B7610 squealing noise ??

[botagreen]

I have a Kubota B7610 HST thats a little over a year old with about 200 hours on it. Two questions I would appreciate your help with:

1) I have recently begun hearing some sort of squealing noise that seems to be coming from the transmission. It is not an extermenly loud squeal but it is definitelty noticeable; almost like a spinning sound with a squael if that makes any sense. It occurs intermittently in both forward and reverse, with and without the 4wd engaged. It is intermittent and seems to quiet itself when I let off of the drive pedal and slow down just a bit. I performed my 50 hr service as called for, used Kubota fluids, check the tranny fluid frequently and I always let the tractor warm-up for about 5 minutes or so before driving it. Although I have worked it very hard over the last 6 months clearing land around my home on weekends, I do not feel I have abused it in any way. Any ideas as to what may be the problem ??

2) Every time I check the tranny fluid, I pull the dip-stick out and it is dry, (which seems a little bit odd to me). I then put it back in and when I pull it back out (gently), the fluid is always on the dip-stick, exactly on the line it is supposed to be on. Is it normal for there not to be fluid on the dipstick when I first pull it out ??

Thanks a lot for taking time to read this. Hope you can help.

 

[rickster]

My dip stick is the same way.

 

[alchemysa]

Does it have a metal mesh screen in the side of the gearcase? It would look something like part 070 in the attached pdf or jpeg from a 7100. If so did you give it a clean?

 

[Barnboy]

Check the drive shaft boot. The boot on my B3030 came loose and made a spinning, gears grinding ect sound. Dealer fixed the boot and all is well.

 

[botagreen]

rickster:: sounds like the dipstick phenomenon is normal if it happens to you too.

alchemysa: Yes, mine has a similar screen and I checked it at the 50 hr service. it was clean. I did 'rinse' it in a small tray of super UDT (owner's manual said use a non-flammable solvent and I could never figure out what that was ).

Barnboy: I gave it a look last night and the boot seems to be secure.

 

[Buckeyeman]

2) Every time I check the tranny fluid, I pull the dip-stick out and it is dry, (which seems a little bit odd to me). I then put it back in and when I pull it back out (gently), the fluid is always on the dip-stick, exactly on the line it is supposed to be on. Is it normal for there not to be fluid on the dipstick when I first pull it out ??

I have the same problem with my B7610. You never know if it's full or low. I drive it around then shut it off and re-check it on a flat surface and it's right to the full mark.

 

[brandoro]

I have noticed the dipstick issue as well. My theory is that the dipstick tube protrudes into the transmission case where there is oil present when the machine is level. When you drive around the oil can move away from the bottom of the dipstick tube, the oil in the tube drains away and can't get back in because of the "O" ring on the top of the dipstick seals the tube. You take the dipstick out, see no oil, put it back in and see the oil level has returned to normal because the top of the tube has been open to atmosphere and let oil back into the tube. My Tundra actually has the opposite issue, if it is parked a little off level with the dipstick tube slightly lower than usual the oil will be way up on the stick-checking when the engine is cold. Having had odd readings on the Kubota I left the stick out of the tube for a couple of minutes and tried again, the oil had returned to near its normal level. Slightly high because of being parked slightly off level. I think because of the high temperatures under the trucks hood that as it cools off the contracting air in the tube draws the oil up the tube.
For the squeal, I have noticed it but only when moving the tractor slowly at low RPM. The sound is so faint that I seldom hear it and have not been able to pinpoint what is causing it.
My B7610 has just under 200 hours, I have changed the engine oil and filter twice, the transmission fluid once including both filters and cleaned the screen. I first noticed the faint squeal some time after the transmission service. The front axle fluid level is also okay so should not be a problem there.

 

[easygo]

I have a B7510 and it has the same issue with the transmission noise. I posted a similar thread about it a while ago and owners of several models responded that it seems to be a Kubota issue. The noise on my tractor is much more frequent in Hi range and almost never happens in Lo. It seems to occur when there is no load on the transmission. Such ans when driving on level ground at a constant speed. If I change the speed it goes away.

Same here with the SUDT level dip stick. I guess you have to pull it out and stick it back in to get an accurate level reading. When I refilled with fluid after 50hrs service each time I checked the level I had to "double dip".

