Pop Goes The Kubota!!

[RFischer]

My new B7500 was finally delivered by my dealer late on Friday. He took about an hour to go over everything with me. Everything checked out just fine. Then I spent Friday night into the wee hours reading all the manuals. So early Saturday morning I got up to get put her through her paces. Checked all the fluids, fuel, connections, zerks, etc. Everything looked great. Spent about an hour doing little odd jobs with the FEL and to make sure it worked. And it did. Then following the manual I removed the FEL. I was really quite easy. I was now ready for mowing as the weeds in the front 2 acres were calling. Had to make a height adjustment. Again no problems except #3 was a little tight. Mowing was really an effortless task. Couldn't believe how easy the powersteering turned and helped her manuver. After about 2 hours of cutting and going along thinking how great it was that I've cut my mowing time by 2/3 I heard a loud pop and a woosh. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I looked down to see a clear liquid spilling all over the deck. I thought at first I ran over a bottle of water or something. I stopped and shut her down. When I got off and touched the liquid I knew it was water but, hydraulic fluid. I could see fluid dripping from the underside of the tractor and knew there was a problem. I couldn't really tell exactly what it was coming from. I called the dealer and within 15 minutes they had someone out to pick her up. Since it was Saturday it was obvious I wasn't going to get anything fixed right away. They did promise to get to her first thing on Monday. So as the truck drove away with the wounded big orange beauty strapped down all I could do was CRY! /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif I felt like a kid who had just had his toy taken away. Anybody have a guess as to what happened?

 

[chim]

First thing to come to mind is a routing error for a hydraulic line that put it into harm's (rotating mower part's) way.

You'll enjoy the time reduction even more as you become more familiar with the tractor. Mine does an acre in about 45 minutes without beating up the equipment................chim

 

[beagdog]

Bought a new L3010HST 2 years ago. 1st winter I had it (very few hours), went out to warm it up to plow snow, went to the house for some coffee, came back out and the entire garage floor was covered with hydraulic oil (about 7 gallons). Assumed that the oil was cold and had created too much pressure and opened a relief valve. As it turns out, the hose to the hydro oil cooler was not tightened from the factory and when the pressure built with cold oil, pop, the hose blew off. I'm sure you have the same problem, only the heat caused the pressure instead. Mine is well lubricated under the hood now, no need to worry about rust!

 

[RFischer]

I really can't wait. I was already seeing a reduction.

 

[RFischer]

I've never had any previous experience with hydraulic oil. Will all the oil that spilled on my deck cause any problems? Does it have any effect on the rubber belts or plastic parts?

 

[chim]

I can't remember if you were in on the tire pressure discussion or not, but just in case you weren't. The R4's are pretty stiff tires, and if you want to make time mowing, the inflation at 20 or 30-some pounds will be a bit much. I still have my Ford 1210 with R1's, and it feels like I'm riding on big air balloons compared with the R4's on the Kubota. Lowering the tire pressure on the R4's really helped. Right now I'm running 10# front and rear, and it's working fine. Still haven't gotten around to finding a gage that goes below 10#, but when I do, I plan on going to 7 or so in the back. 10 in the front works even with loads in the bucket, but my fronts have shorter sidewalls than some I have seen. They are 23X8.50-14.....................chim

 

[RFischer]

Chim-Yes, I saw the thread on tire pressure. Thanks. That will be another one of the first things I'll do when she gets back home.

Richard

 

[manganos]

Thought I'd let you know where to get a tire guage that reads under 10#. You can get them at ATV dealers. I've got more then one around here I'd be willing to send ya if I can find them. Let us know if you get one so I can stop looking

 

[chim]

Thanks a lot. My problem isn't locating one so much as getting around to do it. You saved me some hunting time by mentioning ATV dealers. We have 'em around here. At 10#, the rears have more than enough air, judging by the deflection that doesn't happen when I pick up my RFM. Thanks again.............chim

 

[frank_f15]

CHIM: this post caught my eye, one of the areas i mow , about i acre takes me a litle over an hour, not cause the tractor won't handel it but because if i go to fast it shakes my inaards and the trator to peices, you telling me if i lowere the tire press. it will smoth out the ride that much?