Kubota BX232 - Major leak after adding a gallon of hydraulic fluid

[Tractor_Jim_CT]

Hi everyone. About a month ago my FEL center hydraulic cylinder was leaking and with the help from the TractorByNet group, I removed the cylinder, had it repaired and re-installed it. The tractor was working well but the FEL and BH seemed slower than normal.

I stopped by my dealer and inquired about which kubota hydraulic fluid they used when they serviced my BX23 recenty and I bought a gallon. I figured with the past leaking cylinder issue I most likely lost a lot of fluid. When I checked today I noticed the stick was dry. I added about a gallon until it came to the top and I might have overfilled. The tractor seemed to be running well after I completed the fill, except I started seeing fluid on the ground in areas were I had been working. I looked under the tractor and there was a steady flow of hydraulic fluid sreaming down on the rear left side of the tractor. I lift the seat and crawled underneath and I can not tell where this fluid is coming from. I can hear a draining sound and not sure if anyone has had something like this has happen to anyone else. I added a picture to give members an idea of what I am seeing. I kept the tractor parked and it just continued streaming like in the picture. I think the FEL and BH still works but not sure. Any ideas on what this could be? Thank-you

 

[mljenkins]

Does it drain only when running, and does it take a little bit (to warm up) before it starts draining?

 

[Tractor_Jim_CT]

Hard to say since this started right after I overfilled the fluid and noticed it a little while I started working with BX23. I didn't hit anything and was working lightly. When I noticed the heavy leak, I parked it, but raised the wheels off the ground so I could see underneath with the FEL and BH forced into the ground. With the tractor turned off and not running, but with tires up in the air it just kept leaking like in the picture.

 

[mljenkins]

I was wondering if you possibly overfilled it and after it warmed up it started flowing out from a vent or overflow. Did it eventually stop flowing? If so and you start and it seems fine for a bit until it is warm again that could be the case. That’s my only thought. There are quite a few threads on the site about overfilling the hydraulic fluid but I didn’t see anything quick about leaks observed afterwards, although I would think the tank would almost have to have a vent to prevent damage. Does it look like it sprayed out (under pressure) anywhere or just simply leaked/drained out?

 

[Tractor_Jim_CT]

Good question - it's a steady streaming leak (not spraying) Not sure if you can see the picture I took and posted - if you look close you can see the stream of hydro fluid dripping in a steady line. I left it but tommorrow I can check if it stops after warming up.
When I shut it off and left it, it was still streaming.

 

[sixdogs]

This is likely the cause. While I do not know this exact model, it's easy to overfill Kubotas and blowing it out is how Kubota seems to handle these things. I may --err, ahh, perhaps--have done it myself. These small tractors can read dry on the stick until you run it, shut it off and then check again. Probably way overfilled but that's an armchair guess from afar. .

I was wondering if you possibly overfilled it and after it warmed up it started flowing out from a vent or overflow. Did it eventually stop flowing? If so and you start and it seems fine for a bit until it is warm again that could be the case. That’s my only thought. There are quite a few threads on the site about overfilling the hydraulic fluid but I didn’t see anything quick about leaks observed afterwards, although I would think the tank would almost have to have a vent to prevent damage. Does it look like it sprayed out (under pressure) anywhere or just simply leaked/drained out?

 

[redman135]

Reguarding the dipstick reading dry, any time this happens, replace and pull the dipstick a 2nd time, this will generally give you an accurate reading.
A certain brand of industrial engine required this technique to get an accurate reading as the first time always read dry.
I have never run into this problem with hydraulics before.

 

[sixdogs]

I have seen it several times on Kubotas. Not exactly like this but close enough to consider it.
For starters, overfill your front axle and it blows it out up by the battery.

Always consider the easier solution to a problem first.

 

[bdhsfz6]

From a leak that size, you probably lost quite a bit of oil. Check the dipstick per the manual and see how it reads now. Normally, this is done with the BH completely retracted and the FEL on the ground. If the oil level is high, drain some until normal. If the leak continues, the problem could be elsewhere.

 

[KWentling]

My BX22 only hold 3 gallons so no doubt you way overfilled it. There is a vent on top of the transmission housing. Maybe the oil is going out the vent and running down the axle trumpet, but that looks like an awfully concentrated stream of oil for that scenario. Hope you didn't blow the axle seal out. First thing to do is get the fluid level at the full mark on the dipstick, and then see what you have.

 

[radioman]

im thinking that a gallon is ALOT to add just for the FEL cylinder repair. I have a feeling when you added the oil since its so clean it hard to see how full is it but the fill port is easy to see it come up. the orange dipstick does make it really hard to see the level and you have to keep turning it at different angles to see the line with new oil. best thing to do now is check the dipstick and drain if needed.

 

[Tractor_Jim_CT]

My plan today is to get to the BX23 and check the dip stick as many have suggested. The drip is coming from high up and I can't see exactly where. I just had the entire BX23 serviced and the FEL center cylinder started leaking heavily. Lost a lot of fluid when this happened so I added the gallon to the top of the fill cap not thinking it would do any harm. It's possible I over filled 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon and I really hope that is the problem.
If the BH and FEL still works, is this a clue in anyway? If most of the excess fluid drained out, would it now be at the proper level?

