Delivery is Bitter Sweet

[Chris 3055]

- OK, I took delivery of my 4035 yesterday. You couldn't chip the smile off of my face. Got to be on it for about an hour. Showed it off to a friend that stopped by and put the tractor away. -all good, dreams of the grapple delivery in a few weeks filled my head!

Skip to this morning. Did quick saturday chores, and my fastest dump run to date. Got my rear into the seat of my tractor. I worked on the ROPS, as the takedown pin on the right side wouldn't go all the way in. No problem, have rat tail file will repair. She slides in and out without fail. So, I am feeling pretty good about myself and decide to lift the hood and take a peek. Try an familiarize myself with this beautiful machine.

Its all going well until I look down and see a small puddle. I do what every other man would do... Stick you finger into the puddle and try to identify the smell. Well, I have to say I was stumped. I have never smelled hydraulic fluid before and thought that my have been it. But the leak was on the left hand side of the tractor, away from the hydraulic block and the new third function kit. (that also had a small leak, but I found a loose fitting and tightened it).

I got underneath the tractor and couldn't see where the leak was coming from. I tightened a small threaded plug that looked like it may have been the problem and went to work. Got another 1.5 hours with no problems or failures. No weird noises or grinding of any kind. When I came back up to the house to check it was almost running onto the ground. Same spot. I got back under the tractor and noticed that the side of the fuel tank is also covered, but it is not Diesel.

So, after all of that I got to wondering where it could be coming from. Is there any hydraulic fittings in the dash by the PST? It is shifting from forward to reverse without any delay or problem.

Needless to say the dealer is getting a call on Monday morning. I am going to have to watch my brand new tractor get hauled away to be fixed. I have also decided to take a better look at it tomorrow after all of the festivities (and all the FOOD!). So, anyone have a good idea here to start looking for leaks on the left hand side ot the tractor that would be above the fuel tank?

Sorry no pics yet, but most of my time this afternoon was spent underneath my machine. When its 100% pics will come.

Thanks for all the help in advance,

Chris

 

[flusher]

There's only 3 fluids in that tractor--coolant, engine oil and hydraulic tractor fluid for the power steering, tranny and hydraulics. I assume you've eliminated coolant and engine oil. So it's gotta be hydraulic oil. If the leak is under the hood, I suspect the power steering (cylinder, hoses, fittings) or the hoses/fittings to the hydraulic pump (which I assume is on the right side of the engine near the front (like it is on my 2008 Mahindra 5525). That's all I got.

Good luck.

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

Sorry to hear about your leak and on a new tractor.....UGH. Good LUCK.:thumbsup:

 

[Chris 3055]

Today I took off the rubber floor mat to open up the access panel thats underneath. Not much to see there. Got a different angle of the fuel tank and the fluid running down it. Its still a fast drip. I wipe everything clean and it re appears in about 5 minutes. Looks like the only way to see everything under there is going to be by pulling the fuel tank.

I am calling the dealer on Monday. That's a job for them. Haven't even made one payment yet!! Looks like I am stuck at 2 hours of seat time for now . :mur:

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

I know what you mean about little seat time and then a hic-up. I think I had my problem with in the first 5 to 10 hours I do not rmemeber for sure. I blew an o-ring on my rear remotes had hydraulic fluid all over the brand new tractor I was up set. But I called the dealer and they came and got it fixed it and had it back to me that afternoon. Yes they did wash it and I have had no problems with it since, fingers crossed.:laughing:

 

[Mike476]

Don't get too discouraged, not unusual to have to work some quirks out and always a good idea to check a machine over for leaks, loose bolts / belts, especially when new.

Looking forward to your pics once you get the leak stopped.

 

[Chris 3055]

Thanks for the support guys. Dealer is sending a tech to the house today to troubleshoot the problem. If he can't deal with it right here then its off to the shop. I will keep you posted.

