My f3990 just dumbed all its hydraulic fluid on my driveway - ... ?

[GrnMtnMan]

I picked up a f3990 yesterday at auction; mowed on a steep grade sideways for about 3-4 minutes & noticed the PTO lost some umph. Drove it down to my driveway & while I was looking under it, it just started gushing from underneith. Haven't fully investigated yet - will have to get the larger tractors involved to lift it up in the air to check it out. Any initial anecdotal experiences out there on this issue? I've never owned a Kubota or any mower like this... This seems to be where it was gushing out. Any ideas - anyone?

 

[Hay Dude]

Looks like a bearing seal took a dump.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Looks like a bearing seal took a dump.

Thank's, I'll look bearing seals up as a starting point / when I talk to my nearest Kubota dealer. If it was your rig & you wanted to DIY it - how might you proceed?

 

[Hay Dude]

I might remove the housing the driveshaft is attached to, but thats just a WAG based on the one picture. Is it the driveshaft that constantly spins when its on (pump driveshaft)?

 

[GrnMtnMan]

I might remove the housing the driveshaft is attached to, but thats just a WAG based on the one picture. Is it the driveshaft that constantly spins when its on (pump driveshaft)?

When I turn it on it just starts dumping hyd-fluid from that same spot pictured. I can't drive it as the hydrostat trans --> driveshaft (I'm presuming here) has no power... (no spinning shaft at this point) BTW it only has 452 hours on it. But then again w/ equipment, it's just a matter of time. Wish I could have gotten more than a few minutes to get acquainted with it though.

Tis a learning process & with all the equipment that I have one would think that I'd be more well versed, I thank you all for these 'crash courses' in diesel tech / nuts & bolts - trying to learn as fast as I possibly can...

 

[oldnslo]

If gushing oil as soon as it starts sounds like a line that is under pressure probably in charge pump circuit . Agree on having to get under it safely to look at lines, fittings, seals, etc. At 450 hrs could be a hose rubbing on something finally gave way.

 

[jonsstihl]

plus one on a hose. If it was a seal I would expect it to leak even when stopped.

 

[cold1313]

I believe the dipstick is on the floorboard, between your legs - under that flip up hatch.

HST filter is behind the seat - make sure that's tight.

 

[Hay Dude]

When I turn it on it just starts dumping hyd-fluid from that same spot pictured. I can't drive it as the hydrostat trans --> driveshaft (I'm presuming here) has no power... (no spinning shaft at this point) BTW it only has 452 hours on it. But then again w/ equipment, it's just a matter of time. Wish I could have gotten more than a few minutes to get acquainted with it though.

Tis a learning process & with all the equipment that I have one would think that I'd be more well versed, I thank you all for these 'crash courses' in diesel tech / nuts & bolts - trying to learn as fast as I possibly can...

Wash the underside so no oil is left. Turn back on briefly, when oil is cold to find origin of leak. If oil is cold, it wont gush like hot oil.

 

[arto98607]

Wash the underside so no oil is left. Turn back on briefly, when oil is cold to find origin of leak. If oil is cold, it wont gush like hot oil.

I second the above.

The first step by the OP should be to clean up the oily mess well and find out where exactly it's leaking from!
The seat and the fender may have to be removed in order to find the leak.

I think his first photo is showing the 4-wheel drive (rear) drive shaft).




Here is a link to a short story of oil leak due to cracked transmission housing in my F3060
Not saying at all that OP would have the same issue, just trying emphasize how important it is to thoroughly clean it up first so that the leak(s) can be located.

Kubota F3060 HST / 2-Speed Range Selector Housing Oil Leak



The fender removal is not really a big deal - this is what mine looked like under the fender during reassembly:

 

[arto98607]

When I turn it on it just starts dumping hyd-fluid from that same spot pictured. I can't drive it as the hydrostat trans --> driveshaft (I'm presuming here) has no power... (no spinning shaft at this point) BTW it only has 452 hours on it. But then again w/ equipment, it's just a matter of time. Wish I could have gotten more than a few minutes to get acquainted with it though.

Tis a learning process & with all the equipment that I have one would think that I'd be more well versed, I thank you all for these 'crash courses' in diesel tech / nuts & bolts - trying to learn as fast as I possibly can...

Your first photo shows about the lowest point just behind the HST unit and there are many potential leak points above it, for example leak from: loose HST oil filter, leaky HST oil cooling lines connection O-rings and few other oil line connections would likely end up running down to the ground from right there.

Any updates?



This photo shows basically just the bare HST / 2 - speed range selector unit / differential, without the above lines & side frames and main frames in place yet.

 

[LouNY]

Does your seat have a latch that will let it hinge up so you can get to the top of the unit were the filter is?
I wouldn't expect a seal to drop that much oil, I'll agree with more likely a line or hose or the filter.

 

[arto98607]

F3060 has no such seat latch, but the seat can be removed by opening four bolts - however filter can be accessed without seat removal.

 

[LouNY]

My old F2000 has a simple latch and the seat will flip up forward to access the fill and filter.

 

[arto98607]

Does your seat have a latch that will let it hinge up so you can get to the top of the unit were the filter is?
I wouldn't expect a seal to drop that much oil, I'll agree with more likely a line or hose or the filter.

There are many O-ring seals and there is enough (low) pressure hydraulic pump oomph that it can pump out lot of fluid, if for example the hydraulic oil filter was loose.

I have seen few photos of F2000, but other than that I am not too familiar with it.

Since you asked, here are couple of photos showing F3060 access to HST oil filter and oil fill opening.

There is another large debris screen in front of the HST cooler / radiator which I removed before taking this photo!

 

[LouNY]

So nothing from the OP as too what was going on.

 

[Hay Dude]

I like the F3990’s, except for the DPF…
Like my F3680 with no DPF better

 

[LouNY]

My F2000 still does a good job, and it's an 86 or 87 model so 26 years old.

 

[roncut]

Did the Kubota F3990 problem with the hydraulic leak out there front left axle seal ever gets solved. I have the same issue and was wondering if there was any tips out there

 

[arto98607]

He has not posted anywhere in TBN during the last two years so we learned nothing from his issue so far.