Cold, Filter, and One Big Mess

[sugarmaker]

We hit -16F last Friday night. By mid-afternoon Saturday we were back up to 13F and sunny, and it was time to do some tractorin'. So I started up the L3010 and walked up to the mailbox while it warmed up a bit. I returned about 3 minutes later to find a big puddle of fluid underneath and more oozing out near the hydraulic fluid filter.

I gave my dealer a call and the service manager, after asking a few questions, fingered the hydraulic oil filter that they had installed last year. He said they had problems with that filter design like this, and Kubota had a new design which handled cold temperatures better.

Dealer's service crew came out the next day, replaced filter, added 7 gallons of Super UDT back, and even cleaned up the spilled oil (quite a job on dirt, snow, and ice, at 5F and windy!). Tractor ran just fine this AM at -10F. Kudos to Essex Equipment's service department!

Also many thanks to JohnBud, Boondox, and the rest of the TBN Universal Mind who described the same problems in this forum. That made me feel good the dealer had fingered the right problem. I've referenced John's thread if anyone wants to read them.

 

[JATO_RaT]

Super, it's great to see that response as well as many other positive reports about Kubota and other manufactuers as well. Rat...

I'm here thinking its getting kind of cold outside at 44 degrees, I guess I don't know what cold is.

 

[frank_f15]

glad to see your dealer took care of u in a timely fashion. that kind of problem can ruin a perfectly good day.
Rat 44 deg for u is cold, we call it spring/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[jasonf]

I'll go you one better. I have a Suzuki Sidekick that was 12 Years old. This past Saturday it was -22 degrees here in Saratoga NY. I went out around 10 am (now -10) and started the car. It started right up as usual, and every thing was fine. I ran back into the house and let it warm up, like a 1000 times before. I came out about 20 Mins later and found that the oil light was on and the car was still running. I turned it off immediately, and check under the car to find an oil slick had formed. I opened the hood and looked at my FRAM oil filter and there was oil all over the transaxle which is just below the filter. I let it cool and the next day put oil into it. I went to start it and it cranked about 1/2 a rev and seized up tight. I could not believe my luck. I took the 2710 and towed the Suzuki onto dry pavement and popped the clutch while it was being pulled. Of course the wheel just skidded on the ground, and the engine never budged. So I am now down to 1 car. The fun just never seems to stop. Tonight it is going to be well below zero again /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif. I'd say that I am fully ready for spring....

 

[Boondox]

Major bummer, Jason! On the bright side, at least it wasn't a brand new car...

Pete

 

[Rick Jay]

Jason,

Sorry to hear of your problems. Did the oil filter loosen up, split, or what? Is it possible that the filter retained enough moisture from your last trip in the car so that overnight it froze and split the filter?

Just curious, I've never heard of a problem like this.

~Rick

 

[BobinCols]

Kubota's latest filter design and the use of Super UDT eliminates this cold weather failure of the filter as experienced by a couple of the forum members. These filters cost over $50 from Kubota and the "will fit" filter makers do not make it yet and maybe never will. His dealer most have had some old stock filters if it was replaced just a year ago.

 

[john_bud]

People actually READ the old posts? Wow! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Just a quick update: I have not had any repeated occurances of the filter blowing out on cold starts. The new filter design in conjunction with a modified <font color=blue>COLD </font color=blue>weather procedure have been perfect.

The new filter is obvious, the procedure is to engage the clutch hook and allow the engine/transmission to warm up with minimal fluid circulation for the first 5-10 minutes. Then 10-20 min of warmup with the clutch off the hook. All at ~1300 rpm. I also never leave the tractor alone until it is warmed up. Times vary with temperature.

Your results may vary...

John_Bud

 

[frank_f15]

i can only add OUCH!!!! feel for your predickerment/w3tcompact/icons/eyes.gif

 

[Hoeman00]

Or park in a HEATED garage.
This is a lot simpler for me.