Looks like new Kubota didn't come with enough transmission oil

[ju2tin]

So I bought a new L3901 and have about 27 hours on it, when I checked the transmission/hydraulic oil and the dipstick came out bone-dry. Turns out there were only about 2 quarts of oil in there, I think there is supposed to be 7.5. Don't think there is a leak as my garage floor is clean.

My question is, do these tractors come from the factory full of oil, or do they come with only 2 or so quarts of transmission oil, and the dealer is supposed to "top them up"? And either way, shouldn't the dealer have checked that it was full of oil before selling it to me? I asked my dealer and he said that sometimes these tractors get "air pockets" in the oil system that take up space and make the oil look full when the tractor is new, but then the oil settles down to a lower level after moving around during use. REALLY? 5.5 quarts of air pockets? That sounds like a pile of BS. What's the truth?

Also, do you think I did any damage to the tractor by running it with so little oil? I didn't notice any problems except maybe a bit of a slight "juddering" sound on raising/lowering the FEL sometimes, but I don't know if that's just how it's supposed to sound.

Thanks.

UPDATE: I am a dumbass and thought there were supposed to be 7.5 quarts of transmission oil, when in fact there are supposed to be 7.5 GALLONS. So in fact, my tractor had about 5.75 gallons of oil in it when I checked, not just 2 quarts. My bad and sorry for the false alarm. :ashamed:

 

[RollingsFarms]

I've seen how the L series tractors come to the dealership. They come in a large metal crate without tires, steering wheel, and other items attached. Not sure if they come with any fluids or not but the dealer does have quite a bit of assembly to do.

 

[holeycow]

That is absolutely, 100%, completely and for surely your dealer's responsibility to send the tractor out with ALL fluids and critical bolts checked (wheels, loader pin keepers, drawbar pin keepers, 3pth pin keepers, etc).

That being said, I wouldn't run anything without checking (hopefully only re-checking) all that stuff first. Mine showed up with a loose drawbar keeper pin and a small hydraulic leak, both from dealer installations. I TOLD them to loctite the loader frame bolts and torque them, and I TOLD them to torque the wheel nuts. I was in the shop when the loctite and torque wrench were being used. That's usually all it takes to prevent bolts from coming loose; correct torque. I am sure they installed the loader and didn't double check the fluid level, as it was about 4 litres down, which is nothing on a 75 litre fill, but I like it full to the top line on the stick.

I unloaded the tractor, shut it down, parked it, and then checked all the easy fluid levels. The next day after only about 1/2 hour of playing, I checked everything I could find. Good practice.

Hydraulic fluid is very transparent and leaks on clean, new machinery are sometimes hard to see. Maybe you missed a leak?

I have no idea if anything could have been damaged. Hard to say.

 

[CreekyB]

I checked mine over thoroughly , everything was up to snuff, few hours of playing and it was down about 1.5 quarts. Air pockets can hide in the FEL and BH cylinders which mine had both. Since then the fluid level has not dropped much but at 10 hours I noticed some wet spots and now at 15 hours I definitely have 3 small leaks that are about a drop every 5 minutes of heavy operation. All in dealer installed areas. Nothing a few wrenches didn't take care of.

With as much as yours was down I would suspect either a pretty good leak or they did not completely fill initially.

 

[gwdixon]

Dealers are supposed to check and fill everything before delivery to the customer. Apparently, yours was not done correctly. Get it on written record with the dealer what you wrote here. If an issue comes up later, it may help to get it resolved in your favor.

Yes, low transmission oil will affect the 3PH function. It might affect the FEL with the "stuttering" that you experienced.

Be sure to check the front axle, also. It is notoriously low on fluid.

 

[Wagtail]

That is absolutely, 100%, completely and for surely your dealer's responsibility to send the tractor out with ALL fluids and critical bolts checked (wheels, loader pin keepers, drawbar pin keepers, 3pth pin keepers, etc).

Totally agree. 'Kubota' itself is not to blame, it's your tractor dealership's responsibility to deliver your tractor properly "wetted up" and torqued to specs.

It is your responsibility to ensure/check that this has been done upon delivery, which for a rookie is problematic as you don't know what to look for or check. If you've done your homework and chosen a good dealership, they will correct any mistake.

I started out new, with no prior tractor experience, and went with the dealership with the best reputation in my State. When my 4105 was delivered I read the Owners Manual front-to-back & then checked everything (level wise) that I could (yes, they'd even delivered it with a full tank of diesel). I then bought a torque wrench to check the wheels lugs & everything else that required it.

Everything was in spec.

Over the few years that I've been here on TBN there have been a number threads such as yours; although mostly about wheel lugs not being properly torqued... be that as it may... the rule for you is to verify everything because mistakes can be made, even by the best.

 

[mddorange]

When my tractor was delivered, the delivery guy went over all the fluid levels with me and pointed out what to check every time before each use. Three years later and it still runs like new.

 

[Midniteoyl]

Sounds to me like both you and your dealer dropped the ball.. You should always double check things when you get it home, or better yet before delivery if you can. Regardless, for you to go 27hrs without checking is not good..

And your dealer is full of it.

 

[Turbys_1700]

Dealer issue due to inadequate pre-delivery prep. Probably was low from Kubota, dealer installed FEL and lost more fluid, and it all added up to a really low level. Document and verify with dealer with dates and top it off. Run it and don't worry. Life's too short. The only other thing you can do is demand another tractor or perhaps get some kind of freebie like 50 hour service. It happens more than it should.

 

[k0ua]

You mention quarts. There should be about 7.3 gallons of hydraulic fluid in your tractor.. Mine which is just a bit larger has about 11 gallons of fluid.
I didn't want you to be surprised when you change out that fluid. If you are expecting quarts and get gallons, you are going to be in for a big surprise.