L2550 Glide Shift wouldn't move when cold.

[Stinger23]

Fired up the tractor in 19° weather and let it warm up for about 10 minutes. Went to move it into the shop and when I put it in gear and released the clutch it did not do anything in forward or reverse. No movement, the sound of the engine did not change.

I tried the FEL and it lifted off the ground. I tried the steering wheel and it sort of felt like the power steering was not functional but I didn't push it very hard, so I let it run another 5 minutes and then tried it again. This time when I put it in forward or reverse and release the clutch it would nudge forward ever so slightly when I would release the clutch but never actually get rolling like it wouldn't get out of its own little tracks in the dirt.

Let it run another 7 or 8 minutes and tried it again and it was no better. So I shut the tractor off and started it back up and revved the engine up a few times and turned the steering wheel and then tried to drive it again and this time it moved like it should.

It sort of seemed like either revving the engine or turning the steering wheel somehow allowed the transmission to start functioning properly again.

Any idea what this could be?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Too thick of hydraulic fluid
Suction leak.
Water in fluid or filter.
Warn second stage of the pump (not very likely)

The fluid being too think is the normal cause.

 

[Stinger23]

Hmm, it was serviced including changing all fluids by the local Kubota dealer right before I bought it. Wonder if they would be able to look up what they put in it...

The weirdest part to me was that it went from not working the last time to working fine in about 30 seconds.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Hmm, it was serviced including changing all fluids by the local Kubota dealer right before I bought it. Wonder if they would be able to look up what they put in it...

The weirdest part to me was that it went from not working the last time to working fine in about 30 seconds.

Sounds like a suction leak.
Check the suction hose going to the pump.
The main pump can cavitate the second stage pump (PS and GST) when there is a suction leak.
How you can tell is that the suction hose will look wet.

 

[Stinger23]

Sounds like a suction leak.
Check the suction hose going to the pump.
The main pump can cavitate the second stage pump (PS and GST) when there is a suction leak.
How you can tell is that the suction hose will look wet.

That sounds like it. Where is this suction hose I'm looking for located?

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

The main suction line is the top pic and the secondary suction line is the bottom pic.
The yellow (hose and clamps is the most common leak point.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

2 other points to mention:

Have you checked the fluid level?

And make sure there changed the small filter when they did the service, and that there is no leak at that filter and the larger filter.

I've seen several times where they have changed the main hydraulic filter but forgot to do the GST and PS filter.

 

[Stinger23]

Ok, I'll give that a look, thanks.

 

[Stinger23]

2 other points to mention:

Have you checked the fluid level?

And make sure there changed the small filter when they did the service, and that there is no leak at that filter and the larger filter.

I've seen several times where they have changed the main hydraulic filter but forgot to do the GST and PS filter.

View attachment 148695

I haven't checked the level. I'll look at the filters as well.