Joys of new tractors

[TheOldHokie]

At roughly 80 hours I noticed an oil leak dripping from the vicinity of the front of the engine. I immediately feared the worst but a little searching of the archives turned up a thread about loose hose clamps on the hydraulic oil cooler. Sure enough that was the culprit. The bottom worm gear hose clamp was barely tight enough to contact the hose and the source of the leak. Dripping at the rate of about one drop per second. The upper one was a little bit tighter and not leaking but way looser than is my practice. I snugged them both up and cleaned up the oily mess. Keeping my fingers crossed....

Dan

 

[NCL4701]

I had a similar experience with a coolant leak around 100 hours on mine. Only leaked when running. It was getting into the fan and blowing all over so hard to see the source. Took the loader off for access, raised the hood, cleaned it up good, and cranked it up in the shop where I have good lighting. Thankfully just a loose hose clamp on the upper radiator hose. While it was opened up under the lights I checked every hose clamp I could find and over half were loose. No leaking since. New equipment problems…

 

[old and tired]

Ditto, same hose clamp... but I was running the chipper when I smelled hydraulic oil.... 2 gallons later and a few turns of the screw driver after re-attaching the hose. Good to go...

I would recommend anyone with the "Standard" L's to check their hose clamp tightness going into the oil cooler...

 

[forky]

Thanks for the heads up! I haven't seen a leak yet, but will definitely check out all the clamps. I didn't even give them a thought, but the way things vibrate, it makes good sense to check them out. I did have a clamp on one of the rear lights that worked it's way loose.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Ditto, same hose clamp... but I was running the chipper when I smelled hydraulic oil.... 2 gallons later and a few turns of the screw driver after re-attaching the hose. Good to go...

I would recommend anyone with the "Standard" L's to check their hose clamp tightness going into the oil cooler...

On a side note I also found the hex bolt I dropped and lost while replacing the grille back in July. I punched a hole in it within a couple weeks of getting the tractor. The bolt had fallen down behind the battery and was caught in the wiring harness for the positive battery cable. So the grille is now fully secured as well. Two birds - one stone.

Dan

 

[MINICUP28]

Must be a Kubota thing. The radiator hose clamps on my RTV-500 would not stop leaking. I finally had to double clamp them in an impossible area to get to.

 

[jyoutz]

Must be a Kubota thing. The radiator hose clamps on my RTV-500 would not stop leaking. I finally had to double clamp them in an impossible area to get to.

Is that a Kubota thing or a dealer assembly thing?

 

[GeoHorn]

Here’s a possible explanation of why new worm clamps may soon leak: (Skip the pliers sale-pitch and get to the “set tensions” vs “constant tension” clamps discussion: https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/best-hose-clamp-pliers/

 

[57plymouth]

I had the same leak. I also had the top hose on the power steering box leak due to a loose clamp.

These seem to be a standard problem with the L series.

 

[TheOldHokie]

Here’s a possible explanation of why new worm clamps may soon leak: (Skip the pliers sale-pitch and get to the “set tentions” vs “constant tension” clamps discussion: https://ricksfreeautorepairadvice.com/best-hose-clamp-pliers/

Except these coolers have metal hose barbs. The screw clamps were simply undertightened. I know over tightening is a legitimate concern with screw clamps but the bottom one was not even close.

The cooler right next to it has constant tension clamps which are close to GI proof. Go figure.

Dan

 

[ve9aa]

Is there one really weak guy or girl in the factory who maybe should be applying stickers or feather-dusting dirt off instead of (not) cranking down on hose clamps?

 

[TheOldHokie]

Is there one really weak guy or girl in the factory who maybe should be applying stickers or feather-dusting dirt off instead of (not) cranking down on hose clamps?

Given the regularity of the problem my guess is they are using a pneumatic or electric tool with a torque setting that is too low for reliable operation. Hand tools are more or less passe' on a modern assembly line.

Dan

 

[SDT]

Given the regularity of the problem my guess is they are using a pneumatic or electric tool with a torque setting that is too low for reliable operation. Hand tools are more or less passe' on a modern assembly line.

Dan

Bingo.

 

[GeoHorn]

Is there one really weak guy or girl in the factory who maybe should be applying stickers or feather-dusting dirt off instead of (not) cranking down on hose clamps?

 

[steveh]

I live a mile up a one-lane dirt road from where the dealer has to deliver a tractor to me. Therefore, my first use of a new tractor is to drive it a mile to home. This time, I arrived home in my 4701 and noticed coolant leaking from the radiator onto the carport floor. I discovered that both the upper and lower hose clamps were barely finger-tight. Lost some of coolant, but not enough to ruin anything. I then went over the tractor and found several loose bolts and a tail light was inop. Eventually found an unconnected wire. This was a brand-new machine supposedly checked out by the shop prior to delivery. I mentioned these and a couple other things I found to the service manager few days later, not complaining but more concerned that they were perhaps not really going over the tractors. He shrugged and said it was my responsibility.

 

[GeoHorn]

I live a mile up a one-lane dirt road from where the dealer has to deliver a tractor to me. Therefore, my first use of a new tractor is to drive it a mile to home. This time, I arrived home in my 4701 and noticed coolant leaking from the radiator onto the carport floor. I discovered that both the upper and lower hose clamps were barely finger-tight. Lost some of coolant, but not enough to ruin anything. I then went over the tractor and found several loose bolts and a tail light was inop. Eventually found an unconnected wire. This was a brand-new machine supposedly checked out by the shop prior to delivery. I mentioned these and a couple other things I found to the service manager few days later, not complaining but more concerned that they were perhaps not really going over the tractors. He shrugged and said it was my responsibility.

I’d happily let him learn that it’s HIS responsibility to explain to the Dealership Owner how he failed to take care of a customer.

 

[old and tired]

...He shrugged and said it was my responsibility.

That would Piss me off {unless I got a really, REALLY cheap price on the tractor}... It should come to you "fully serviced".

For what it's worth, I would double check the front axle fluid... that's normally low!!! ...and that's from dealers that gave a crap.

 

[bbxlr8]

That would Piss me off {unless I got a really, REALLY cheap price on the tractor}... It should come to you "fully serviced".

For what it's worth, I would double check the front axle fluid... that's normally low!!! ...and that's from dealers that gave a crap.

FWIW I just found Front axle to be low @ 50h.

Can someone point out where to check? Not obvious to me in the OP pic & I haven't noticed anything yet. THX

 

[kubotafreak]

You just got the extra undercoating for your battery area... Should easily add a few years of corrosion protection.

 

[old and tired]

Can someone point out where to check? Not obvious to me in the OP pic & I haven't noticed anything yet. THX

I think this is the one...