BX23S Leaking Hydraulic Manifold, FEL

[The Plunk]

Does any one have any advice on how to fix my front end loader, 4 prong, hydraulic manifold connection from leaking on my BX23S? The dealership will fix it for $200 pick up/drop off fee. I’ve read about possibly replacing o-rings??? I’m also open to installing single flat face couplers if the OTT council decides that’s the best route. If anyone has part numbers for me to use to buy singles, that would be great, too.

Would like to vent some… I’ve had mine for 1 1/2 years. I bought it because my dad had/has a Kubota, all my friends dads had Kubotas growing up and they all ran like tanks. I’m so bummed about this tractor. I’d never buy a Kubota again. Reading everyone’s problems on here. Plus the fact I had to shell out $4k on a whole new FEL because I somehow bent the original. Still a mystery to me, I barely use it. Now this issue. All it is is a money pit that I keep dumping cash into. Very disappointed in general.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Does any one have any advice on how to fix my front end loader, 4 prong, hydraulic manifold connection from leaking on my BX23S? The dealership will fix it for $200 pick up/drop off fee. I’ve read about possibly replacing o-rings??? I’m also open to installing single flat face couplers if the OTT council decides that’s the best route. If anyone has part numbers for me to use to buy singles, that would be great, too.

Would like to vent some… I’ve had mine for 1 1/2 years. I bought it because my dad had/has a Kubota, all my friends dads had Kubotas growing up and they all ran like tanks. I’m so bummed about this tractor. I’d never buy a Kubota again. Reading everyone’s problems on here. Plus the fact I had to shell out $4k on a whole new FEL because I somehow bent the original. Still a mystery to me, I barely use it. Now this issue. All it is is a money pit that I keep dumping cash into. Very disappointed in general.

Seems nobody likes that 4-way coupler

Flat face would not be my choice. You can buy four new poppet valve couplers and the adapters needed to hook them up for something very close to the dealer's $200 hauling fee.

Dan

 

[The Plunk]

Seems nobody likes that 4-way coupler

Flat face would not be my choice. You can buy four new poppet galvebcouplers and the adapters needed to hook them up for something very close to the dealer's $200 hauling fee.

Dan

Thanks Hokie, that’s kind of what I was thinking. Do you happen to know a website or know what size exactly to buy?

 

[TheOldHokie]

Thanks Hokie, that’s kind of what I was thinking. Do you happen to know a website or know what size exactly to buy?

I know plenty of sources for parts but not the details of the connections. Here is a picture of a conversion taken from another thread. Its leaking worse than the OEM but thats another story. The picture illustrates the idea.

The swivels on the hose are JIC so that side is easy to match. I woyld suggest female couplers with SAE-06 threads and a SAE-06 to JIC-06 male adapter.

The male tips are mounted to the bracket using a bulkhead adapter. Again yiu choose the tip and thread on that end. The swivel connection to the steel lines on the tractor is the mystery. Should not be hard to figure out.

Dan

 

[85Hokie]

This video shows how to "bypass oem" - (Flat face)

Dan I bet can give you the exact specs on those hydraulic fittings to do this and like he said, it will be cheaper than the 200 bucks to haul.

 

[TheOldHokie]

This video shows how to "bypass oem" - (Flat face)

Dan I bet can give you the exact specs on those hydraulic fittings to do this and like he said, it will be cheaper than the 200 bucks to haul.

Based on that video it seems the OEM coupler is standard 1/4" flat face and all he replaced was the 4 way manifold on the hose side. Assuming that is right here you go. The female couplers I linked have SAE-06 ports so the unions are SAE-06 X JIC-06. My distaste for pipe thread connections is well documented here. Total cost delivered to your door is just under $100.

Dan

1/4" Flat Face Hydraulic Quick Connect Female Coupler, 3/8" SAE Thread

Free Shipping 1/4" Flat Face Hydraulic Quick Connect Female Coupler, 3/8" SAE Thread

summit-hydraulics.com

Adapter, JIC Male x SAE/ORB Male

Adapter Fitting, JIC Male x SAE/O-Ring Boss Male FREE SHIPPING

summit-hydraulics.com

 

[The Plunk]

Based on that video it seems the OEM coupler is standard 1/4" flat face and all he replaced was the 4 way manifold on the hose side. Assuming that is right here you go. The female couplers I linked have SAE-06 ports so the unions are SAE-06 X JIC-06. My distaste for pipe thread connections is well documented here. Total cost delivered to your door is just under $100.

Dan

1/4" Flat Face Hydraulic Quick Connect Female Coupler, 3/8" SAE Thread

Free Shipping 1/4" Flat Face Hydraulic Quick Connect Female Coupler, 3/8" SAE Thread

summit-hydraulics.com

Adapter, JIC Male x SAE/ORB Male

Adapter Fitting, JIC Male x SAE/O-Ring Boss Male FREE SHIPPING

summit-hydraulics.com

You da man Hokie! I was just looking them up also as we’re talking. I’m ordering them today. I’ll try to send some pics in progress and finished so hopefully it will help others out also.

 

[TheOldHokie]

You da man Hokie! I was just looking them up also as we’re talking. I’m ordering them today. I’ll try to send some pics in progress and finished so hopefully it will help others out also.