 

[Ford850]

My plan today is to get to the BX23 and check the dip stick as many have suggested. The drip is coming from high up and I can't see exactly where. I just had the entire BX23 serviced and the FEL center cylinder started leaking heavily. Lost a lot of fluid when this happened so I added the gallon to the top of the fill cap not thinking it would do any harm. It's possible I over filled 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon and I really hope that is the problem.
If the BH and FEL still works, is this a clue in anyway? If most of the excess fluid drained out, would it now be at the proper level?

You filled to the top of the opening, but you didn't check your dip stick? That's where I would start.

 

[sixdogs]

Coming from the top makes me think it's blowing out the (overfill) vents. Time to read the owner's manual and if not sure, dump it all out and measure back the amount you're supposed to have less a couple quarts to get it right. You can use a gallon water jug that's 100% dry AFTER you first measure a gallon of water and mark the side. You have to drain and check and no other way. Read above how to check the dipstick because it shows zero until you know the tricks. This is not hard and requires only rudimentary skills.

Chances are, and assuming this is the problem, no seals were blown because that's what the vents are for. They stop pressure from building so high as to do damage.


EDIT--the dealer could have overfilled as well. I don't understand the middle cylinder leaking.

My plan today is to get to the BX23 and check the dip stick as many have suggested. The drip is coming from high up and I can't see exactly where. I just had the entire BX23 serviced and the FEL center cylinder started leaking heavily. Lost a lot of fluid when this happened so I added the gallon to the top of the fill cap not thinking it would do any harm. It's possible I over filled 1/2 to 3/4 of a gallon and I really hope that is the problem.
If the BH and FEL still works, is this a clue in anyway? If most of the excess fluid drained out, would it now be at the proper level?

 

[Volfandt]

There is a vent on top of the HST. It's not unusual to smell hydro fluid vapor venting out when operating on very hot days.
You should check you're HST fluid level with all implements lowered and pressure relieved. I like to fill mine to the top of the 2nd gauge line but the fluid is correct anywhere in between the 2 lines.
Good luck

 

[Tractor_Jim_CT]

When I drove to my lot the tractor wheels were still off the ground
with the FEL and BH legs still holding up the tractor. I mention this as it held the pressure if that means anything. The stick was dry before and at level ground.
I started the tractor and moved to level ground
and the FEL and BH move up and down but weak
and skipping rather than smooth. BH has a more mechanical
sound. I am wondering when I recently had it serviced
if the long hydraulic filter was not installed tight
enough. Being out in the woods I am thinking
I will have to have new dealer pick up that
is in the area. My old dealer I used for 12 years
trailered it to my new area two hours away.
When the tractor was delivered the steering wheel cap
was missing and the FEL cylinder leaked from the
start which makes me question what else wasn’t tightened
. I know overfilling is my fault but I have a feeling it’s something else.

 

[KWentling]

When I drove to my lot the tractor wheels were still off the ground
with the FEL and BH legs still holding up the tractor. I mention this as it held the pressure if that means anything. The stick was dry before and at level ground.
I started the tractor and moved to level ground
and the FEL and BH move up and down but weak
and skipping rather than smooth. BH has a more mechanical
sound. I am wondering when I recently had it serviced
if the long hydraulic filter was not installed tight
enough. Being out in the woods I am thinking
I will have to have new dealer pick up that
is in the area. My old dealer I used for 12 years
trailered it to my new area two hours away.
When the tractor was delivered the steering wheel cap
was missing and the FEL cylinder leaked from the
start which makes me question what else wasn’t tightened
. I know overfilling is my fault but I have a feeling it’s something else.

It still holding the machine up only means your valves are holding good. The skipping and weak sounds like air in the system. You can eliminate that by stroking the cylinders to the extremes and holding them there for a few seconds to purge the air out. You may have to do that several times to get it all worked out. Is it still pushing oil out? When you check the dip stick, are you pulling it out, wiping it off, reinserting it, and then pulling it back out and reading it? Dip stick tubes can trap air and not show an accurate reading the first time pulled.

 

[dodge man]

That’s a lot of oil coming out, I’m betting it’s not the vent. If it was a little lower down I’d guess the strainer was leaking. Maybe a line up high is leaking?

 

[Tractor_Jim_CT]

Thanks guys for your thoughts. A part of me doesn't want to drain what's remaining then buy new hydraulic fluid to have this unknown leak happen again.
The stream coming down was was from higher up than what the picture I posted shows. I took the picture to show the what the stream looked like.
There was no more leaking today and but as I mentioned, the FEL had gaps or studders in it's movement and not smooth. Before this incident the FELand BH moved smoothly.

Yes I cleaned the dry dip stick, reinserted and it was dry. I did this several times today. Again this is on the left side if I am sitting on the tractor.
I would like to add on the day I took the picture to show the stream of hydraulic liquid there was a sound like you would hear when something is draining.
The best I can describe is the sound of sucking on a straw and getting to the bottom of the glass, but a long non stop sound as this drained. I am doing my best to describe what happened. I had some fire wood that I split today and I did not want to carry it 50 feet so I used the BX23 and the FEL carried a full bucket but
I could feel the tractor straining as I turned it around on a higher sloped area.

 

[KWentling]

I see no need to drain the oil. Was the cylinder rod extended when you put it back on the machine? If so, that would explain how the air got in the system, and that slug of air might have caused it to push oil out the vent. You still need to work the air out. Top off the oil to full the mark and then stroke all the cylinders to the extended position and hold the lever for a few seconds. That will force any trapped air out of that cylinder. Do that to all of them. Then recheck your oil level and fill as necessary. You might need to repeat that a few times. See if that doesn't cure it.