Why is this leaking and what is it?

   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #1  

snoiger01

Bronze Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
62
Location
Central Alabama
Tractor
Kubota L3800
I have a L3800 HST with 174 hours. I tried to mow grass yesterday but as soon as I engaged the PTO I heard this awful knocking noise, so I immediately shut down. I dropped the mower and started looking around and noticed the sight glass showed no oil!! OH NO, well I freaked out and added more hydro oil, after 2 gallons I STILL couldn't see any in the sight glass, but it started over flowing out of the fill hole, so I assumed it was full.
I cranked the tractor and oil starts pouring out of this hook shaped hose. When I engaged the pto, the horrible knocking was gone, replaced by a clicking noise. I can't remember hearing a clicking noise before, so is that normal? Oh and oil continued from this hook thing.
I shut down the engine and noticed the oil continued to drip from this mystery hose, but none is showing in the sight glass.
leak.jpg
Any thoughts? Have I broken something major?
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #2  
That is a vent tube for the transmission area and your hydraulic system is way overfilled. You will need to remove the two gallons you put in and maybe then some. I suggest using one of the rear axle drains if you do not have a siphon pump. It is hard to see the fluid level in the sight glass and if the level is over the top it will look like it is low. As far as the clicking noise it could be that the PTO may not have been fully engaged, the clutch was not fully disengaged, or the mower was still spinning when you tried to engage the PTO.
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #3  
What ritschner said.

Your sight glass was full and just looked empty. :eek:
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #4  
OK, I don't know about the clicking noise when the PTO is engaged, sorry there, but I can offer some insight on the sight glass and the vent hose. Yes the crooked hose is the air vent for the hydraulic system Notice the small hole in the end, turned down to keep rain water out of it.

Now for that worthless stinking POS sight glass that they put on these models. That thing has caused more trouble and misunderstanding from owners than anything else on the tractor. What usually happens is the tractor is already full, and you cannot tell that because it if up over the the level of the sight glass..

Step 1 the tractor MUST be level in both axis's. Front to back level and side to side level. Place all implements down on the ground, in other words 3pt down and Loader down and level. Look carefully for the bubble line in the sight glass. (it is cheap plastic by the way, not glass). If you don't see it, start raising the loader about half way up, look again along the top of the sight glass, keep raising it all the way, look again, raise the 3pt, look again. Hopefully you will see the level at some point.

Remember the fluid is clear as water and very difficult to see. If you are convinced the fluid was always below the level of the sight glass, do one more test move the tractor and park on a side slope with the glass on the uphill side and the downhill side, repeat original test with loader and 3pt. IF then and only then you are convinced that the level is and always was below the level of the sight glass add 1/2 gallon of the proscribed hydraulic fluid, and repeat tests.

The thing to ask yourself is when you added 2 gallons of fluid. is where the heck did that 2 gallons of fluid originally go? the hydraulic fluid is quite fragrant, and when operating the tractor you would smell it very quickly, and if it ran out on the ground while parked, you would sure know it.

Most of the time when people cannot see fluid on that stupid, poorly engineered, useless POS of a sight glass it is because it is already over full to begin with. Like your machine for example. Now drain out 2 gallons of fluid, and start working on the PTO noise problem. There is an adjustment for the PTO engagement cable, and they are a known problem, but I don't have the expertise to advise you there, Perhaps others can help with the original problem.

If you would like to really know what I think of the sight glass give me a call sometime. :) Just how much would it have cost to put in a dipstick? Good luck with the PTO issue.

James K0UA
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #5  
Green has the answer. John Deere has a Red Dye that you add to hydraulic fluid. It comes in a 12mil bottle. It was costing between $3.50 and $4.00 per container. Pour one container in the fluid on the average small tractor and the clear hydraulic fluid problem is eliminated.
 

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   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #6  
Green has the answer. John Deere has a Red Dye that you add to hydraulic fluid. It comes in a 12mil bottle. It was costing between was $3.50 and $4.00 per container. Pour one container in the fluid on the average small tractor and the clear hydraulic fluid problem is eliminated.

Every Kubota sight glass equipped tractor should come standard with that dye in the fluid, and they should offer it for sale for replacement.. Thanks for the input.

James K0UA
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #7  
The first thing I would do, it take off that access panel under the seat, and check that the cable is fully actuating the actual PTO actuation lever on the side of the transmission. Those cables are notorious for going out of adjustment. This should be a fairly easy check. Lube up the cable and any pivot points while you have it apart. After that, I am out of ideas.

James K0UA
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #8  
Every Kubota sight glass equipped tractor should come standard with that dye in the fluid, and they should offer it for sale for replacement.. Thanks for the input.

James K0UA

Or - I don't know what the actual term is - a captive float bead in the sight glass.

Just sayin',
Z.
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it?
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Thanks for the input, I wish there was another way to check the fluid level because, as stated, the sight plastic stinks. The PTO engaging has been an issue since day 1. It starts with such force and makes such a loud CLANK that it just doesn't sound healthy, but the dealer said it was fine. I owned a green tractor before this one and its engagement was much less harsh.
Other than making a mess, is there any harm in having too much fluid and just letting it drain itself down to the appropriate level?
 
   / Why is this leaking and what is it? #10  
Odd... I have never had a problem with the "POS" sight glass. :rolleyes:

Also, my L3800 doesn't have a cable for the PTO? It has a lever that works flawlessly. No noise and a positive engagement. I do start the PTO at idle though. :confused:
 

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