Metal Line Leak/Crack

[wingbone]

Last night I spent about an hour filling in some ruts a friend of mine's driveway. After loading the tractor back on the trailer, I noticed a trail of fluid had drained from the tractor that was at least 100 yards long. I towed it home and checked it out this morning. It looked like the leak was coming from the fitting where the metal line bolts to the bottom of the filter just under the step on the left side of the tractor(HST Filter?). I put a wrench on it and it felt tight so I wiped it cleaned and waited a minute or so. It appears their must be a crack in the line just before where it turns into a ring(where the bolt goes through). Has anyone had this problem? It's not even visible, you can just barely feel it and that is where the fluid is appearing. It's only has 39 hours on it. I had originally planned on doing my own 50 hr service since my dealer is two hours away, but since this happened, I might just let them do it. Am I close enough to go ahead and get the 50 hr service done? If not, I prefer to just let them send me the part and let me change it myself.

 

[wallace]

Is it possible that the o-ring may be leaking or can you see a crack?

 

[wingbone]

I can't see any fluid around the gap. It looks like it is originating right where the line goes from being straight to where it expands out to form the ring. I can feel the crack I believe, or at least where the paint is cracked. I wiped it several times and never saw any around the seal.

 

[wingbone]

I've looked at it a couple more times and it's definitely a crack and not a seal or O ring leak. I wanted to ask again if y'all thought at 39 hours it's close enough to go ahead and get the 50 hour service done? The dealership is two hours away so if it's still a little early, I'd rather just try to change the line myself.

 

[rimshot]

Well, let's think about this for a minute. You are talking about rushing the 50 hours and making a 39 hour inspection. 20% is quite a lot early in my estimation. Isn't the 50 hour the one that you change all that hydraulic fluid? Maybe have the dealer do the hydraulic change over + filters at the same time he changes the line that should be done and covered by warranty. You should be able to do the rest anyway. Sounds like to replace this cracked line the filter might just have to come off anyway.

good luck.

rimshot

 

[wingbone]

I've talked to the dealer and he is going to send me the part. It looks like a simple job to change it, but he said if I didn't want to try it myself, he'd gladly come up and do it.
As far as asking about doing it at 39 hours versus 50, it doesn't sound that crazy to me. I wouldn't think 50 hours is some magical number that determines when all the necessary preliminary wear has occurred. I figured it's somewhat of a general time frame as opposed to the services being conveniently necessary at an even 50, 100, etc hours of use. Besides, those 50 hours from tractor to tractor could be greatly different. Even the difference in analog and digital hours could approach the discrepancy.

 

[BJN644]

I know the book says 50 hours, and you are talking about hydraulics, just thought I would mention that on mine there was a sticker on the engine side cover that said to change engine oil at 35 hours.

 

[dfkrug]

I've talked to the dealer and he is going to send me the part. It looks like a simple job to change it, but he said if I didn't want to try it myself, he'd gladly come up and do it.
As far as asking about doing it at 39 hours versus 50, it doesn't sound that crazy to me. I wouldn't think 50 hours is some magical number that determines when all the necessary preliminary wear has occurred.

The part is very easy to install. The end of that hard line is called a
"banjo fitting". If there is no sign of impact, your hardline prob was poorly
made. That line and filter are VERY vulnerable to impact, so I would protect
them. On my CK30, my hoe subframe does that. For my new CT230, I just
made and installed a skid plate, using a piece of an old Deere loader bkt.

As for 39 hr, vs 50, go for it. The first change at 10 hr would be OK in my
book. The hyd oil has a lot of metal fragments in it from machining, and they
use really crappy oil. The sooner you get clean tractor-hyd-fluid in there
(vs. straight cheapo hyd oil), the better. Same with the front axle.

When rebuilding an engine, I like to chg oil and filter within 10 hrs of use, to
clear out anything that can get in there due to machining, or just being open.

Since Kioti charges for pickup and drop off for warranty work, you may
want to do a LOT of repairs yourself.

 

[wingbone]

I've received the part and like y'all said, should be an easy job. There wasn't any kind of impact to the line, which I knew was virtually impossible from the work I've done with the tractor and where I've used it. It may turn out to be a blessing, my dealer offered to send me my filters needed for my 50hr service and I received them today as well. One thing I will note. The part on the tractor doesn't have a brace anywhere on the line but the new part has a little bracket that is supposed to attach to the tractor somewhere. Maybe vibration got the first part without this little support bracket. Hopefully, the bracket lines up with a bolt hole that it is designed for.