3-Point Hitch Fluid shooting from under seat

Rockint · Oct 13, 2014

Hello, I have 3316.

The other I was pulling my box blade. I stopped and lifted the lever to lift the blade and heard a loud hissing noise and noticed fluid spraying from under the seat on the left side. Once I lower the lever it stops. It shoots out in a high pressure stream. Best I can tell it's coming out somewhere near the point the high/low lever connects but it is very difficult to look under the seat.

Does anyone have any ideas what could be causing this?

deerseeker001 · Oct 13, 2014

Welcome from Wisconsin

Rockint · Oct 13, 2014

Thanks. Hope my post is within forum norm. I tried searching with no luck.

amaxwell · Oct 13, 2014

I'm not sure what is under the seat of your model ,but it sounds like either a hose leak or a steel line leak or just a joint leaking. In case you don't know high pressure fluid will penetrate skin and cause medical problems ,so don't feel for the leak. Hopefully you are handy with a wrench and can remove the seat and shrouding and see what is leaking.

texasjohn · Oct 13, 2014

Yes, BEWARE, putting a body part into a high pressure spray of hydraulic fluid is TRULY damaging...like, into the hospital damaging.
The recommendation is to get a piece of paper or card and slip it into the stream to follow it back and see where it originates.

Welcome to TBN...and, yes, this is an appropriate topic...hope you find it. If not handy with a wrench, suggest you let a mechanic look into it. If there are hoses in that area, then it is likely there is a hole in a hose.

Rockint · Oct 13, 2014

I started removing the seat and surrounding assembly. However, it appears there's more to it than just a few bolts. It's impossible to see where the exact point of the leak is at without it off. And it's shooting out like a pressure washer. So obviously I can't look when the lever is pulled. Was just hoping to find someone who's encountered this before rather than haul it off to the dealer. They are 90 miles away and the last two visits lasted over two months apiece.

OldGinTractors · Oct 13, 2014

Most of the leaks under the seat of the 16 series tractors are simply the banjo bolt where the high pressure line bolts to the housing backs off. Its a little hard to get to but normally a turn with a 7/8 wrench fixes the problem.

Rockint · Oct 14, 2014

OldGinTractors said:
Most of the leaks under the seat of the 16 series tractors are simply the banjo bolt where the high pressure line bolts to the housing backs off. Its a little hard to get to but normally a turn with a 7/8 wrench fixes the problem.

Thank you. This was the kind of reply I had hoped for. I didn't want to tear it down just to find out there were no user serviceable parts.

2funkids · Oct 16, 2014

The first thing I noticed on my 3016 was that water was pushed out from around the seam of the seat when I sat on it. It was just water from the unit sitting out of the rain. It was not "in" the foam as that is sealed, but it was pushing out from somewhere. After reviewing the other posts, it doesn't sound like its the same thing you have though.

arrow · Oct 17, 2014

Rockint said:
Thank you. This was the kind of reply I had hoped for. I didn't want to tear it down just to find out there were no user serviceable parts.

I looked at my 3016 and yes, your problem is in a truly miserable spot on the tractor. It is not too bad a job however to expose the area if they built the 33 the same as the 30. There are 6 bolts that are holding the seat partition on the 3016 tractor. Once you get the partition off, you can clearly see where the leak is coming from and then at least be prepared to tighten the area properly or at least get at the area if it needs a part. Before I did this step however, I'd look to see if i could fit in a long wrench in side ways from the gap where the lever is. If you do not have anything to be able to do this, then i'd remove the partition for a good look see. At least it's not going to take you weeks to get your tractor back and in good working order.

Latakia · Oct 18, 2014

Sorry for the dumb question but what happens with contact with hydraulic fluid re: health. what happens? can someone explain more please.

Clint S · Oct 18, 2014

Called a high pressure injection injury. High pressure hydro fluid can enter the skin and cut like a knife. Ever see a water jet cut steel...........
After injection the fluid can be dispersed in the surrounding tissue causing tissue damage and a variety of other not good things.

Latakia · Oct 18, 2014

Huh! thanks.

texasjohn · Oct 18, 2014

Danger of hydraulic Oil Injection Injuries

See photos in above link...warning...NOT pretty.

arrow · Oct 19, 2014

Latakia said:
Huh! thanks.

Basically the stuff (hydraulic fluid) eats tissue. Even a pin prick of it can kill you if left untreated. Many years ago I worked with a guy using a large wood splitter more like a wood processor. He felt a "sting" as he put his hand near some wetness he observed on the processor. He thought nothing of it and put his glove back on. The leak seemed invisible. It was "invisible" because it was as thin as a human hair. That evening , his hand hurt so bad he went to a hospital emergency room . This was twelve hrs after the initial contact. A finger had to be amputated that night to save the rest of his hand and they thought they had to take the hand the next day. He didn't let them and eventually after a long while, the rest of his hand was ok. Necrosis comes on lightning fast with a hydraulic injection injury. This was literally a "pin prick" of an injury that went right through his glove. He first thought he got pricked by a metal shard inside his glove. Very nasty stuff.

Texan4Life · Oct 22, 2014

Latakia said:
Sorry for the dumb question but what happens with contact with hydraulic fluid re: health. what happens? can someone explain more please.

good question... you said come into contact with hyd. fluid.... not sure how ppl jumped to pressure injection.... Skin contact happens all the time with hydraulic fluids. Its not serious unless you have some sort of violent allergic reaction (rare). Most common is just some mild irritation (if anything at all) simply wash with soapy water/hand cleaner.

I have even gotten hydraulic fluid in open scratches/abrasions many times. I wash with hand cleaner like normal, no problems.

arrow · Oct 22, 2014

Texan4Life said:
good question... you said come into contact with hyd. fluid.... not sure how ppl jumped to pressure injection.... Skin contact happens all the time with hydraulic fluids. Its not serious unless you have some sort of violent allergic reaction (rare). Most common is just some mild irritation (if anything at all) simply wash with soapy water/hand cleaner.

I have even gotten hydraulic fluid in open scratches/abrasions many times. I wash with hand cleaner like normal, no problems.

The op complained of a hydraulic leak which can be slow or under pressure. Without anyone knowing, it was a prudent post that first mentioned injection injury just in case. My co-worker or myself had no clue as to the veracity of an injection hydraulic injury. It would have saved his amputation if we were aware of it..

seal oil · Oct 23, 2014

arrow said:
The op complained of a hydraulic leak which can be slow or under pressure. Without anyone knowing, it was a prudent post that first mentioned injection injury just in case. My co-worker or myself had no clue as to the veracity of an injection hydraulic injury. It would have saved his amputation if we were aware of it..

I had no clue also about what a hydraulic injury was . I have a 3316 but have yet to use the 3 point hitch so I don't know what to expect . Did he get it fixed or find out what was causing the leak ?