New Kioti Backhoe leaking

[Sierraau]

I have a new Kioti 2485 backhoe on my 7320 Kioti with probably 20 hours on it and I am getting a constant stream of hydraulic fluid dripping/streaming from the sideways articulation point of the backhoe. It's not obvious where it is coming from - perhaps a blown hose that goes to the boom? It's got too few hours on it to think that any of the shrouded hoses have been worn through. I pulled off the cover on the valve body thinking perhaps one of the connectors was loose, but no obvious leaks. How do I determine where the leak is? Perhaps pressure test the hoses as I am using them? Not being a mechanic, please describe what I need and how I should do it. Mobile mechanics are as rare as hen's teeth around here and cost a small fortune to get them out here.

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

There are 2 cylinders located under the BH which move the boom side to side. Is this where the leak is? Where are you seeing the "stream"?

Could be something as simple as the fitting connections being loose. Is the leak constant or only when the BH moves in a certain direction? Knowing that can isolate which cylinder is the culprit.

More info is needed.

You say it only has 20 hours of use and is new....warranty call?

 

[Sierraau]

Problem with a warranty call is the dealership is over an hour away and he charges $250 to travel each direction and I don't have a trailer to haul it down to him.
The drip seems to be coming from where the boom attaches to the back of the backhoe at the articulation point. There isn't any fresh liquid on the rotator cylinders (it is greasy because of all the hydraulic fluid accumulating there- but not greasy enough to be a source of the hydraulic fluid), it appears the hydraulic fluid is coming from where the hydraulic lines come out from the frame of the boom and go towards the valves. I was thinking perhaps one of the connectors to the valve body was loose and the hydraulic fluid was flowing down to the low point and dripping out on the articulation point, but I checked the valve body and there is no evidence of any leaking there. The dealer has nylon sleeves on the hydraulic lines going into the backhoe boom frame and there is no way anything could have rubbed through in 20 hours. What is the warranty on those backhoes? does anyone know?

It's a pretty big leak, as when I am using the backhoe for literally a minute, there is a huge puddle on the ground right under the articulation point. It's not a "drip", its more of a stream of hydraulic fluid.

 

[Sierraau]

Leak is not constant, only when using the hoe moving the boom in and out.

 

[Robin Veerman]

I’m thinking that a call to the dealership would be free. Describe what’s happening and send them a picture or two. They should be able to tell you where to look. The other thing is that you don’t know where the technician is driving to/from and they might be able to schedule a stop at your place enroute from a close neighbor….

 

[319Quahog]

Problem with a warranty call is the dealership is over an hour away and he charges $250 to travel each direction and I don't have a trailer to haul it down to him.

Just an idea.

The backhoe specs at 1100 pounds without a bucket. Rent a 6x12 uhaul trailer or borrow a friend's and bring it down. Give em a call first as they'll need to take it off the trailer for you.

The backhoe comes off pretty easy. Found that out after removing what I thought were superfluous pins.

That said, I'm somewhat surprised they won't run out there to look at a warranty issue on your brand new piece of equipment.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Granted it was a holiday weekend….but he hasn’t called the dealer yet, AFAIK.

 

[319Quahog]

Was just kind of saying in general, but yeah I completely missed the timeline.

I suppose I'm lucky that my dealer is 15 minutes up the road too.

 

[Sierraau]

Called the dealership. Problem is the backhoe has a one year warranty on it. I bought it in spring last year, but I didn't actually get it installed on the backhoe (at the dealer) until early fall, and it wasn't on the tractor all winter because it snows here and I had a plow on it. The dealer said it's warranty just ran out. I went back out and started tugging on hydraulic lines, and found the problem, the thin nylon wrap where the hydraulic lines go through the frame back to the valves is really torn up. It doesn't look like the nylon protection did ANYTHING to protect it. I've got a call into the dealer to see what they think. I think I need to get that hard plastic coiled wrap for the hydraulic lines if 20 hours of work does THAT to the hose.

 

[319Quahog]

Dang, I have the same backhoe with about 40 or so hours on it. I need to go check it out.

Luckily hoses are usually an easy fix if that's all there is.