 

[botagreen]

Thanks Buckeyeman and Brandoro for affirming what I had also theorized in my mind regarding the issue with the dipstick tube and fluid level. Makes perfect sense to me. I had worried that there was somehow a link between the squealing noise and the low fluid level when I first pulled the dipstick to check the fluid. It settles the issue for me now to know that double-dipping is indeed the trick.
Easygo: Thanks for telling me about the prior discussion that you had on this. I found it, read what you described and it and it really sounds like we have the same issue. Apparently it is normal to hear this intermittent squal from the HST, but I still plan to keep an extra close eye on the fluid level and if it gets obnoxiously loud or affects performance, I will let the dealer take a look.

 

[nckubota]

I have a B7510 with manual tranny. I have had the same issue with the squealing / grinding/ spinning sound that comes and goes. I took the tractor in to our local Kubota dealership. The tractor is 2 1/2 years old with 225 hours on it, so the drivetrain is still under warranty until August of this year.

The shop foreman had the tractor for a week, he heard the noise initially when I dropped the tractor off and agreed that it needed to be investigated, but when he finished the project he was on and moved my tractor into the shop the noise had disappeared (again). He knew that the tractor was making an unusual sound, but he told me that Kubota would not pay the dealership to "perform exploratory surgery " on my tractor to figure out the out of place noise, and to take the tractor home and run it until something broke. Well that may be so, but my concerns are:

If I run my tractor until August and the warranty is expired then something breaks I am screwed.

The tractor doesn't start making the noise again until the warranty has expired then I am screwed again.

Any suggestions for a course of action. I thought that I should write a letter to Kubota Inc. and outline the problem and my concerns so that it is documented that there was a noise in the transmission but the dealership could not investigate to find the problem. What do you guys think ?

 

[ficord]

I have a B3030 with cab and it makes a squealing noise usually when going fast under no load. Almost like a dry oversized bushing spinning and rocking on a shaft. Looking underneath the tractor at the linkage for the transmission foot pedal and the linkage for the parking brake,
I notice a lot of loose and sloppy bushing , washers, and cotter pins that spin and rattle when you tap on them they're not worn just sloppy and dry. I only have 100 hrs on it and everything is like new.
I believe the noise is coming from this area and just at the right speed they vibrate and rattle just for a few seconds. Today I bought a needle grease adaptor for my grease gun tomorrow I am going to squirt some of that sticky red grease between all the loose and sloppy hardware in this area and see if the noise goes away. I have read other posts and it seems allot of Kubota owners have this same strange noise.
Does anybody know what I'm talking about and maybe already greased this area? there are no grease fitting just allot of sloppy fitting hardware that rattles.

 

[botagreen]

This Spinning / squealing noise that I described in my original post seems to be getting more frequent and perhaps worse. The best I can tell, the source of this noise seems to be from what appears to be a drive shaft that comes from the transmission to the front axle. There appears to be at least 1 U-joint connection along this shaft, but I can only see one because a rubber cover/boot covers the front 1/2 of the shaft. The more I think about it, this sound almost resembles that of a dry bearing, or one with excessive play in it. It is a spinning sort of sound if that makes sense. There does not appear to be a grease nipple on the u-joint and even if it was, it would be very hard to access due to the fact that it is situated within a portion of the frame and would require quite a bit of dismantling to get good access. I thought I would throw-this out to you guys and see if any of you have any ideas. I don't think it is under warranty anymore so I am hesitant to have it taken to the dealer, who is 50+ miles away if I can fix her myself. Should I even worry about it since the tractor otherwise runs perfectly ??

 

[KHNewman]

I have a B7610 with around 130hrs and I have had the exact same problem for a while now. Same situation, high gear, no load level gorund it occassionally squeals and then fixes itself. It does sound like the tranny or driveshaft and there is no rhyme or reason to when it happens. It even did it right after my 100 hour service which was done by the dealer...

Sorry I don't have any suggestions, I am just as stumped but I am glad it is not just my machine.

 

[DonnieP]

I have B7510 -manual tranny- 150 hours on it and have had the same problem a couple of times, traveling in high gear - two wheel drive - on highway. It's nice to know I'm not alone!!

