Help! No steering, loud FEL hydraulics, and no forward/reverse

dan3130 · Mar 11, 2023

Hi there, novice tractor owners of a Kubota L3130 here.

When we pulled our tractor out today, the front end loader hydraulics were loud when moving the bucket up/down. After pausing for a moment to look at it and deciding to pull it back inside to look at it further, the power steering went out. Next, the transmission would not move into forward or reverse. There are no obvious leaks of hydraulic/transmission fluid. The levels are slightly low (just below the lower line on dipstick). We did find a mouse nest in the engine, so maybe they chewed through something?

What should our next steps be to figure this out? Thank you in advance!

MTGreen · Mar 11, 2023

Noise might be air getting in the pump. The next simple steps would be topping it up with fluid and inspecting the fluid path from the pickup to the charge pump. Often that path involves external tubes that contain rubber pieces/connectors/elbows that are prone to crack and suck air:
With hst: Kubota L3130DT/GST/HST (Dual Traction, 4wd / Glide Shift Transmission /Hydrostatic Transmission) Parts
Without hst:

Kubota L3130DT/GST/HST (Dual Traction, 4wd / Glide Shift Transmission /Hydrostatic Transmission) Parts

www.messicks.com

RustyA · Mar 11, 2023

Be sure loader and three point are lowered before checking fluid level. Hours on tractor since last fluid or filter change on hydraulics? You didn't note your location so don't know if your outside temps are low there which in combination with low/dirty fluid might be your problem? Is the tractor hydrostat or gear drive? Won't go into forward or reverse could be clutch problem if gear drive? Fluid problem if hydrostat?