Noisy Hydrostat/Hydraulics?

[e.myers]

Just got a new L4400 Kubota with hydrostat and FEL.
Hydraulics seem "noisy" to me... but not sure.
Was wondering if it's possible that when they put the FEL on, something got air in it and is causing the noise.

Currently have 5 hours on it and intend to put another 12 on it today.

Running rotary tiller on it and it's pretty much wide open all day....

Do I need to worry about this?

Do your hydraulics kind of squeal/grunt... kind of high pitched type noises.

Anyone know how an auto tranny sounds when it's about to go out? Sounds kind of like that....

Fluid level is fine.

Just want to make sure I'm not tearing something up.

 

[dex3361]

HST trannys are a bit whinny about working kinda like a teenager. I think the owners says not to run the engine wide open for the first 50 hours. It will make more noise in high range than low or mid range. The whine also varies with the load. If that s what its doing its all normal.

 

[ejnichol]

Just run it according to break in procedure in owners manual. Make sure you've got correct fluid level and if it has hydrostatic fan its not blocked. Check you coolant level in radiator. They sometimes arrive low regardless of how wrong that would seem.

After checking that out and with what previous poster said and you've got a warranty, just run it. I bet it will quite down.

 

[bp fick]

When you park it, after a few hours of work, do so on a surface that would easy to detect any leaks. Park it, if you can, on clean dry concrete.

After 12 hours, inspect the concrete for spotting of hydro fluid. This is merely a safeguard. My tractor was REALLY noisy when I got it. I accepted it, with gritted teeth, as "normal".

I regret to say that my Kubota came with a very loose hydro line fitting and it was allowing seepage of fluid that I could only have detected by parking it in my clean shop. (editorial- clean by my standards, not my wife's)

I tracked down that leak, found the loose fitting. It clearly was sucking air. After tightening it, my hydro whine was decreased by 50%. This is just a suggestion and may not fit your situation at all.

 

[e.myers]

OK guys. Thanks.
I actually read the manual before using the tractor and saw the part about break in.

Oh well, normal break in procedure didn't/couldn't happen. Needed to get the property tilled up so I could get seed in this weekend.

That requires pto speed 540 RPM's which requires basically a wide open tractor.

Really now, how many functions are there for a tractor that you don't need to get the R's up way high.... other than just joy riding (and front end loader work possibly).

Well anyway, I have 15 hours on the tractor now. Noise might have been better today(or maybe I'm just getting use to it).

The symptoms you describe sound like what I'm experiencing.

I'll check for leaks too.

Eddie

 

[ruralruss]

Just got a new L4400 Kubota with hydrostat and FEL.
Hydraulics seem "noisy" to me... but not sure.
Was wondering if it's possible that when they put the FEL on, something got air in it and is causing the noise.

Currently have 5 hours on it and intend to put another 12 on it today.

Running rotary tiller on it and it's pretty much wide open all day....

Do I need to worry about this?

Do your hydraulics kind of squeal/grunt... kind of high pitched type noises.

Anyone know how an auto tranny sounds when it's about to go out? Sounds kind of like that....

Fluid level is fine.

Just want to make sure I'm not tearing something up.

I posted similar concerns about my B3200, everyone assured me it was normal. I ask my delivery guy about RPM and he said keep it around 2000 at first. That is only 200 less that PTO so it has not been to difficult. From a mechanical point of view I don't exactly see why it would matter.

Russ

 

[e.myers]

Wait a minute.
Am I missing something?
My PTO speed (where the triangle is on the tach) and the recommended PTO speed for my tiller is 540rpm's.

To get to that triangle on the tach is almost wide open on the throttle.
To go the speed that I needed to travel, I needed to be in low range.... so tractor was running basically wide open.

Was I doing something wrong or "stuuuuuuuuupid"? Tractor never came close to running hot the whole time and only bogged down when I got in real deep stuff with the tiller set all the way down.

Ruralruss-
So to get to 540 RPM's on your pto, you only have to be at 2200 rpm's?

 

[ruralruss]

Wait a minute.
Am I missing something?
My PTO speed (where the triangle is on the tach) and the recommended PTO speed for my tiller is 540rpm's.

To get to that triangle on the tach is almost wide open on the throttle.
To go the speed that I needed to travel, I needed to be in low range.... so tractor was running basically wide open.

Was I doing something wrong or "stuuuuuuuuupid"? Tractor never came close to running hot the whole time and only bogged down when I got in real deep stuff with the tiller set all the way down.

Ruralruss-
So to get to 540 RPM's on your pto, you only have to be at 2200 rpm's?

Not in the seat right now but I think it is 2200 or 2300 RPM. I think the tack goes up to around 3000 rpm. Of course I have a different tractor than you. I am not for sure you need to worry. I remember way back there were always break in rules for new cars. But there were not the same between auto makers. I was always told to break it in the way you normally drive. Almost everybody said don't drive at a constant speed for a long period. My manual says the parts of the engine are not familiar with each other, got love that translation. I would say if you had to work it hard right off then do you first 50 hr. service at 45 hours or something.

Russ

 

[texasjohn]

HST is exceptionally durable transmission.
It will make noise... higher RPM and load = more whine.
Proper speed range selection will assist in whine reduction (L/M/H). Try a lower range, if available, to see what I mean.
SUDT hydraulic oil is reported by some, myself included, to slightly reduce the whine.
However, UDT is just fine for most climates. Extreme cold is where it shines.
I run at about 2500RPM to get to PTO speed.
I run this speed seldom... only when I actually have a device on the PTO or when working vehicle very hard (very heavy lifting, plow in the ground, etc.)

Net... with some experience, you will get more used to the whine, then begin using it as an in Indicator of engine loading and when to back off the rocker pedal and/or move to a lower gear or seek more RPM's.

Enjoy your new tractor, sounds like you are using it for its intended purpose

 

[bp fick]

Misery loves company.

I too put my new 'Bota to work pretty much right away. I did not red line the tach, or anything close, but I was certainly above putzy speeds. I had work to do and work for which I had bought the tractor. I varied the rpms between 2300 and 2800 never holding it steady for more than 5 minutes, best I could do to "break it in" but still, just went about the work. I had sod to bust, a heavy trailer of dirt to load and pull, multiple times too. I had a driveway to rake. You get the idea.

Like you, there wasn't an opportunity to just cruise around gently or parade about the lane getting a dozen gentle hours on it.

Someone mentioned changing out your fluids early, and I see that as a good thing. So, here is what I am going to do. I have decided to go ahead and do my 50 hour service at 25 hours, which will be in a week or two. I'll get the metal shavings out, get fresh, clean oil and fluids in. It will be just fine.

Besides, calculating ahead, I don't feel like doing my 50 hour service in January anyway. With my luck, it would minus 20 or something.