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

[JWR]

Why were the brakes on?

How far did you drive it?

It seems if you drove it w/ the brakes on the dealer might not be at fault.

I don't see all that debris coming from driving it a ways with brakes on. They must not have been THAT firmly on. Agree with k0UA -- get it to the dealer.

 

[Cloemker]

An update:

First, thanks for all the replies. As mentioned early on, I'm 1200 miles away from the dealer. Sending it back simply isn't an option. The dealer did send me a check for $400 to cover another round of SUDT2 and filters.

After initially replacing fluids and filters, I used it to mow 3 or 4 times and apply a round of fertilizer. My mower is a 17' turf batwing, so it certainly puts the tractor through a workout. Everything was going pretty well, but about 6 hours after fluid change, the transmission was surging or modulating after it got warmed up. The surging also happened only when the HST pedal was NOT fully depressed.

Since I had the cheap NAPA UDT "equivalent" in to flush out any debris remaining, I drained and replaced fluids and filters again tonight using SUDT2. I cut the filters and both suction and HST filters were 100% clean. I know I'm probably going to have to take it in to the local dealer for troubleshooting and repair, but just in case anyone has an idea, this is where it stands:

After warmup, transmission surges whenever pedal HST pedal is not 100% forward.
Happens in all ranges (L,M,H)
Happens in Hi and Low
Happens with or without PTO engaged
Happens when manually depressing HST or when using cruise
Does NOT occur in reverse.

 

[Cloemker]

In looking at the manual and determining what's different when the transmission is in forward versus reverse, the proportional valve stood out as something that is a possibility. When searching, I found a smaller tractor that had similar symptoms and the valve was suggested.

Also found when searching, was an english copy of the manual on the Czech Kubota website:

http://www.kubota.cz/data/soubor/WSM_L3540_4240_5040_5240_5740_EN.pdf

 

[Cloemker]

I got the tractor at operating temp and it did it's thing of surging. I swapped the valves and the issue went away. I guess since the forward valve gets most of the use, it may have been a bit more tired than the reverse valve.

On the brake front, after thinking about things and realizing the brakes didn't have any problems holding, I thought it may not be in the rear end. Sure enough, the bushings in the "L" shaped levers that change direction from vertical to horizontal were the problem. Right side fix went fine, left side hit a snag.

Apparently the left side is reverse threaded. I broke the bolt/shaft off. I figured out the reverse threading when the extractor set was driving it in further. I pounded in the largest Torx bit that would fit in the hole that was drilled for the extractor and was able to get it out.

We'll get some dry weather to mow again later in the week. Fingers are crossed that the worst is behind me.

 

[The Fred]

How does the machine handle such a big mower? Seems like it might be at it's limit powerwise.

Curious Fred

 

[moship]

Cloemker,

Do you think the parts found in the filter came from this valve?.. Or perhaps there is similar crap causing problems for the proportional valve mentioned above.

Good luck with this, but I'd still be wondering where these items came from.

 

[Cloemker]

I had the same mower on the 5030, and it's fine on flat areas. I have to slow down a bit if I'm going up a hill, but not very much to keep my PTO output up.

At this point I still have no idea where the parts came from. Looking at the exploded diagram of the valve, and from what I saw when swapping, it wasn't from that.

 

[sixdogs]

I had the same mower on the 5030, and it's fine on flat areas. I have to slow down a bit if I'm going up a hill, but not very much to keep my PTO output up.

At this point I still have no idea where the parts came from. Looking at the exploded diagram of the valve, and from what I saw when swapping, it wasn't from that.

That has to be of concern. The parts didn't fall from the sky and belong somewhere.

 

[pmsmechanic]

View attachment 464908

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?

I'm going to subscribe because I'm curious.

To me the nylon ring and the pieces of o-ring look like they are the sealing rings from a remote outlet. Just a guess.

Edit: After posting I see that this is in the Kubota section.

The copper parts don't look like they are from a a bushing. Does anyone know if there are copper parts in the hydraulics and hst of this series of tractor. I'm assuming it's a Kubota. Could some one have dumped some copper strips into the oil for the fun of it? The strips look a bit mangled from going through gears.

 

[JWR]

Granted, the dealer is out of reach physically being 1200 miles away but what did he have to say about the debris in the filter ? Did he have any idea where it came from ? I assume he won't let you talk to the previous owner ?