RichNJKubota
Gold Member
I started the Kubota and went to lift the FEL. The hydraulic pump for the FEL was making lots of noise. Any movement of the power steering also made noise. Like the pump was not getting enough hydraulic fluid. The HST moved the tractor just fine.
The night before was down to single digits. It was about 40F in the barn now.
I suspected ice blocking the oil somewhere. Had changed the hydraulic oil (10gal) a couple months before this and the tractor generally is in the barn when not in use. But I have noticed condensation on large metal stuff in the barn frequently.
Taking a look at the parts book I see that the hydraulic pump is really made up of 2 pumps. One for the steering and one for the FEL and 3pt. So if both pumps are making noise it must be something common to both - the oil inlet.
I reached under the tractor and felt around with my hand for temperatures. It all felt OK until I touched the hydraulic oil filter. It was super cold. So cold that if I kept my hand on it for more than a few seconds it hurt.
Thinking this could be where the water/ice is, I replaced the filter. That solved the problem.
I wanted to cut the filter open and see what was inside but out of habit I flipped the filter upside down into the waste oil drain bucket and did not cut it open until the next day. By then the evidence was gone. The filter element looked clean with no sign of water.
The night before was down to single digits. It was about 40F in the barn now.
I suspected ice blocking the oil somewhere. Had changed the hydraulic oil (10gal) a couple months before this and the tractor generally is in the barn when not in use. But I have noticed condensation on large metal stuff in the barn frequently.
Taking a look at the parts book I see that the hydraulic pump is really made up of 2 pumps. One for the steering and one for the FEL and 3pt. So if both pumps are making noise it must be something common to both - the oil inlet.
I reached under the tractor and felt around with my hand for temperatures. It all felt OK until I touched the hydraulic oil filter. It was super cold. So cold that if I kept my hand on it for more than a few seconds it hurt.
Thinking this could be where the water/ice is, I replaced the filter. That solved the problem.
I wanted to cut the filter open and see what was inside but out of habit I flipped the filter upside down into the waste oil drain bucket and did not cut it open until the next day. By then the evidence was gone. The filter element looked clean with no sign of water.
