Questions from a new tractor owner

[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.