 

[Chris 3055]

Its at the shop. It's leaking diesel. Apparently I need to taste the fluid next time, not just smell it..... :laughing:

They are hopefully going to have the tractor back to me by the weekend so I can get back in the seat. Going to tighten up some other fittings that looked loose, fill the coolant reservoir, and fix the adjustment bolts for the ROPS. The adjustment bolts won't go past a certain point and are beginning to flatten the threads out.

 

[9973720wb19]

when i got my first tractor - within the first few days, I took off the FEL to mow, then went to put it back on, I followed all of the manual instructions to the T and i could not get the FEL to go back on - after hours and hours I called the dealer " do you have the hydro hoses on right?" "yes, but it will not work, I can't get the loader back on" i was sure i was doing something wrong but what!? Next day, the dealer sent someone out and (after a few tries) he determined the main cable under the dash had come off...well just so it was not me.

 

[nickel plate]

Its at the shop. It's leaking diesel. Apparently I need to taste the fluid next time, not just smell it..... :laughing:

They are hopefully going to have the tractor back to me by the weekend so I can get back in the seat. Going to tighten up some other fittings that looked loose, fill the coolant reservoir, and fix the adjustment bolts for the ROPS. The adjustment bolts won't go past a certain point and are beginning to flatten the threads out.

Chris,
Good to hear the leaking fluid has been isolated to diesel. Not knowing what your floor looks like so I suggest when the tractor comes home, lay down layers of newspaper all under the tractor to detect (hopefully not) any further leaks. Good luck with your new rig.

 

[Chris 3055]

Thanks Nickel. The floor is just sand in the pole barn. A few turns with a shovel and a rake and bye bye spot. So in order to tell if I still have a leak I use cardboard, or I will go get a small tarp to park the tractor over.

Tallked with the dealer today, she should be coming home first thing tomorrow. They said its fixed.... Warranty is a beautiful thing. I hope this was my "bump in the road" and I can just get on with building up hours! I will let you all know.

 

[Chris 3055]

She is up and running. No leaks and upto 12 hours on the hour meter already!!!! Thanks for the support guys. I am going to try and post a pic now.

 

[Blamo]

Leaking diesel huh...I didn't have that problem with mine. Partly because it was delivered empty

 

[LAWALLSTRACTOR]

Leaking diesel huh...I didn't have that problem with mine. Partly because it was delivered empty

Hmmm! You obviously didn't buy from the right upstate dealer. (Just kidding)

 

[grsthegreat]

Little issues can happen to any new equipment.. heck my brother purchased a brand new F250 and it broke down LEAVING the dealership driveway (turned out the drive belt snapped...who would have thought a 0 hour rig could do that.

that was several years ago and no further issues.

hopefully yours was just a defective hose or fitting.

 

[Blamo]

I think I jinxed myself by making that joke about the tractor getting delivered on empty...it looks like I have diesel leaking in the same spot you described. What did they say was the cause of the problem? Was it an easy fix or did they have to tear it down? I'd hate to have to send it back to the dealer and if it's a quick fix...I'll take care of it myself.

 

[Chris 3055]

I am not sure of what the cause was. I am going back Saturday to settle up. (Monday to Friday work weeks stink :thumbdown

I am fairly certain they had to at least remove the step on the left side of the tractor. It still feels loose when I step on it, note to self.... get wrench on that.

They may have had to pull the fuel tank also. As soon as I know I will let all of you guys know.

So far its been bulletproof since returning. The real test will come when the grapple arrives!!!!

 

[Blamo]

I got to really look at it and I don't think it's that bad. Slow leak coming down one of the braided hoses from the fuel injection pump.

 

[Chris 3055]

My leak was similar. Down a braided hose line and above the fuel tank. It would run down the side of the tank, over the frame and onto the ground. Just enough to be annoying, especially on a brand new tractor.

I will still ask when I see the dealer on saturday.

 

[RockyNY]

Our 4035 just started leaking at 31 hours. The leak is originating about halfway down the braided hose (it's actually braided metal sheathing) from the fuel pump.