Hi all. I noticed my Dad's L3130GST is dripping a small amount of oil. I took a picture, hoping I would find a diagram that would help indicate what it is that I am looking at. I have not found anything yet though. This picture is looking at an area underneath the tractor and about the middle of it. Picture is looking toward the right side frame. Where the drop of oil is near the seam, seems to be where it is coming from. There is a drop of oil further back, but it looks like the seam might be where the issue is. I might need to crawl back under there and take another look though. Engine oil was dark, so it must be the hydraulic/transmission oil? All fluid levels looked good. Wondering if there is a seal there that dried up? Tractor sits around quite a bit. Thanks for any suggestions!
Tractor is dripping oil
- Thread starter Ineedtobuyatractor
- Start date
Let me take a shot...
If you've checked the engine oil and it's black, then I'd say this fairly colorless oil is either gear oil or hydraulic oil. (But could be engine oil - read on).
This view looks like you are past the engine and somewhere on the transmission. Is that right?
To the right of the drop and running parallel with the frame, appears to be a hydraulic delivery line going thru something black and looks kind of wet. Is it wet or just weird lighting?
Did you all perhaps do a recent engine oil change and this is spilled oil ?
If it's hydraulic oil, it will certainly feel different and smell different from engine oil or gear oil (which always smells terrible!).
How old is this machine and what are hours? It looks pretty clean from down there.
Let us know what you think/find out
If you've checked the engine oil and it's black, then I'd say this fairly colorless oil is either gear oil or hydraulic oil. (But could be engine oil - read on).
This view looks like you are past the engine and somewhere on the transmission. Is that right?
To the right of the drop and running parallel with the frame, appears to be a hydraulic delivery line going thru something black and looks kind of wet. Is it wet or just weird lighting?
Did you all perhaps do a recent engine oil change and this is spilled oil ?
If it's hydraulic oil, it will certainly feel different and smell different from engine oil or gear oil (which always smells terrible!).
How old is this machine and what are hours? It looks pretty clean from down there.
Let us know what you think/find out
I'd suggest throughtly cleaning the area above that area, including any connected lines, etc., run it for quite awhile then inspect the general area starting from the top down. If there are any hydraulic lines above wrap the fittings with toilet paper possible when the tractor is cold it may allow some weepage.
That is a great suggestion. I usually get too busy and jump from one thing to the next. I need to slow down and take a more logical approach. I will head there today and get things cleaned up. Thank you.
Thank you for commenting. I think the tractor is around 15 to 20 years old. I did both the engine oil change and the hydraulic oil change last fall (located in the very back of the tractor). I am assuming it is the transmission, but I couldnt find a diagram that showed me something that looked like the picture. It must be the transmission, because the engine is a few feet forward from the picture. I don't think I changed any "gear oil". Would that be specific to the axles?
Gear oil - yes. I was thinking engine oil or gear oil change you may have spilled some.
One thing I forgot to ask is if you've wiped the oil off, or even washed the transmission with degreaser and the oil came back.
If you can't find a leak, you might consider a wash, check and record levels of oils and see what happens - run it awhile first and put it up. If you get more drips, then there may be a leak.
EDIT: Just saw @Motion note - agree with his thoughts
One thing I forgot to ask is if you've wiped the oil off, or even washed the transmission with degreaser and the oil came back.
If you can't find a leak, you might consider a wash, check and record levels of oils and see what happens - run it awhile first and put it up. If you get more drips, then there may be a leak.
EDIT: Just saw @Motion note - agree with his thoughts
I have not washed it or cleaned it with degreaser. Winter is here and all the outside water is turned off. I will pick up some degreaser and wipe things down today. That should be a good start.
If you can get the area as clean as possible and spritz some powder like baby powder under there you can quickly see where it originates. What works good for "up hill dusting" is one of those dusters used to put dust on garden plants.