Replace L295dt hydraulic pump?

[Tgore76]

First time tractor owner. I bought a 1980-ish Kubota L295dt. Shortly after buying I realized the clutch needed replaced and bit the bullet and paid the dealership to do the service.

just got it back and now the bucket loader and three point hitch hydraulics are not working and the dealer said it needs a new hydraulic pump. The quote to fix is $1400 and includes an $800 OEM pump and I think replacing some or all of the fluids that I just had put in new after the tractor split for the clutch.

i’m trying to see if this is within my ability to do. how hard is it to change the hydraulic pump and can anybody point me towards a tutorial? is it possible to catch some of this Kabota oil that is more expensive than liquid gold and refill after I replace the pump?

 

[007kubotaguy]

Not to hard to replace the hydraulic pump. 4 bolts on the pump and 2 steel line. You don't need to drain the hydraulic oil to replace the pump. You can get a aftermarket pump for under $300.00. It won't take more then a hour to replace the pump.
Good luck.

 

[Tgore76]

Not to hard to replace the hydraulic pump. 4 bolts on the pump and 2 steel line. You don't need to drain the hydraulic oil to replace the pump. You can get a aftermarket pump for under $300.00. It won't take more then a hour to replace the pump.
Good luck.

Thanks. I wonder why the dealer is quoting me four quarts of hydraulic fluid and a filter? Isn’t this the mesh filter that can be cleaned? Do I need to be worried about purging air from the lines once I put it back together?

 

[007kubotaguy]

Thanks. I wonder why the dealer is quoting me four quarts of hydraulic fluid and a filter? Isn’t this the mesh filter that can be cleaned? Do I need to be worried about purging air from the lines once I put it back together?a

Yes it is mesh filter. If it is not damaged just clean it. You will lose the fluid when you that the filter out. Just catch it in a clean container. No need to bleed the air out. I always put some oil in the new pump before I install in.

 

[Russell King]

Just to clarify the situation. Is this the original equipment pump on the side of the tractor engine or does your tractor have a pump mounted on front of the tractor? Your description implies that the loader and 3PH are driven off the same pump which implies that is the pump on the side of the engine

That pump is really easy to replace and I have removed it from my similar L185 and you won’t lose any fluid and not any obvious reason to be cleaning the screen (filter) unless it is suspect somehow. If you have to clean or replace the screen almost all fluid will be drained but can be reused (if new, kept clean during draining...)

Is the engine oil level rising or staying constant? Hydraulic pump seal leak will fill engine crankcase and lower performance of the pump.

 

[Tgore76]

Just to clarify the situation. Is this the original equipment pump on the side of the tractor engine or does your tractor have a pump mounted on front of the tractor? Your description implies that the loader and 3PH are driven off the same pump which implies that is the pump on the side of the engine

That pump is really easy to replace and I have removed it from my similar L185 and you won’t lose any fluid and not any obvious reason to be cleaning the screen (filter) unless it is suspect somehow. If you have to clean or replace the screen almost all fluid will be drained but can be reused (if new, kept clean during draining...)

Is the engine oil level rising or staying constant? Hydraulic pump seal leak will fill engine crankcase and lower performance of the pump.

I haven’t even really got the chance to use the tractor since I purchased it. I had it taken to the dealer to get a once over and since it sat in their parking lot for about a month the clutch seized up and I had to have it replaced.

The front and loader which I believe to be original to the tractor and the three point hitch were working, but right after the tractor was delivered to my land with a new clutch and I let it run long enough to warm things up ( and with a new brush hog attached), The hydraulics stopped working - Couldn’t even move it with the bucket down!

I had them take it back to the dealer and they are just telling me that the hydraulic pump needs replaced - I haven’t had a chance to talk to the mechanic yet to find out exactly how he determined that?

Again I do know that on the quote in addition to the $800 OEM pump, they are charging for about 4 quarts of hydraulic fluid and a new filter?

Based on that I just assumed that I could replace the pump and clean the old filter myself! I figured I would buy an aftermarket pump and just order all of the seals and what not that are on their estimate!?

 

[Tgore76]

I assume the original pump.

 

[Tgore76]

Are all the aftermarket pumps on eBay and Amazon generally equal quality?

 

[Russell King]

Ok it sounds like the original pump on side of engine. I know they are pricey through the dealer so that price is high but not outlandish for OEM.

They may just be charging you for a little fluid they expect to lose during the service and replacing the filter just to be sure it is good. The screen can be damaged over the years so I know I just replaced mine when I bought my tractor to be sure that it was new/clean.

Again this is a simple repair so it seems that $600 labor is high but I don’t know the total parts cost involved. I would guess they estimate about 2 hours labor total to replace the pump to be easy on themselves.

$1400 sounds a bit high but not like they are too high for using OEM part and high labor rates. Since you have it there already are you going to let them repair it or have it returned? Is transportation free or is that part of the charges?

If it was at your place I would not tell you to have the dealer do the work, unless you just have zero ability or interest in doing the repair. If you have the ability to change engine oil on a car you have enough ability to do this replacement of the pump. Priming the pump and putting in o-rings to seal the lines are the most difficult things to to. I think you have to turn the pump shaft to align with the engine driving shaft.

The filter replacement is also easy. The only technical part is installing o-ring.

I don’t know of any links but surely someone hast posted something on the internet on similar work.

 

[007kubotaguy]

If your pump worked be for the dealership put a clutch in your tractor I would wonder if the pump just lost prime. Generally a gear pump dies over time not all at once. I would try cleaning your filter and filling the pump with oil. The best way is to remove the inlet pipe from the pump (the one the filter is on) and pour hydraulic oil into the pump. If you have help tap the engine over a small amount but hold the fuel shut off so it doesn't start. Do this a couple time to get the pump full of oil. Them install the pipe
See if it works. As the pumps get older when we change the hydraulic the sometimes lose prime and won't pickup the oil

 

[Tgore76]

After they did clutch & rplaced hydraulic oil, the loader & 3-pt worked when I checked everything at dealership...and bucket/brush-hog lifted fine for them to get on/off trailer. But after it ran 15-20 minutes, wouldn’t work?
Next day, when they came back to pick it up - worked again cold?

I haven’t asked mechanic yet why/how he says hydraulic pump - he was supposed to call me this afternoon but didn’t.

If the pump and lost its prime, would it have worked at all? The symptoms seem to me that it works when cold and doesn’t once warmed up?

 

[Tgore76]

Anyone have input on the two following questions:
1) any difference in quality between any of the aftermarket pumps available on eBay or Amazon?
2) when I had the clutch done the Kabota dealership put in Kabota hydraulic fluid. Quite pricey for a 40 year old tractor. As I work on it and change the pump or hydraulic lines and it needs topped off… what more economical fluid can I mix with the Kabota stuff they put in there? I probably would’ve filled the whole thing with Supertek from Walmart but since it was a dealership they only would use their fluid!

 

[TheOldHokie]

Anyone have input on the two following questions:
1) any difference in quality between any of the aftermarket pumps available on eBay or Amazon?
2) when I had the clutch done the Kabota dealership put in Kabota hydraulic fluid. Quite pricey for a 40 year old tractor. As I work on it and change the pump or hydraulic lines and it needs topped off… what more economical fluid can I mix with the Kabota stuff they put in there? I probably would’ve filled the whole thing with Supertek from Walmart but since it was a dealership they only would use their fluid!

An aftermarket pump will be fine as will any good quality UTTF.

Dan

 

[Tgore76]

How do you get the drive gear off of the old hydraulic pump to put on the shaft of the new one?