I think I'm in Big Trouble

   / I think I'm in Big Trouble #1  

catvet

Gold Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2005
Messages
254
Location
Hyde Park, Vermont
Tractor
Kubota L-39
I have a Kubota B7800 with backhoe.

I was working up in the woods today putting in a culvert. Things going pretty well then I noticed a bolt on the trail. I couldn't locate where it was from so figured I'd keep working. Then I realized there was fluid leaking out from the rear axle area.

I decided to make a run for it figuring that if the tractor died up in the woods there was no way I'd get it to a dealer if necessary.

When I got it down to the shed I took a closer look underneath. It looked like hydraulic fluid was leaking out of where the backhoe frame went around the axle. It also looked like there were bolts missing from the frame. Most likely the same as the one I found on the trail. It looked to me like there were holes where 4 additional bolts could be placed and on the other side there was a bolt in one of those holes but three holes with no bolts.

I tried removing the weight of the frame by pressing the backhoe into the ground. The leak got worse.

Any ideas? Does it make sense that there is fluid from the axle or did the weight bend something further inside that is now leaking?

Thanks for any feedback
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble #2  
The bolts may also be need to hold the rear axle to the transmission. Not having them in place may be why oil is leaking. What BH do you have?
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Ronjhall,

The backhoe is a Woods BH7500
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble #5  
Sorry to hear about that Catvet. So if I understand you correctly, the missing bolts are from the backhoe frame - and now you are leaking trans/hydraulic fluid. I would definitely not mess around with it - call the dealer and get them to pick it up ASAP. That's a pretty heavy backhoe (about 1,000lbs plus while digging it could easily create over 3,000lbs of stress) and if some bolts dropped out it may have put that stress in the wrong place.

Did you get the setup from the same dealer? And is it new enough that he would feel responsible.

When I had my b7500 delivered 3 years ago the dealer was showing my a few things in my driveway and we both noticed loose bolts on the backhoe. His guy who put it together got sloppy. He apologized profusely and we spent thirty minutes going over the backhoe to make sure everything was tight.

Good luck - let us know how it turns out!
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble
  • Thread Starter
#6  
The tractor, and backhoe, just turned one year old about a week ago. I'll be calling the same dealer. I'll be surprised if they feel responsible with 300 hours (as of yesterday) on the machine. I know I should do a daily checkup but I must admit I never looked to see if those bolts were loose.
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble #7  
catvet said:
The tractor, and backhoe, just turned one year old about a week ago. I'll be calling the same dealer. I'll be surprised if they feel responsible with 300 hours (as of yesterday) on the machine. I know I should do a daily checkup but I must admit I never looked to see if those bolts were loose.
In my experience poor initial setup is universal. The best factory assemblies virtually eliminate this, but add ons to their equipment are seldom done at the factory, even if factory parts are used. It seems little to ask that a dealer should provide an approved accessory correctly assembled to the tractor. This would entail appropriate design including effective fastenings. When you have this a correct tightening is real close to forever. If not, loose bolts throw huge stesses on adjacent fasteners which, in turn, move and loosen or break the casting. If an accessory is not appropriately designed with appropriate fasteners and fit it will take a responsible and discerning mechanic to make a good assembly. This irreplaceable person will notice the nuances of the fit and feel of tightening and take care of everything. He finishes. He doesnt get quite as much done as the fast wrench turner who hasnt been indoctrinated or self schooled as to what it takes to assure that highly and unpredictably stressed equipment holds together. This person, figuratively, or maybe literally, is not focused correctly. Hes leaning real hard on a 1/2 ratchet to get those 3/4" Grade 5s tight, talking to a friend, missing one sometimes, not noticing those that get hard before they seat or the ones that get hard slowly but never fully clamp the joint, not breaking one prime little ratchet per bolt to get them tight enuff. They all look tight. All the lock washers are compressed - at least 10ftlb. Hes done -- its yours! The finisher is still working. Hes chased the threads in 2 bolt holes, threaded another deeper, added spacers in three places to avoid high deflections otherwise required for clampup. Hes tightening all the joints with an appropriate wrench by feel because he knows exactly how it should feel. **** be done soon. Wish it was mine. You just got yours - tried out everything - didnt break it yet. Maybe tomorrow. Itll be your fault tho - the manual says to check bolts daily. If tightened to only one half their torque spec maybe so. If properly tightened and still necessary the designer needs a lesson from the finisher.
Larry
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble #8  
It has been my experience that all or nearly all of the newly
installed loaders or backhoe subframes will have a loose bolt or
2 WITHIN THE FIRST HOUR OF USE. That is despite torquing
each to spec during initial install. Indeed I have found that rear
wheel studs are usually over-torqued. Dealers apparently think
over-torquing the rear wheel nuts is better than having them come
loose (which is REALLY bad). They may have a point there.
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble
  • Thread Starter
#9  
I talked with my dealer this morning. They are going to come pick it up in the next couple of days. They wouldn't commit to what they thought the problem might be but said that it sounded bad.

I'll let you know when they tell me what the problem was.
 
   / I think I'm in Big Trouble #10  
catvet said:
I decided to make a run for it figuring that if the tractor died up in the woods there was no way I'd get it to a dealer if necessary.

Glad you got it bad to the barn but this is where a small problem will get worse. You don't know how long it was leaking, a crack getting bigger, etc.

A small engine oil leak is not a big deal unless it's been leaking a while and there is only a quart of oil in the case.

I hope this one works out on the cheaper side for you.

Good Luck,
Rob
 

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