Hydro fluid leak

Alan L. · Mar 2, 2013

My B2710 (1999) has rubber tubes that hang down right under the dash, somewhere between the dash and the filler cap. I have noticed for years that sometimes when I am running the tractor in the shop to warm it up there is a 6"-10" puddle under the hose on the right and it is clearly coming from there. Not sure if it was diesel or hydro fluid, but it did again today and it was clearly thick enough that I am sure it is hydro fluid. I checked the hydro fluid level and it didn't show on the stick! Took about a quart of UDT to bring it up to the full mark.

Any ideas why fluid would be leaking out of a hose? Some kind of pressure release or something?

JOHNTHOMAS · Mar 3, 2013

Hoses will develop leaks at the fitting where it connects and it has to connect somewhere using a fitting. Sometimes the slow leak at the fitting will run DOWN the hose to it's lowest point then drop/drip to the ground. Follow the hose to its connection point and touch the connection point with paper towel and see if it's wet. Also a hose can leak/will leak in time and a pin hole will let the high pressure fluid come out. Clean the hose and then paper towel or toilet paper it. If the hose is a few years old then plan to replace it after making sure the fittings are tight. Usually a local hose making business will be much cheaper than the Kubota dealer for a replacement hose. Just have to take it off and take it to them to match size and fittings. One of the easiest and least expensive maintenance items on a tractor if it can be reached easily.

sandyc · Mar 3, 2013

If it is a hydro-leak, watch your hands when it is running. That stuff under pressure can be like a laser!

Gary Fowler · Mar 3, 2013

Kinda strange that it leaks only part of the time. A leak generally leaks all the time, unless this hose attaches to something with a control valve that you occasionally pressurize but don't normally. Can you remember maybe hitting a control lever when you notice the leak? Remove enough sheet metal to be able to see where it goes to and comes from, check for fitting leaks and then check the hose. Pressurize any hydraulic connections by moving the control levers, if it is a leak it will spray oil out that you can visually see, you wont have to run you rag along it which would be a no-no. It could also be a leak from some adjacent part that is spraying oil onto the hose and it is running down and dripping off, so don't just concentrate on the hose as it may just be a carrier of the oil and not the leaker.
Again, since it is a part time leak, it must be something that is not under pressure all the time but only under some circumstance of pressurizing does it leak.

Alan L. · Mar 3, 2013

The hoses that it is dripping out of are not hydraulic hoses at all. They are totally open at the bottom. Like some kind of overflow hoses. One on the right and one on the left of the dash. The bottom of the hose goes down just beyond the level of the oil pan. These look like maybe 1/2" hoses and are soft rubber - not pressure hoses.

azbinder · Mar 3, 2013

There is a speed reducer housing on back of the bell housing that has a vent hoses. There is no real pressure in this housing. There is a tube and hose that runs from the top of the transmission housing to this gear housing. The vent hose comes out the top, goes up under the dash and them makes a 180 degree loop and drops back wown the right side of the dash support.