 

[botagreen]

PROBLEM SOLVED !!!!
OK, this squealing noise finally became so irritating and I became so frustrated from not being able to find it's source that I took it to the dealer. It cost me about $120 but alas, problem solved. I could kick myself because it was so simple. The culprit: The front drive shaft that comes from the transmission to the front axle, has a plastic boot/cover around the front 1/2 of the shaft. The spinning of the drive shaft was somehow rubbing, or causing vibration to the plastic boot and the noise I was hearing was the result of this. The mechanic said that he loosened the hose clamp that held the boot in place, which allowed him access to coat the front 1/2 of the drive shaft with wheel bearing grease. The grease, along with a slight adjustment to the position of the boot has completely eliminated the problem. Maybe the others who have responded to this thread with the same problem can now save themselves some $ by fixing it themself.

 

[MarkLeininger]

2) Every time I check the tranny fluid, I pull the dip-stick out and it is dry, (which seems a little bit odd to me). I then put it back in and when I pull it back out (gently), the fluid is always on the dip-stick, exactly on the line it is supposed to be on. Is it normal for there not to be fluid on the dipstick when I first pull it out ??

Thanks a lot for taking time to read this. Hope you can help.

I posted a question about this a year or so ago on my B2710. One guy came up with an explanation that sounded halfway reasonable. As I recall he said there's a tube that the dipstick goes into and when the tranny gets hot the air column in the tube forces the oil down out of that tube. When you pull out the dipstick, the column of oil can rise back up, so when you reinsert the dipstick you get a correct reading. Other than believing in the supernatural, that's the best explanation I heard.

 

[easygo]

PROBLEM SOLVED !!!!
OK, this squealing noise finally became so irritating and I became so frustrated from not being able to find it's source that I took it to the dealer. It cost me about $120 but alas, problem solved. I could kick myself because it was so simple. The culprit: The front drive shaft that comes from the transmission to the front axle, has a plastic boot/cover around the front 1/2 of the shaft. The spinning of the drive shaft was somehow rubbing, or causing vibration to the plastic boot and the noise I was hearing was the result of this. The mechanic said that he loosened the hose clamp that held the boot in place, which allowed him access to coat the front 1/2 of the drive shaft with wheel bearing grease. The grease, along with a slight adjustment to the position of the boot has completely eliminated the problem. Maybe the others who have responded to this thread with the same problem can now save themselves some $ by fixing it themself.

Thank you for the post Botagreen.

Although I have not heard the noise in several months I will check it when snow season is over. I only use HI gear when mowing and that has not happened in 5 months and will not happen until May or so.

It sounds like the right location for the noise as I recall it originates from the front section of the "underbelly". Can you give a little info on how the mechanic adjusted that plastic casing/boot? I would assume pushed farther font or pulled back slightly.

 

[botagreen]

According to the mechanic:
1) The clamp holding the driveshaft boot was loosened to allow the boot to be moved fore and aft along the driveshaft, which allowed the bearing grease to be applied to the surface of the driveshaft.
2) After a few trial runs, he decided to adjust the position of the boot with a slight twist to the left or right. It sounded like that the boot may have had a slight warp to it which caused it to contact the driveshaft and created the aweful squeal. The twist to the boot offered a little clearance between the two to hopefully prevent any further contact.

 

[Barnboy]

PROBLEM SOLVED !!!!
OK, this squealing noise finally became so irritating and I became so frustrated from not being able to find it's source that I took it to the dealer. It cost me about $120 but alas, problem solved. I could kick myself because it was so simple. The culprit: The front drive shaft that comes from the transmission to the front axle, has a plastic boot/cover around the front 1/2 of the shaft. The spinning of the drive shaft was somehow rubbing, or causing vibration to the plastic boot and the noise I was hearing was the result of this. The mechanic said that he loosened the hose clamp that held the boot in place, which allowed him access to coat the front 1/2 of the drive shaft with wheel bearing grease. The grease, along with a slight adjustment to the position of the boot has completely eliminated the problem. Maybe the others who have responded to this thread with the same problem can now save themselves some $ by fixing it themself.

That was the boot i was referring to. My B3030 did the same thing. Glad you fixed it.

 

[botagreen]

That was the boot i was referring to. My B3030 did the same thing. Glad you fixed it.

Yep, I remember that Barnboy but the sound was so ominous that I could not imagine how a little plastic boot could be the cause and since it only occurred when the tractor was in motion, it was impossible for me to see it while it happened. Also, my boot was still secured to the tractor and did not seem at all loose. It was simply rubbing & vibrating against the driveshaft. After paying the dealer to fix the problem I re-read my original post and saw your response again and realized that our problems were very similar. Thanks, and if anyone else out there doubts that a little plastic boot can be the cause of such noise, maybe this will be enough to convince you to take a closer look.