Kubota L-2800 oil leak - left side of axle

[bocash3]

Howdy

For the first time in 4 years, I spent 2 days cleaning the Kubota L-2800 backhoe tractor. It has seen 420 hard hours these past 20 months, digging and moving dirt during snow, rain, heat, dust, etc. The thing was covered with red dirt, grit, and old grease caked around all fittings. The paint on the hood was turning chalky from constant sun exposure. I even compounded and waxed parts of the tractor and touched-up paint all over it.

Then I parked it inside a brand new garage. After 24 hours on a new concrete floor, I noted an oil leak. The oil appears clear. The source appears to be in the joint on left side of axle where left front wheel pivots.

Now, to show my ignorance, is this hydraulic fluid or differential oil coming from the axle?

If hydraulic fluid, I may choose not to repair it. But if I do, how involved is this repair?

Thanks in advance and y'all have a great week, Bo in western NC

 

[repete]

My guess is gear lube from the differential. A common leak.

 

[Sammy3700]

It may have udt in it from the factory. If so I have read several post where people drained it and used 80-90 gear oil. I have been fortunate so far mine has not leaked (425 hrs) and I am running 80-90 since the 50 hr service.

 

[teg]

The older L2800 were 80-90 Gear Lube... they later said udt hydraulic fluid was fine to use. I still use gear lube. Curious to see what someone might say about replacing the seal. I would not think it would be too hard to do...

 

[Oldpath05]

Last year my front-end differential spindles started leaking, in April I jacked up the tractor, first checked wheels for bearing play, then drained out the 75-80 gear oil out, replaced it with 85-140 Mobil gear oil then added >>ATP AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce, so far no leaks.
Gear oil has a real strong smell in it compared to other oils so it's easy to tell if it's in a tractor front end.

 

[B2400]

I replaced that seal a while back on the B2400 that I recently traded. The seal was about $50 and very easy to change. Get a tube of Permatex Ultra Gray and a good pair of snap ring pliers. I think it took about an hour to change, but I let the sealant cure for 24hrs before I refilled axle with gear oil.

 

[bdhsfz6]

The left pivot seal on my L3430 started leaking at around 700 hrs. It appears the left side goes first for some reason. I had been using SUDT2 trans fluid and, as others have reported, the leak stopped when I switched to 80W-90 gear oil. If it hadn't, I would have tried replacing the seal myself since the dealer quoted me a price of $800 to do it.

 

[bocash3]

THANKS so much, friends! I am pretty mechanically minded and have a lot of tools. I believe to be capable of replacing that seal that I see is in that pivot joint (Schematic photo). However, my time is too tied up for the next several months. I would prefer to add or replace a heavier gear oil to the front differential/axle. IF it helps, I purchased my L-2800 (gear shift model) in January 2010, so I believe it to be manufactured during 2009. It is the "Extra Power" 30 HP edition, if that helps.

Should I consider going higher than 90W gear oil? Since OLDPATH05 has the sister L-3400 to my tractor, should I try what he recommended?
*(85-140 Mobil gear oil then added - - ATP AT-205 Re-Seal Stops Leaks, 8 Ounce)

THANKS, Y'all are the greatest !! Bo in western NC

 

[bdhsfz6]

I guess it depends on how bad the leak is. I would try the 85-140 first and add the stop leak later if the leak continues.

 

[Jay4200]

My L4200 has been leaking from the same spot since I got it. I've been planning on changing the seal forever, but never got the required "round tuit". After giving up on the UDT (20wt motor oil equivalent) in there, I first went up to 85W90 wt gear oil, which is ~30wt equivalent. That helped for a couple of years, but then it got worse. I now run 90W140 (~50wt equivalent), which has kept it down to a dull roar. I only need to top it off once every year or two.