Questions from a new tractor owner

[jazzy61]

I am the proud owner of a ck3510seh. I took delivery and immediatly drove it into my wet field and got her stuck (that was covered on another thread).
Today I went to spray some lubricant on some of the pins and parts that do not get greased and I noticed that one of the pins that attach the backhoe to the tractor is missing. (assume it was never put on) I have been operating the backhoe and I did not notice that it was moving or loose or anything but I am concerned a little that the pin is not there and i did use the backhoe. Should I be concerned? Like I mentioned, I did not notice anything alarming.

I also finally got it in the pole barn last night and I noticed some oil (i think its motor oil, and it is new oil) under the tractor. I also noticed a motor oil smell when I opened the door to the pole barn. The oil level seems fine so I am wondering if tractors just leaks little oil when they are new or should I be concerned?

The dealer has to come out to my place in the next week and install a thumb for my backhoe and deliver a couple of attachments. I will have him look for any leaking oil issues at that time. I am just wondering if this is normal break in issues?

Lastly, I noticed that I did not have a fel leveler guide on my tractor. The dealer installed third function hydraulics for a grapple and so I am wondering if that addition would make the bucket leveler unavailable.

Thanks for any help

Jeff

 

[3gunr]

I have bought 4 new tractors over the yrs and none have ever leaked oil . i would be concerned.

 

[atsah]

I have bought 4 new tractors over the yrs and none have ever leaked oil . i would be concerned.

+1...Sure sounds like the setup people in the service department are slacking to me..

 

[jazzy61]

+1...Sure sounds like the setup people in the service department are slacking to me..

I was hoping it was a break in issue. Thanks. I will be talking with the service department tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[slckeys]

I have 3rd function installed on a ck4010sehc, and I have a bucket level indicator installed without issue.

 

[oosik]

When the dealer installed my grapple - I still had the bucket level indicator. I've had the grapple on the tractor for five years now. Never put the bucket back on. Took the level indicator off about three years ago. I use the bucket level "guide tab" as an attachment point for the bungies that hold the hoses for the grapple.

On a new tractor - leaking oil needs to be addressed with the selling dealer - pronto. Same with the missing pin.

"Leaking oil" is NOT a part of any break in procedure.

 

[justman777]

Agreed. Any oil coming from somewhere needs to be addressed. Keep in mind there are other posts on this forum where folks have had their engines seize up from lack of oil, and Kioti didn't cover it. Didn't matter the engine was nearly new and hadn't had the first oil change yet, or that the oil drain plug had fallen out while the tractor was being used. May be a bit ****, but I'd go through and make sure all the drain plugs (there are a lot of them) are tight, and that'll put you in close proximity to where the oil is most likely leaking from.

 

[mmecsics]

Just be careful tightening the oil pan drains, they are easily stripped oit

 

[finn1]

Call the dealer about the leak before he sends someone out to install the thumb.

The mechanic and thumb installer are likely two different people with two different skill sets.

 

[Threepoint]

Jazzy61, good advice here. Definitely tell the dealer about the leak, but while you're waiting for the tech(s), here are some more thoughts.

Oil leaks on a brand new tractor are not a normal part of break-in, and aren't to be expected. But this may be something very simple.

You're probably already be doing this, but next time you're done using the tractor and things are warmed up (NB: check hydro and engine oil levels each time before starting out!), put some clean cardboard or kraft paper underneath and monitor it over a few hours. That should give you the general location of the leak, so you can craw under and inspect close up. A slow leak will last drip from the lowest point it can wick to, so of course trace up and back to pinpoint the source. Should easily be able to distinguish between motor oil and hydro oil, as you have a few hours on the tractor already.

Since you had a 3rd function kit installed before delivery, I'd first check the 3rd function valve for drips. Could simply be that one or more of the o-rings wasn't installed or seated properly when the valve fittings were attached and the port covers tightened down. This turned out to be the source of a pesky drip on a buddy's new CK3510SE HST with a dealer-installed 3rd function kit.

Also, quick-connect fittings are likely locations to watch for hydro drips.

Unlikely to be a insufficiently tightened hydro, HST or engine oil filter. Kioti has an 800 lb gorilla at the factory who puts these on.

Good luck, and please keep us posted on this.

 

[DieselBound]

NEVER accept an oil leak!

I have had two repairs to the rear axle housing on my NX because of leaking. If I let them go past warranty to repair it would have been a HUGE expense. First trip (dealer hauled, but cost me for transport) they resealed. Not quite a year later I spotted leaking again, on the side that hadn't been the one leaking previously. Second time (me hauling this time) they replaced the cases, under warranty. Knock on wood, they're bone dry after about 40 hrs run time (and many months).

Warranty is to handle factory QA issues. No factory can produce all products at 100% spec: especially true given the amount of additional integration (of others' parts) that now occurs; one reason why Kubota is so good is that they do more of their overall manufacturing, they have better control of their QA.

 

[jjp8182]

Jazzy61, good advice here. Definitely tell the dealer about the leak, but while you're waiting for the tech(s), here are some more thoughts.

Oil leaks on a brand new tractor are not a normal part of break-in, and aren't to be expected. But this may be something very simple.

You're probably already be doing this, but next time you're done using the tractor and things are warmed up (NB: check hydro and engine oil levels each time before starting out!), put some clean cardboard or kraft paper underneath and monitor it over a few hours. That should give you the general location of the leak, so you can craw under and inspect close up. A slow leak will last drip from the lowest point it can wick to, so of course trace up and back to pinpoint the source. Should easily be able to distinguish between motor oil and hydro oil, as you have a few hours on the tractor already.

Since you had a 3rd function kit installed before delivery, I'd first check the 3rd function valve for drips. Could simply be that one or more of the o-rings wasn't installed or seated properly when the valve fittings were attached and the port covers tightened down. This turned out to be the source of a pesky drip on a buddy's new CK3510SE HST with a dealer-installed 3rd function kit.

Also, quick-connect fittings are likely locations to watch for hydro drips.

Unlikely to be a insufficiently tightened hydro, HST or engine oil filter. Kioti has an 800 lb gorilla at the factory who puts these on.

Good luck, and please keep us posted on this.

^^^^^^^ agree with this 100% --- especially since I've now run into two hydraulic fittings I've had to tighten since I bought my tractor 2 years ago, the second was actually today and was one of the fittings on the hydraulic lines (under the tractor) going to the rear remotes (which I just recently started using). The other was a hydraulic fitting on one of the FEL lift cylinders that became evident when I was removing tree/root-ball.

New or old, if something is leaking it's generally a sign that something either needs to be fix/replaced, properly tightened or re-installed correctly as neither the engine oil or hydraulic oil should be leaking from their respective systems.