Small oil leak L3130

[Jibber]

I took delivery of a new L3130 with the 723 FEL about a month ago. I've noticed that a small amount of hydraulic oil appears to be leaking out of the main junction box on the lower right side, where the loader lines connect (before the valve/control stick). It's not a lot of oil, but something that has me concerned. Is this something I even want to try to handle myself? Are such oil leaks common?

My dealer is about a hundred miles away.. so If I can deal with it.. I'd try. Not real sure where the leak is..the oil appears to be dripping off a drain plug at the bottom of this 'junction box' .. but the plug seems tight.

thanx.

 

[chrisjbell]

You don't want to let this one slide. I've had my tractor for six years and the only time it drips oil is when I spill it. Any more, no new engine, trany, etc. should leak anything. Period.

Too bad your dealer is so far away. You should certainly bring this to their attention and see what they recommend. If it is something like "don't worry about it, that happens", get real suspicious. Fast.

The thing is, your tractor is clearly under warranty (bet you haven't hit the 50 hour service - which is *important*, BTW). If you try to repair something like this yourself and it doesn't get better (say, the threads in one of the pans were tapped incorrectly or the metal was bad) there could be a real issue as to who caused the problem.

If the dealer does all the work and it doesn't get better, it is the dealer's (and more importantly, Kubota's) responsibility to make sure it gets fixed. If you do something and it doesn't work, the dealer (or Kubota) can always say that you messed it up.

Of course, 100 miles doesn't get any shorter. Perhaps you can make the dealer come and either fix it there or haul it at their expense (they'll make Kubota pay for it)? But I can also see the nightmare of dragging the thing to the dealer, then once it is back at your place having the same (or, worse yet, different) problems.

Ah, good luck. I'm lucky to work with a pretty good dealer.

 

[JATO_RaT]

Clean the area, look for any new oil. If its at a fitting which is likely, tighten the fitting. Not uncommon for a hydraulic fitting to develop a leak especially when brand new. Most use flared fittings that need a slight snugging to stop the leak. I would certainly do it if it were me. Sometimes the fittings are hard to get to as others interfere. Don't be concerned over removing one to get to another. Rat

 

[Jibber]

Well, I did clean the area (still pretty clean anyway) and I noticed that it was coming from the lower hose fitting into the block.. not from the hose (compression) fitting. I also noticed that it had many more threads showing than the other (straight in) fitting. So, I loosened the compression fitting and then snugged up the other fitting into the block. I took the tractor out and worked the boom and bucket up and down in and out.. The leak appears to have stopped.. I did notice a very small amount of oil.. but this could have been residual from the earlier leaking/loosening/tightening.

PS.. I did call the dealer.. he gave me the same advice you folks did. He recommended snugging it up (but not forcing it) and if it still leaks any.. I could put some teflon tape on it. I'll be honest.. I probably could have snugged it up more.. but it was pretty tight and I've stripped my share of things over the years so I tried not to push it. I'll keep an eye on it over the next few weeks and If I see any significant leakage I'll probably snug it up just a bit more.. then try the tape if that doesn't work.

Thanx again!

 

[theboman]

A month ago, it's under warranty. Advise dealer. Next.
A dealer will take care of these problems fast, especially on a new unit, they want customer satisfaction.
We all know those darn seals, gaskets,etc, every now and then you get a bad one for whatever reason.burrs, blems, holes, tiny rips, just plum bad....