Loader Hydraulic cylinder fitting anomalies

[FloridaGent]

My BX23 is over ten years old, garage kept, and only has 635 hours running time. I have experienced a few leaks at the o-rings sealing the plugs on the hydraulic cylinder feed lines. Kubota only offered the o-rings along with the plugs for $35-40 each(!) and now no longer supplies them for the serial number loader I have. A quick count reveals at least 18 of these plugs/seals on my tractor, loader and backhoe. How can Kubota stop providing these?

I bought a different plug and o-ring offered for $7 for a subsequent class of serial numbers and as it turns out looks just like the old version and seems to fit the fitting! Neither Messick or my local shop offered this option.

But, the latest leak is more than simply replacing the o-ring. It appears to be a manufacturing defect in the fitting that has eroded some of the flat that the o-ring seals against. After I replaced the o-ring oil immediately spewed out of the area. Have any of you experienced a similar occurrence? If I figure out how to add a picture on the forum I will show you what it looks like.

Alternatively, I worry that the shop that last worked on the tractor intentionally made this defect to induce an expensive repair call... the fitting is welded to the cylinder so buying and installing a replacement cylinder would likely be their recommended solution. I hope this is not the case.

 

[diesel85]

That's weird... on my BX2200 none of the fittings have o-rings, nor do I see anything listed for o-rings in the IPM.

Can you post a picture?

 

[Tractor Seabee]

My BX23 is over ten years old, garage kept, and only has 635 hours running time. I have experienced a few leaks at the o-rings sealing the plugs on the hydraulic cylinder feed lines. Kubota only offered the o-rings along with the plugs for $35-40 each(!) and now no longer supplies them for the serial number loader I have. A quick count reveals at least 18 of these plugs/seals on my tractor, loader and backhoe. How can Kubota stop providing these?

I bought a different plug and o-ring offered for $7 for a subsequent class of serial numbers and as it turns out looks just like the old version and seems to fit the fitting! Neither Messick or my local shop offered this option.

But, the latest leak is more than simply replacing the o-ring. It appears to be a manufacturing defect in the fitting that has eroded some of the flat that the o-ring seals against. After I replaced the o-ring oil immediately spewed out of the area. Have any of you experienced a similar occurrence? If I figure out how to add a picture on the forum I will show you what it looks like.

Alternatively, I worry that the shop that last worked on the tractor intentionally made this defect to induce an expensive repair call... the fitting is welded to the cylinder so buying and installing a replacement cylinder would likely be their recommended solution. I hope this is not the case.

My BX 25 has came with all Parker QCs. Hydraulic shop I have close by has them for half the price Kubota wants.

 

[ch1ch2]

Alternatively, I worry that the shop that last worked on the tractor intentionally made this defect to induce an expensive repair call... the fitting is welded to the cylinder so buying and installing a replacement cylinder would likely be their recommended solution. I hope this is not the case.

I suspect your are correct.

 

[countrybumpkin]

Are you both really that PARANOID !

 

[ch1ch2]

Are you both really that PARANOID !

I can only speck for myself.
YES Let me say that again..HELLLL YES.

I have caught boat motor repair guys not doing work they said they did.
Car repair guys not doing the work they said they did.
Car repair guys sabotaging parts not related to the part they were suppose to fix.
Car repair guys telling my wife thing were broke that were not.
Tractor repair guys taking all the fuel out of a fuel tank and giving it back empty on 3 occasions.
Tractor repair guys say the repair they said it would be was wrong it was something else and charging more while fixing the original broken part an claiming they did not.
Tractor repair guys saying they had to split the tractor when they did not.
Motorcycle repair guys giving a quote then charging double the hourly rate and doubling the book hours.

I could go on and on.

My son worked for several plumbing companies before he opened his own. He quit 3 of those companies due to them trying to force him to screw customers.

Maybe I should change my answer to you. Paranoid is not paranoid if it is REALLY happening.

 

[diesel85]

^ Exactly the reason why I try to do everything myself!

 

[Fallon]

Just because you are paranoid doesnt mean they aren't out to get you.

I'm in IT security, they are always comming for us. If not the incident today, they will be comming later.

 

[FloridaGent]

Upshot of repair: I took the cylinder to a local hydraulic shop and asked them to change the fitting. But, their technician came up with a better solution -- he just welded the plug to the fitting. Voila! Repair made for just an hour of shop time and no disassembly of the cylinder required ($86). I mounted it, topped off the hydraulic fluid and all is well again.

I went out of town one day and I took the opportunity to stop by another Kubota dealer to pick up the hydraulic fluid. Without identifying where I was from, I showed the picture of the errant fitting to the service manager and he agreed with me that something looked fishy about the inside of the fitting. I may send the photo to Kubota and see if and how they respond.

 

[wdchyd]

Can you post pix here?