CK35 HST FEL hydraulic leak

[CenTex Chris]

Howdy from Texas,

I had planned on accomplishing a lot of labor this Labor Day weekend. Alas, my fun-with-tractor plans that I describe to my wife as "work," appear to be shot. Now I'll have to find some other chores to do... or maybe there will be no labor at all around here. Hmm.

This is a 2010 CK35 HST with 328 hours and a KL130 FEL. Doing a lot of work with the forks today, moving pallets of bricks and other stuff so I can mow that patch of ground. Got quite a surprise when I looked down at my right foot and saw a stream hydraulic fluid pouring down from one of the four hoses on the FEL connector block (the one with the white plug, if that makes a difference). Shot some video of it, grabbed a frame that shows it fairly well and attached it below to show here. Previously I had noticed that the deck under this area had been a little damp from what must have been a slow leak. But it's a tractor... they all leak, right? Even under 500 hours?

I was motivated to get this yard project done this weekend and it involved quite a bit of fork lifting. Now it'll be Tuesday before I can haul this thing up to the dealer, since tomorrow is a holiday. It's 28 hours past an oil change anyway so I might as well have my dealer's service dept. take care of this. Can't exactly put a band-aid on it until then, but if anybody has any tips for an interim solution in the meantime, I'm definitely interested. Thanks in advance,

CH

 

[DK35vince]

Hard to tell from the photo.
Is it leaking at the fitting? Is the fitting tight?

 

[CenTex Chris]

I just reviewed my own video, and I can't even tell exactly where it's coming from. It appears to be leaking at the lower fitting but now I'll have to go out and check, and also see if the fitting is tight. What I'm afraid of is that it might not have enough fluid left to leak anymore. I've kept my owners manuals in the filing cabinet, up to the point where I pulled 'em out and didn't put them back. So, stupid question time: how do I check the hydro fluid level? Geez, embarrassing. Thanks,

CH

 

[DK35vince]

I not sure about checking the hydraulic oil on the CK models. But there should be a dipstick on the back of the transmission near the 3 point hitch area.

 

[VictorW]

As far as the lines always being wet because it's a tractor, mine are dry after @800 hours. It seems like you had a loose connection or they need to be adjusted so as not to be pressing on another part of the tractor frame which may have caused one to finally fail. Your hydro oil dip stick should be just above and to the left of the pto shield with a yellow top to grab on to.

 

[CenTex Chris]

Thanks, fellows -- I checked the level and it's low but not dry. I finished up some light work with the forks (moving cut brush to the burn pile, nothing heavy). Noticed the stream seemed to be coming from the upper fitting at the FEL block, not lower like I previously thought. All four are wet, but I can see the fluid pushing out the rear left connector (as seen from the driver's seat). Shot a video of it, will post if I can get it uploaded. Off to the dealer tomorrow anyway. As long as I can still raise the loader to get up onto the trailer, that is.

 

[rider7767]

Hello Cen Tex Chris,
I hate you are having problems. At my 100 and 200 hour services I went up and down each hydraulic line checking for tightness. Each time I was surprised to find one or two had loosened. I also removed my loader a re tightened all mounting bolts. Same thing, a few had loosened. My tractor has stayed tight to this point. Good luck with your fix.

 

[CenTex Chris]

Much appreciated, Tony. Got the tractor up on the flat bed today and took it up to the Kioti dealer in San Marcos where I bought it. Haven't yet mentioned another recent issue where the CK35 will crank but not start about 50% of the time. I got lucky today and had this happen at the dealer when we were trying to unload the tractor. Their mechanic came out and diagnosed it as a sticking stop switch, which seems to be a frequent problem here on the forum. So there's that, and replacing the O-rings on the FEL block (the source of my hydro leak, apparently) and a lube, oil and filter change. Yowza, guess I'll have to empty out my loose change jar for this one. Could be a whole lot worse, I guess, so I ain't complaining.

 

[ksbrdmkr]

Just had the FEL leak happen today on my DK 45. Popped the lower Q disconnect by mowing some 8 ft sunflowers. When I fill up with fuel I noticed the hyd leak with the coupleing reset. Dug into my oil ring box and replaced the missing o ring and good to go.