Not much to it. Unscrew four hoses and attach to four new couplers. So simple a ....

Dan

 

[The Plunk]

Not much to it. Unscrew four hoses and attach to four new couplers. So simple a ....

Dan

Haha, . Do you know if I’ll need to bleed anything after I’m done?

 

[TheOldHokie]

Haha, . Do you know if I’ll need to bleed anything after I’m done?

No bleeding needed. Any air you get in the hoses will purge itself as you operate the loader.

Just FYI - you do not use sealant on those fittings. Put the sealant down and step away from the tube....

Dan

 

[John T]

Would like to vent some… I’ve had mine for 1 1/2 years. I bought it because my dad had/has a Kubota, all my friends dads had Kubotas growing up and they all ran like tanks. I’m so bummed about this tractor. I’d never buy a Kubota again. Reading everyone’s problems on here. Plus the fact I had to shell out $4k on a whole new FEL because I somehow bent the original. Still a mystery to me, I barely use it. Now this issue. All it is is a money pit that I keep dumping cash into. Very disappointed in general.

"somehow bent it" ???

Sounds to me like operator error to me.
you can easily damage the loader if you don't take your time and be careful ...ESPECIALLY if your not familiar with it.

Anyway, If you had Kubota insurance, they would have covered it.
another operator error... duh.

as far as the loader manifold leaking... that has been covered many times....

Personally, I got rid of it and installed 4 pioneer couplers.... works great, no leaks.


stop your whining. Buck up young man.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Anyway,
Personally, I got rid of it and installed 4 pioneer couplers.... works great

So you replaced both halves? Whats the thread on the tractor side tube fittings?

Dan

 

[DustyRusty]

My tractor is the in the 2019 model year, and there is no leak from the loader connector. I also have never wrecked a front-end loader, and if I did, I wouldn't blame the tractor for my negligence. Either you have terrible luck and I have an excellent chance for good luck, or you just don't know how to take responsibility for your own mistakes and errors in life. I will bet that this is an age-based problem, since I am very old, and I am inclined to believe that you are quite young.

 

[John T]

So you replaced both halves? Whats the thread on the tractor side tube fittings?

Dan

yes,
I replaced both sides.

Can't remember the thread/pitch
I took the stock flat faced M/F down to the local Parker hydraulic store and they hooked me right up... wasn't expensive at all... pioneers are much cheaper than flat faced.

anyway, you need an adapter and a male / female.....
heres a couple pics from when I did it.

 

[cthomas]

Once again I am glad my dealer was misinformed and told me the quick attach hydraulic manifold was not compatible with a cab.

 

[TheOldHokie]

yes,
I replaced both sides.

Can't remember the thread/pitch
I took the stock flat faced M/F down to the local Parker hydraulic store and they hooked me right up... wasn't expensive at all... pioneers are much cheaper than flat faced.

anyway, you need an adapter and a male / female.....
heres a couple pics from when I did it.

View attachment 107825 View attachment 107826 View attachment 107827

Very neat and tidy

Based on that install it appears the tube fittings are NPT.

Dan

 

[imnukensc]

Very neat and tidy

Based on that install it appears the tube fittings are NPT.

Dan

They are. 3/8 JIC to 1/4 NPT. Used 4 of those and 4, Summit 1/4 flush face female couplers on mine. Didn't mess with the male couplers on the tractor at all. No leaks since I did this three years ago.

 

[TheOldHokie]

They are. 3/8 JIC to 1/4 NPT. Used 4 of those and 4, Summit 1/4 flush face female couplers on mine. Didn't mess with the male couplers on the tractor at all. No leaks since I did this three years ago.
View attachment 107837

Yes - we had the hose side identified many posts back. It is a JIC-06 female swivel. As I said in that earlier post I hate pipe threads and would use couplers with SAE ports. Available from Summit for the same price as the ones with NPTF ports.

In the post you quoted I was talking about the tube fittings on the male tip side - see picture below. They are not JIC - most likely NPTF - and the tipscare screwed onto the tube without adapters.

Dan

 

[John T]

They are. 3/8 JIC to 1/4 NPT. Used 4 of those and 4, Summit 1/4 flush face female couplers on mine. Didn't mess with the male couplers on the tractor at all. No leaks since I did this three years ago.
View attachment 107837

yeah,
Thats a great way to go.. I almost did that BUT I had a guy dying to buy the entire quick connect manifold.... I think I got $150 for it.

which paid for my pioneers and then some.... win/win

 

[Trimley]

yes,
I replaced both sides.

Can't remember the thread/pitch
I took the stock flat faced M/F down to the local Parker hydraulic store and they hooked me right up... wasn't expensive at all... pioneers are much cheaper than flat faced.

anyway, you need an adapter and a male / female.....
heres a couple pics from when I did it.

View attachment 107825 View attachment 107826 View attachment 107827

I've got a gen3 BX2380 on order. Since then, diving in to anything and everything to learn of "quirks" they have.

I've been reading issue after issue about the single lever loader valve coupling, knowing my fate is just a matter of time, I'll be replacing it with single hose connections. Given my current position, the info you're sharing here regarding the fittings, is appreciated. It's pretty sad, knowing the problem is well-known throughout Kubota, yet they continue to push the quick coupler.

Thanks for sharing, Sir.