Kubota BX2200 HST Whining Sitting Still

TaylorLSexton · May 6, 2020

DMW said:
Does the lever for the mower deck also control the 3pt arms? It may not be returning to center (a neutral position, stopping the flow of the hydraulic fluid) after being released. Try minutely manually adjusting the lever up or down while running, see if it makes a difference.

Thanks, I will try that. However, if this were the problem, wouldn't the noise be present as soon as I start the machine, rather than not showing up until after a bit of use?

rScotty · May 6, 2020

TaylorLSexton said:
Thanks, I will try that. However, if this were the problem, wouldn't the noise be present as soon as I start the machine, rather than not showing up until after a bit of use?

These are all simple things to do, but I always like to start simple when chasing a problem.Since the noise starts when the fluid gets hot, first we should take a look at how hot the fluid is getting. Do you know? Have you been able to check the hydraulic cooling radiator to see if the fins are clogged and that the flow through the radiator is good?That's where I would start. This may involve getting a good small focus non-contact temperature sensor. They are reasonably priced now. Get a good one and make sure it has an adjustment for emissivity. For accurate measurement of metal surfaces emissivity adjustment sure helps. If the hydraulic fluid has gotten too hot it may not be good anymore. It is clear or does it look burnt? How does it smell? I'd consider testing it or just go ahead and change it. Another thing you may want to do is change the hydraulic filter or filters. These are suction filters and if clogged they could contribute to overheating and of course they trap particles. If you do, keep the old ones and cut them open with a can cutter that doesn't make particles so you can check for metal fragments or a metallic sludge. rScotty

rScotty · May 6, 2020

Interesting that when I answered in post #12, everything I wrote was smashed into one paragraph without breaks. Anyone else having that problem?

skipperbrown · May 7, 2020

I think your next step is to replace the hydraulic fluid and filter to confirm that there is no contamination of some kind. You can also check the screen beside the wheel for metal parts when doing your change. Use UDT2.

TaylorLSexton · May 7, 2020

Thanks everyone for the replies. I guess I'm just going to have to take it to a dealer or something, because everything suggested here I have no idea how to do at all. I looked under the rear wheel fender well and saw that the HST cooling fins were gunked up, and I blew them out the best I could from the fender well, but I have no idea how actually to get under there to get closer to anything. That's all I can do. I don't know how to do anything else suggested here.

DMW · May 7, 2020

Before taking it to the dealer, read through the manual on the use of the mower deck, specifically raising/lowering. You said the noise only goes away while raising the deck. There might be something you are doing (a control in a certain position) that you may think normal, but isn't. All assumptions made here are based on our experiences, they are not all the same.

TaylorLSexton · May 8, 2020

I will say that I noticed the HST cooling fins behind the fan were rather gunked up. I blew those out best I could (I think I mentioned this above). Anyway, I have used the tractor for a couple days since then, and I think the whining has indeed subsided a little. I did find out that the hydraulic fluid and filter were changed within the last 100 hours, and the fluid doesn't smell burnt as it is.