New to me L5740 HST was hiding a surprise in the filter

[Cloemker]

After anxiously awaiting my upgrade from a 5030, I put the new tractor into high gear to drive home and it completely bogged down when I pushed the Hst pedal down. I could only get it to work when the H-DS was in low.

I opened up the filters and saw what's in the picture. This debris was in the right hand hydro filter. The left side Hst filter only had what appeared to be usual wear in it.

What's been the experience once you have to separate the drivetrain? Replacement?

I bought from a dealer, but they've not gotten back to me.

Any idea on a ballpark cost?

 

[rScotty]

Ugh. Thankfully it's a dealer, and presumably they care about their reputation. And these days most used machines have some sort of warranty - even if it's just an implied one.
The problem here is not just the HST parts you found, but what else? HSTs are usually pretty bulletproof. If this happened due to overheating, there's likely to be more parts damaged than you want to deal with.

If possible I think I'd first try to undo the deal completely and then see what the dealer is willing to do to try to get you interested again.
For me, that would probably be a replacement tranny complete.
good luck to you,
rScotty

 

[TripleR]

Pretty much what rScotty said. One of the reasons I've paid a bit more to get a used tractor from a dealer rather than private sale is, I buy with some sort of warranty even if it i no more than thirty days.

I too traded my L5030 which I really liked in for an L5740 and love it. If you can get your situation resolved you'll have a great little tractor.

Good luck and sorry I don't have a clue on transmission repair/replacement.

 

[Cloemker]

This was a long distance deal I did through an ad on Tractorhouse. I needed turfs and a cab and just couldn't find anything local.

In case I'm left holding the bag, I was surprised I couldn't find any real hits online for shops that rebuild Kubota hydrostats. Do vendors like that exist, or are rebuilds all done through factory service locations?

I'd never try to rebuild one myself, but would feel comfortable removing the cab and splitting the tractor if I could drop in overhauled components.

 

[varmint]

You don't say where you are located, but hopefully once that is known, someone can point to a good Kubota dealership, or, a specialy shop that is a quality rebuilder. Fortunately, I think this is a very rare occurrence! Maybe someone will recognize the copper pieces? The black chunks are rubber?? Sorry about this, it certainly isn't what you anticipated!

 

[Cloemker]

I'm in the St. Louis area.

 

[Cloemker]

Maybe it's not dead. Yet.

After draining the rest of the hydraulic fluid and looking for metal, I started crawling around under the tractor. I discovered that the brakes were locked up. The bogging down was due to the brakes being partially engaged. I had to pound on the arms with a 2x4 to free them. I decided to head up to NAPA and get filters and fluid. I still don't know what made the metal. If it was something last night while I was driving it with the brakes on, or if it happened before.

My strategy is to run it for an hour or so and check the new filter for metal. If no additional metal, run it another few hours and let the cheap fluid remove crud in the system. Then replace the farm supply UDT spec fluid with SUDT.

Thoughts?

 

[arkydog]

trynthe kubota dealer in marthasville near washington. mo. i heard their reputable

 

[murphy1244]

I don't like them brass pieces at all. Hope the best for you though.

 

[MHarryE]

I'm away from home so I can't check my L5740 but which filter did you get the parts from, the low pressure suction filter or higher pressure hydro charge filter? Your start was exactly like mine - due to spring road restrictions, the dealer had to unload 6 miles from my home, the closest they could get their truck without exceeding our 5 ton/axle spring restriction. I drove the L3710 they took on trade to the meeting place and when I started out with my new L5740, it wouldn't pull itself in high range. I never engage the parking brake on flat ground so I had not noticed the trucker had engaged the brake when he unloaded. I finally noticed that dim red brake light and we were on our way home at a good clip.

I suspect your damage is not hydro, but something in the brakes. They are sintered metal brake discs in oil, but the large pieces do not resemble anything from discs. They also do not resemble internal hydro parts - piston slippers or rotating group housing are a copper alloy. Probably somebody from the dealership can identify the parts but I don't think you trashed the really expensive parts, especially if it's pulling good now with the brake off. If there were major internal hydro parts like that at the filter it would likely not pull the hat off your head.