Loss of Power?

[BrianAnthony]

Hi everyone. I have a 12 year old L3240 HST with 2500 hours on it that I bought new. I do all the fluid and filter changes at the recommended intervals using Kubota filters and fluids.
lately I’ve noticed that it doesn’t seem to have the power that it has had. Going up a incline or pulling a load it just doesn’t seem to be able to do what it use to.
I also have found that when I go to do more the one function such as lift the loader while rolling the bucket it’s wicked slow.
I had just replaced both hydraulic filters and fluids about fifty hours ago.
It almost feels like there’s a reduced flow of hydraulic fluid maybe?
Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks, Brian

 

[DustyRusty]

Did you use Kubota Super UDT 2 hydraulic oil sold only by Kubota dealers? It is mighty cold in NH in the winter, and if you used anything other than the Kubota Super UDT, it is much too heavy for your machine. Same with filters. Store-bought filters might cross-reference and fit, but they might also be too restrictive for your tractor. Finally, you might have to add a shim or two to increase your hydraulic pressure, which drops off with age.

 

[BrianAnthony]

Did you use Kubota Super UDT 2 hydraulic oil sold only by Kubota dealers? It is mighty cold in NH in the winter, and if you used anything other than the Kubota Super UDT, it is much too heavy for your machine. Same with filters. Store-bought filters might cross-reference and fit, but they might also be too restrictive for your tractor. Finally, you might have to add a shim or two to increase your hydraulic pressure, which drops off with age.

DustyRusty thanks for getting back to me. My last hydraulic fluid and filter changes (maybe 50-52 hours ago; I’d have to check my file) I went to the local Kubota dealer to pick up the needed pieces.
They had the two filters I needed but not the UDT. The guy at the service counter said they were having supply issues and weren’t sure when they’d get more ( this was back around November?).
I ended up using the Kubota filters with Tractor Supply Super Premium hydraulic fluid. Could the TSC fluid be the issue?
Also two other quick questions. “Shim for the hydraulics”? And the other is fluid capacity. According to the service manual the L3240 takes 11.1 gallons of hydraulic fluid. That capacity must allow for the hydraulic fluid to run the FEL and other front mounted equipment.
Again, thank you for your above reply. Brian

 

[TheOldHokie]

DustyRusty thanks for getting back to me. My last hydraulic fluid and filter changes (maybe 50-52 hours ago; I’d have to check my file) I went to the local Kubota dealer to pick up the needed pieces.
They had the two filters I needed but not the UDT. The guy at the service counter said they were having supply issues and weren’t sure when they’d get more ( this was back around November?).
I ended up using the Kubota filters with Tractor Supply Super Premium hydraulic fluid. Could the TSC fluid be the issue?
Also two other quick questions. “Shim for the hydraulics”? And the other is fluid capacity. According to the service manual the L3240 takes 11.1 gallons of hydraulic fluid. That capacity must allow for the hydraulic fluid to run the FEL and other front mounted equipment.
Again, thank you for your above reply. Brian

The TSC fluid is the same viscosity as standard UDT and I doubt that is your problem. In cold weather the hydraulics might be slow to respond at startup but once it had warmed up you would not see any difference.

Edit: I just re-read your post and now I am a bit unsure what fluid you purchased. Was it the Traveler Premium Tractor hydraulic fluid in the black pail or something labeled Super in a yellow pail?

Dan

 

[BrianAnthony]

The TSC fluid is the same viscosity as standard UDT and I doubt that is your problem. In cold weather the hydraulics might be slow to respond at startup but once it had warmed up you would not see any difference.

Edit: I just re-read your post and now I am a bit unsure what fluid you purchased. Was it the Traveler Premium Tractor hydraulic fluid in the black pail or something labeled Super in a yellow pail?

Dan

Hi Dan; it was the Traveler Premium Tractor hydraulic fluid in the black pail. Sometimes I think it almost feels like a restriction happening. I love this tractor; I bought it in October of 2010. I’ve found that when I roll the bucket and don’t release the lever fully I get a whining, hissing type of noise like the valve hasn’t closed fully. When I give the control a quick tap the noise stops.

In May of 2018 I brought the tractor in to the dealer because the loader was maker the above noises. They checked the loader valve under the seat and said that the loader valve curl function was binding badl. The dealer says that they disassembled and lubricaTed the pivots.
And just recently even going up a slight incline (such as my driveway) the rpm’s very slowly start to drop where I’m going at a crawl. Again, I appreciate everyone taking that time to help me, thanks
Brian

The TSC fluid is the same viscosity as standard UDT and I doubt that is your problem. In cold weather the hydraulics might be slow to respond at startup but once it had warmed up you would not see any difference.

Edit: I just re-read your post and now I am a bit unsure what fluid you purchased. Was it the Traveler Premium Tractor hydraulic fluid in the black pail or something labeled Super in a yellow pail?

Dan

 

[TheOldHokie]

Hi Dan; it was the Traveler Premium Tractor hydraulic fluid in the black pail. Sometimes I think it almost feels like a restriction happening. I love this tractor; I bought it in October of 2010. I’ve found that when I roll the bucket and don’t release the lever fully I get a whining, hissing type of noise like the valve hasn’t closed fully. When I give the control a quick tap the noise stops.

In May of 2018 I brought the tractor in to the dealer because the loader was maker the above noises. They checked the loader valve under the seat and said that the loader valve curl function was binding badl. The dealer says that they disassembled and lubricaTed the pivots.
And just recently even going up a slight incline (such as my driveway) the rpm’s very slowly start to drop where I’m going at a crawl. Again, I appreciate everyone taking that time to help me, thanks
Brian

The implement pump (e.g. loader, remotes, and 3pt) is a separate system from the HST pump and motor so I am having trouble finding any relationship between the two problems. I suspect they are two different issues.

Your hissing noise sounds like a relief valve opening probably caused by a sticking valve spool or linkage somewhere. Same sort of problem you had before. The loss of drive power is more puzzling. The Grand L has some interesting computer logic that controls HST response and trying to fathom how that might be affected by implement pressures is way over my pay grade.

Dan

 

[DustyRusty]

As far as I know, there is no substitute for the Kubota Super UDT2 or original Kubota super UDT.
Read this post from start to finish, and pay particular attention to post 15.