube (pic 099), which I thought was some kind of fuel overflow. It hangs straight down from behind the filler cap area, although you can't see where it goes up there. The puddle was directly under the bottom this rubber hose.

I checked the hydraulic fluid level and it was OK, so I proceed to brush hog last year's garden, then switch to the tiller. I parked it back in the shop while I went to see my grandson play basketball etc. Came back and noticed that the puddle was now larger (pic #096) and more toward the front of the tractor, but hard to tell the source, since the puddle was now about 30" long, about a foot wide. I check the UDT again and it was fine, so i then proceeded to till the garden, then distributed about 20 yards of compost on the garden, then smoothed it with the loader. Followed that by tilling it in.

After the last pass on the compost pile I thought I noticed a streak on the ground of something leaking. I got it back in the shop but still could not see anything dripping from anywhere. Checked hoses, and all under the tractor.

Then I noticed up on the bottom of the front axle what appeared to be a possible drip hanging on the bottom (pic 094). The area also looked just slightly greasy. I checked the level of the UDT in the front axle and found it did not show on the indicator (hard to tell, the guy that invented these crazy yellow plastic dip sticks is an idiot). I added maybe a half quart of UDT and checked, the level thsn showed maybe a quarter inch too much on the dip stick.

So, it appears that something happened to the fluid in the front axle, and there "appeared" to be an oily area on the bottom surface, maybe a slight drip hanging on. I wiped it dry (before the pics) and never could get a drip to form on it. Pic 094 is from the front, pic 101 is the front axle from the rear.

I guess there is some sort of seal where the drive shaft goes in from the back and also behind that part on the front, whatever that is. But funny that the original puddle was under the overflow tube (fuel level was nowhere near full).

Any ideas about where the leak might be?

 

[dex3361]

I couldnt see any signs of leakage.If I were in your shoes I would take a clean piece of cardboard and place it under the front axle amd monitor regularly. I would check the torque on all of the front end flange bolts. If they are loose you can get leakage. Let us know what you find.

 

[packrat001]

I have a CT230. I had noticed a small rubber tube hanging down behind the front axle and figured it was some type of overflow tube.
Yesterday, I saw the front axle "sight glass" was empty, so I drained EACH SIDE axle drain plugs - by each front wheel. I got about 2-gal of fluid (looked like the hydro fluid) and then replaced the plugs and started to refill the axle with 80W90 as required by Bobcat. The axle took a little over 1-gal, and then started to overflow the aforementioned tube. I had read you have to fill, drive, fill, drive, etc. till until the sight-glass shows the correct level.
I now have 2-gal of fluid in the axle, nothing in the sight-glass, and the overflow tube periodically drips fluid.
Anyone know if this is "typical"? I'm wondering if the tube is somehow syphoning the axle lube. Seems to be related to this post, though.
Thanks for any ideas. I may call my dealer later this week if I cannot figure it out (and post the resolution).

 

[dodge man]

Looking at the pictures, it seems the front axle pivot has a leak. I don't know what the tube is in your picture, is it a vent tube? Seems like to seperate issues to me.

 

[Alan L.]

Well it happened again. Cold weather, warmed up the tractor and noticed fluid dripping from the hose, but it seemed to stop once the tractor warmed up. The hose hangs down form the fuel tank area although the fluid is way to thick to be diesel. Went ahead and did some tilling and moved a little dirt and parked it. Three days later there is another big puddle of of thick fluid under the tractor, clearly it came out of the hose.

 

[sandyc]

Sounds like a loose fitting in the fuel system. Next time you warm it up put a piece of cardboard on the ground and see if you can locate the leak area. Hydraulic fittings might also cause a problem. Antifreeze leak should be colored and easy to ID. Try diesel 911 and see what happens.....maybe gels in fuel that cause pressure to build. I'm just guessing based on what you said.

 

[Alan L.]

The fluid is dripping out of some kind of overflow hose. The hose is open at the bottom and just hangs down. It is somewhere around the fuel tank but the fluid is not diesel - it looks like UDT to me. The puddle this time was directly under the open end of the hose and I could see it dripping out of the hose. Is there some kind of overflow hose on the hydraulic system for when it is over full? Shouldn't be, as I check the level and it doesn't appear to be overfull although it is hard to tell on the yellow plastic dipstick. Fluid level still seems about right.

 

[BeezFun]

I have same tractor you do, I've seen that hose but never paid any attention. Is it possible you're getting air introduced into the fluid? That would increase the volume and send it out the overflow tube. For example are you running any 3pt hydraulic implements that dump right into the hydrualic filler hole in back? I have my post driver hooked up that way. Or is it possible the pump is being starved for some reason and foaming up the fluid?

 

[Bird]

Just a wild guess, Alan, but if the hydraulic system has a vent that is dirty or plugged, it might force fluid out an overflow tube as it warms. And now I've forgotten, but isn't there a vent tube for the hydraulic system under the driver's seat?

 

[Alan L.]

I don't know about the vent, Bird, but I will check it. There could be air because the big puddle at the end did seem to have some foam to it. I have been meaning to change the fluids, have had the fixins for a year but I doubt that would change anything if there is air getting in there. This particular time it started when I changed out one of the hoses going to the loader (had a hole in it). But I would seem under pressure fluid would come in but air would not go in.

I have never run any hydraulic equipment other than the loader as configured when I got the tractor new. When the hose when bad I had to disconnect all 4 quick connects to get the one hose out of the canvas sleeve. First time they have ever been off (I have never removed the loader). I now imagine that there is slight seepage coming out of one or more of the connections, but certainly not responsible for the puddle.