Drain Holes for Loader Valve

[jimainiac]

I learned a new trick today, just in the nick of time. I accompanied a friend to pick up his tractor from the Kubota dealer. The tractor had gotten moisture in the hydraulic system and was freezing up. They explained that besides flushing and refilling the hydraulic system, they also had drilled 2, 1/8" holes in the bottom of the loader valve to let condensation drain out. They used a heat gun after drilling the holes, to melt the ice inside it. I need to do the same thing, because coincidently my loader valve just started getting balky when trying to dump the bucket. It makes me wonder why the valves don't come with drain holes in them. Apparantly there's no way for the condensation to escape.
The mechanic said they've done this modification on a lot of machines. Has anyone heard of this operation?

 

[MadReferee]

That little trick has been posted here several dozen times. I am surprised the dealers and Kubota don't do that more often as it will eliminate warranty service calls.

 

[jimainiac]

That little trick has been posted here several dozen times. I am surprised the dealers and Kubota don't do that more often as it will eliminate warranty service calls.

You are so right, they ought to come with drain holes in them, or at least the dealer ought to do it as part of the dealer prep. I am going to attempt it, hope I drill in the right place. (Drum roll, please).

 

[psdx]

Could someone that has had this done please post a picture? ...best way to be sure before drilling - thanks!

 

[jimainiac]

Don't know whether you've drilled the drain holes, yet. I have a couple pictures of my friend's B7500 that I used to see where to drill holes in my loader valve, even though it's a little different on the L3830. I was being blocked from posting the pictures, but I figured out how to get around it, I think. Here goes...

 

[jimainiac]

Oops, going to try again. I think I got it. The one picture shows a small screwdriver blade sticking in the hole.

 

[DAP]

Oops, going to try again. I think I got it. The one picture shows a small screwdriver blade sticking in the hole.

Jim , was this up at Union Farm ????

 

[JoeL4330]

Check out other active thread on this forum: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...128-b7510-float-position-fel.html#post1079697 ...see BigDad response: unscrew cap, use WD-40 (to displace water) and then use appropriate grease and replace cap ...drilling a hole can work, but opens it up to the atmosphere, perhaps unecessarily, which permits the condensation

 

[jimainiac]

Jim , was this up at Union Farm ????

Our local Kubota dealer is Wescott and Sons, in Gorham, Maine. We've found them to be very reputable, with fair prices.

 

[jimainiac]

I actually took the end caps off to drill the holes in them. They told me you didn't have to, but I was leery to drill without knowing what was inside, and where. While I had the caps off, I wiped them dry with a rag, there was quite a bit of water in them. When you take the end cap off, some pieces can fall out. You can hold them in place, or remove them and reinstall them when putting the cap back on. I learned this the hard way. The first one fell apart when I wasn't looking, had to ask the Service Department what order they went back in.
With the drain holes in place, you can take a spray can of WD-40, stick the nozzle in the hole and give it a shot every once in a while to displace any moisture.
I suppose that if you were worried about the holes being open to the elements, you could get some tiny rubber plugs for the holes that could be removed to drain occasionally.