Question regarding L4150 Hydro light on dash

[jms13]

Quick update to the light staying on. i let the tractor run for about 30min. the light finally went OFF.
ran around the yard did a little brush removing, just small stuff. Everything was good. Parked it for the night.
Started again the next afternoon ran for about 5mins warming up light came on then went off, then came back on and stayed ON.. Took it for a short drive thinking it just needed warmed up but it never went off again.
Parked it till the next afternoon, started it, light is now on and staying on again.
Looked for the switch that controls the light, checked connection seemed okay, but need to trace the whole wire
just to make sure it is good. While crawling around checking stuff, discovered that the power steering fluid was really
low not even close to the dipstick. Could this be why the light is staying on? Going to add fluid to the power steering and main hydraulic case and go from there. If this does not solve problem, I will change the filter.
After that I'm kind of at a loss.

 

[rbargeron]

Did you find both switches? A malfunctioning thermal switch could go open-circuit intermittently, causing an erratic light.

I'm still basically where I was in posts #6 and #8 above. If the loader goes up and down at normal speed it proves the pump is not in danger of being starved for oil. I think the light is indicating falsely.

There could be a broken or loose wire somewhere - the easy checker looks for an open circuit (its fail-safe like a burglar alarm). The WSM says if the circuit is ok replace the easy checker (ugh).

BTW the power steering system is completely isolated from the main hydraulic system and has no level switch.

 

[jms13]

Dick,
Thanks for the reply, the loader is a little rough going up at start up, after it warms up it's a little better.
Not as fast as I think it should be. When talking about changing filter, I'm thinking about checking into the
suction filter as well. I"m very close to draining it, and changing hydraulic filter and checking the suction filter.
Thanks for power steering info. Beginning to think the dealer didn't finish the fluid service once it was sold.
Sent you a PM in regards to WSM.
Thanks again.
Jeff

 

[rbargeron]

........the loader is a little rough going up at start up, after it warms up it's a little better. Not as fast as I think it should be...... When talking about changing filter, I'm thinking about checking into the suction filter as well. I"m very close to draining it, and changing hydraulic filter and checking the suction filter........Beginning to think the dealer didn't finish the fluid service once it was sold.

OK back to basics - we've been going on the assumption that the hydraulic filter had been newly replaced by the dealer. In post #9 you said the loader operated ok - but if it's actually slow or notchy it's not getting full oil flow. There is only one hydraulic filter on the L4150 - its on the right side near the suction line. Get a new Kubota brand filter and install it. If you have the new one in hand as the old one comes off you don't need to drain all the oil - work quickly and you may only spill a quart or two into the drain pan. Check the cleanliness of the oil that comes out - if it's milky or discolored it should all be drained out and replaced.

 

[jms13]

Dick,
Thanks this clears up, what I was wondering about. One filter. I have a new filter. It's going to be changed this weekend. Crossing my fingers. I will probably add fluid, seeing it's just above the bottom line. Did you get my PM?
Thanks again.

 

[TomSeller]

Sure hope you figure this out, this is a great series of tractors. Sounds like you are getting dose.

 

[nightowl490]

Sure hope you figure this out, this is a great series of tractors. Sounds like you are getting dose.

L4150 Owner here, R Barg is onto something here. Do the filter, if you see black chunky pieces in the oil, the rear brake is coming apart. Don't ask me how I know. Also, your hydro fluid level should be sitting 1/8 of an inch ABOVE the full mark on the dipstick. EVEN with idiot light on, if your tractor is moving and FEL working, you are not hurting anything. Get on this unit and run it, run it out, get it hot as in full operating temps. Run it to full throttle while operating. I think this will fix your irritation.

Good luck.

 

[jms13]

L4150 Owner here, R Barg is onto something here. Do the filter, if you see black chunky pieces in the oil, the rear brake is coming apart. Don't ask me how I know. Also, your hydro fluid level should be sitting 1/8 of an inch ABOVE the full mark on the dipstick. EVEN with idiot light on, if your tractor is moving and FEL working, you are not hurting anything. Get on this unit and run it, run it out, get it hot as in full operating temps. Run it to full throttle while operating. I think this will fix your irritation.

Good luck.

Nightowl,
Thanks for the info, R Barg, has been great sharing his knowledge, hoping to get this resolved this weekend, calling for lots of rain, change filter add fluid, are at the top of my list. Let my cousin run it last weekend he ran it hard, has alot more experience than I do. lol. Really liked the way it operated. Now if I can just get this stupid light to go off. I'll be happy.

