Hydraulic fluid leaking from dipstick: L4701

[rickdrey]

Hello, hoping you can help with the below issue on my L4701. When putting away hay for the year, we noticed a lot of fluid leaking from below the seat. It is steadily oozing from the dipstick, that's on the left side of the driver's seat. This is after running at high RPM's for a while, and using the hydraulics a lot of lift round bales

It looks to me like this is the hydraulic fluid dipstick. Online I read that it will leak from here if the fluid is too full. I've had the tractor for about 100 hours, and have never added fluid, so I'm not sure it would be overfilled at this point

I spoke to the Kubota dealer here, and they told me the rubber tube next to the dipstick is a vent tube, and is probably clogged, which is making the pressure too high, and therefore the leak. Looking at the tube though, which is question mark shaped, it looks like there is no hole on the end, so I am not sure how it would have vented in the first place

Any suggestions for repair, or any ideas for what to check next would be greatly appreciated

 

[GrizBota]

The vent tube should have a small hole in the end. You should be able to gently remove it. It there’s really no hole in the end, make one.

Fair bit of rust down in that area. I suppose this tractor is stored outside. You might want to clean off the accumulated debris and then blow it off once in a while after that. A battery powered leaf blow works just fine.

Then check the fluid level. Sounds as if you have not in the 100 hours you’ve owned it. Since this tractor has a metal dipstick, I’m thinking it’s a few years old. I’m presuming the newer L3901s have a yellow plastic dipstick, but that’s just a guess.

 

[rickdrey]

The vent tube should have a small hole in the end. You should be able to gently remove it. It there’s really no hole in the end, make one.

Fair bit of rust down in that area. I suppose this tractor is stored outside. You might want to clean off the accumulated debris and then blow it off once in a while after that. A battery powered leaf blow works just fine.

Then check the fluid level. Sounds as if you have not in the 100 hours you’ve owned it. Since this tractor has a metal dipstick, I’m thinking it’s a few years old. I’m presuming the newer L3901s have a yellow plastic dipstick, but that’s just a guess.

Can I just pull on the tube to remove it? I tried earlier, but it was very snug and I didn't want to break it

The tractor is always stored in a barn, but I have no idea before my ownership

 

[imnukensc]

As suggested, make a hole in the tube if there isn't one. I'd probably just cut off 1/8-1/4 inch of the tube. If you don't have an operator's manual for your tractor, you can download one here for free: https://www.kubotabooks.com/AutoIndex/index.php?dir=Tractor Owners Manuals/

 

[GrizBota]

As suggested, make a hole in the tube if there isn't one. I'd probably just cut off 1/8-1/4 inch of the tube. If you don't have an operator's manual for your tractor, you can download one here for free: https://www.kubotabooks.com/AutoIndex/index.php?dir=Tractor Owners Manuals/

That will work too. The newer tractors have smaller holes that the full diameter of the tube (like the older ones have). I learned here on OTT it’s because dirt dabbers like to nest in larger holes. At my place they just build nests on the barn trusses.

 

[Kennyd4110]

Similar thread here:

L3301 Transmission Fluid Dipstick Blowing Out

Had the transmission fluid dipstick on my L3301 HST blow out the other day, and oil squirted everywhere covering the whole tractor. Any clue as to why it happened? The dipstick head has popped up before, but I have just pressed it back down and went about my business. Not sure if it’s a quick...

www.orangetractortalks.com

Seems there is a batch of vent tubes with no holes!

 

[D2Cat]

Your arrow is going to the dip stick to check fluid lever. The vent tube in the rubber tube behind it in the picture. See item #220.