Kubota L3130 w/LA723 FEL leaking curl cylinder

[hawkeye08]

I have a well kept L3130 that we bought used recently. It has 450 hrs on it and after some loader work (cleaning out ditch in pasture), I noticed some drips from the cylinder that moves the bucket. I worked it moderately hard for an hour or so two separate days. I would expect that it could work all day and not cause a leak... The previous owner used it mainly for mowing so I doubt the FEL is worn out (he was religious about lubing FEL every 10 hrs, etc).

I have done searching and have the parts manual (have not ordered the service manual yet) and think I can repair this myself but wanted to get some opinions on a couple of items.

1) Should I rebuilt both sides, even though only the left one is leaking? (I'd rather not spend money I don't need to)

2) It appears straight forward based on the posts and the diagrams in the parts pages, but I did not see any reference (sorry if I missed it) to whether I should try and "flush" any debris out of the cylinder or lines?? I expect that something is in there that would cause an o-ring/seals to leak, or it is common to just have to replace o-rings/seals occasionally?

Thanks in advance for the help.. hawkeye

 

[hawkeye08]

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[wdchyd]

Hawkeye,

Small bore hyd cyls sometimes have contaminates that don't make it back to the return line stream.....if it was internal debris then piston seals would be effected more.....your leaky cyl is leaking at the oring on the gland and/or rod seal (because of wear and tear or wiper seal failure to allow dirt/water behind rod seal)

If it were my machine I'd buy two seal kits and carefully check out the inside bore of the leaky cyl when opening up (polish it then check with flashlight).....You'll have to do the bad cyl anyway, that way if you have troubles (like accidentally wrecking a seal going back together) then you'll have spare seal kit......

If it's easy for you on the first one then go for it and repack the second cyl....if not save the second seal kit for backup......

If you find contaminants in your cyls and want to flush the lines,first purge into waste oil bucket then install a fitting to connect the two hoses from both cyls and run your machine, engage lever both ways for that set of cyls.....the debris ( if any) will be caught in return hyd filter.....

Mostly just cleaning, polishing and repacking cyls will do just fine for good housekeeping, the return filter does the rest.....:thumbsup:

 

[hawkeye08]

Awesome, that is what I was hoping! I'll check the prices and get a couple coming. Thanks!

 

[woodchuckie]

My gland nut had a crack in it allowing it to leak. I just replaced the nut which was the most expensive part on the cylinder.

 

[hawkeye08]

thanks for the info, I haven't looked at it too close yet, just noticed the drips (and the dirt that collects)... I will study it good before I take it apart.

Hope to get a look at it sometime in next month before it gets cold... It is not leaking enough to stop fall work (have some more mowing left to do, they are finishing wheat harvest today so will be able to get to the last of it).