 

[jms13]

:cool2:great news. My dad, suggested that we add more fluid, just as nightowl and r barg suggested, before we
changed the filter. Added about a half gallon, fluid is just above the top full line. Ran her hard down the road, about as fast as she would go, bingo, the light went out.:cool2:
drove her around pushed out some underbrush, work the loader, nice and smooth. Rain set in, parked her for the rest of the afternoon. Fired her back up three times over the next two days, and NO light. :cool2:
Lesson learned, fluid level needs to be at LEAST on the high end for the light not to come on.

Would like to thank RBarg and Nightowl for all of their suggestions and input.

Jeff

 

[rbargeron]

Great! Glad you prevailed.

I still think that of all the Kubota's I've owned L4150 and L5450 (L3's) are the best overall. You kept looking until you found a "young" one (getting harder to find every year) - it should serve as your reliable land assistant for a long time. And yes, I did get your pm's - Take care, Dick B

 

[TomSeller]

Great news! I run my L5450 on the low side between the marks, I may need to add some fluid based in this. Never had a light come on (knock on wood).

 

[jms13]

Well went to use my tractor last weekend, let it warm up moved loader and 3pt, I have a lever on the left side
that works my remotes, which has a switch that allows you to switch between, left and right remotes.
Light came back on....Fluid look low so added a little, light still on, drove it pretty hard, it's 3 miles to the farm.
Work her pretty good brush hogging for around 3 hrs. Light still on. Checked fluid next morning, it was spot on.
Light still on, worked tractor for about 2 hrs, drove back to town. Light still on. Will be changing filter next I go to the farm.

 

[rbargeron]

So the victory dance was premature? When the light was out was it a warmer day? When the light comes on is loader operation still rough and slow like you described in post #23? If so filter change is overdue.

 

[jms13]

Weather was alot warmer, loader operation is nice and smooth after warm up, so is 3pt. Everything seems to be working as it should. I went ahead and changed filter, it looked fine. Lost about a gallon of fluid. Didn't have enough to fill it back up and test. Beginning to think one of the switchs is not quite right.

 

[jms13]

update. with the filter changed and fluid added, light is still on, fluid level is about midway on the dip stick. ran her for about 4hrs. Light still on.
Added just enough to raise the level to 3/4 on dip stick. Light went out, for about 20mins. then came back on and stayed on. Ran it for about 3hrs.
No change with the light, will add a little more fluid this weekend but don't want to over fill it. This light is driving me nuits, . I'm a little OCD, I know it has plenty of fluid as to not harm anything, going to fill to the full mark and if that doesn't fix it may start looking at the switches. Ideas?

 

[rbargeron]

Same ideas I've had from the start - if the loader works without being jerky there's plenty of hydraulic flow and there's no risk of damage. If the loader stops working the cause needs to be found before the pump hurts itself from running dry. Use the loader as your indicator - and throw away the light. Take care, Dick B

 

[jms13]

Dick B.:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Thanks. loving the L4150, getting used to how she operates has been a learning experience.
Getting better at not using the clutch and only using the shuttle. Really cool how it works.
Mowed about 10 acres with her didn't miss a beat.

 

[TomSeller]

I was clearing brush with my L5450 last weekend and thought about your thread. Are you talking about the light on the left side? I have never seen mine on.

Yes, they are good tractors. Very solid. If I recall correctly on the schematics of the clutch PAC, the foot clutch does the same thing as putting the shutting hand lever in neutral. Except that it is ahead in the circuit, but also operates the wet clutch PAC. No dry clutch. I could be wrong.

 

[rbargeron]

Right Tom, the Ever Clutch in our L5450s is really two wet clutch packs, one for forward, one for reverse. The clutch pedal operates a fancy valve. The PTO clutch is a regular dry disk with linkage & handle. Dick B

 

[jms13]

I was clearing brush with my L5450 last weekend and thought about your thread. Are you talking about the light on the left side? I have never seen mine on.

Yes, they are good tractors. Very solid. If I recall correctly on the schematics of the clutch PAC, the foot clutch does the same thing as putting the shutting hand lever in neutral. Except that it is ahead in the circuit, but also operates the wet clutch PAC. No dry clutch. I could be wrong.

Yes the one on the left side of dash. Just going to keep an eye on the fluid. Fluid levels are good, so there should be no problems. I'm kind of OCD, so things like this drive me NUTS. Just have to tell myself everything is good, check fluid, just about every time I start it whether it's been 6hrs or 2 weeks.