B3200...only 20 hours ....not good

[MW66]

I've been using my tiller the last few days. All was going fine. This afternoon I was running threw some dirt and a bunch of it kicked way up. It was sort of weird. I got off my seat and I see fluid spraying against the rear inside tire . My jaw dropped....only 20 hours and not even a month old yet. I didn't hit or run over anything that would have protruded up into the bottom of the tractor. I felt the fluid and it definitely seems like transmission fluid. I cannot pinpoint the leak, but it's underneath near the rear sort of by the filter. It's looks like all the hose are on, but I just cannot tell. I hope this is not an omen of things to come with this tractor. I've got a bunch of work to do and now I'm stuck.

 

[ChuckinNH]

For one reason, or another, my garden tractor has one filter that will sometimes loosen even if it is installed carefully, and properly. Before you go any further reach in there with your hand, and make sure the filters are at least as snug as you can get them by hand..........

 

[MW66]

Thanks, I just checked it and it seems like it's snug.

 

[MW66]

Well, my neighbor came over and helped me diagnose the problem. It seems that I have a crack in my rear PTO line. Maybe a bad braze to the connector portion? I've been using my rear PTO a lot with the tiller work I've been doing, but this should not happen. When I tried to lift the tiller, it lifts, but oil shoots out of the crack in the line.

 

[Randyj]

You say only 20 hours. I'm guessing you bought your tractor new?

If so, I'm sure the dealer will replace the fractured line. But will they come get
it, or what?

If you bought it used, and you've only put 20 hours on it yourself, you may
have to either replace the line, or braze the crack.

 

[MW66]

Brand new. I bought it May 1st. I bought a Kubota because of their name and reliability. This has me a little nervous.

 

[TripleR]

Brand new. I bought it May 1st. I bought a Kubota because of their name and reliability. This has me a little nervous.

While it is unfortunate and shouldn't have happened, I would not take this as an indicator of anything.

 

[bp fick]

Stuff happens. It's a pain to have it happen, but it did. Huge annoyance and inconvenience, but that's all. Wonder how hard it would be to change out?

 

[Tractor Factor]

Hope your dealer is prompt and helpful. Yeah, inconvenient for you, but just one of those things...can happen with any make or model. Put a good spin on it by telling yourself you're fortunate to work out any kinks while the machine is new and under warranty.

No doubt this experience will recede in your memory as you accumulate years of reliable service from your 3200. Best of luck with everything!

 

[Texasclodhopper]

Don't worry about it. I've had mine for 6 months now without a problem. I'm just getting to the 50 hour maintenance, but the B3200 is smooth and has lots of power. I couldn't have put in our 2500 sq. ft. garden without it and the tiller. I've moved a dump truck full of sand from the SE corner of my yard to the NW corner near my garden; one bucket at a time. That's a lot of driving with a full bucket of sand and no hydraulic problems at all.

 

[kuboman]

There is only one thing more unreliable than a used machine and that is a new one:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[lakeside]

I bought a used (only 313 hours) B26 last year and within seven hours I had a leak in the main hydraulic hose going to the backhoe. I was one terribly ticked off person with a very expensive machine breaking almost the first day I had it.

Although the dealer was great and came almost 100 miles one-way to fix the hose under warranty I was still left with a bad taste. I've had another Kobota for 15 years and I know they are great machines, but I'm still a bit gun shy. Since the hose incident I'm never had a bad thing to say about the tractor, it's been giving me great service.

I know how you likely feel.

 

[MW66]

I bought a used (only 313 hours) B26 last year and within seven hours I had a leak in the main hydraulic hose going to the backhoe. I was one terribly ticked off person with a very expensive machine breaking almost the first day I had it.

Although the dealer was great and came almost 100 miles one-way to fix the hose under warranty I was still left with a bad taste. I've had another Kobota for 15 years and I know they are great machines, but I'm still a bit gun shy. Since the hose incident I'm never had a bad thing to say about the tractor, it's been giving me great service.

I know how you likely feel.

My dealer is good and that's why I bought from him. I've been told that this is somewhat a "known" situation for this model. Maybe a bad batch of hydraulic lines. They picked mine up today and told me he will fix it so it will never happen again. I think he's putting on some sort of custom line.

 

[bota7800]

For one reason, or another, my garden tractor has one filter that will sometimes loosen even if it is installed carefully, and properly. Before you go any further reach in there with your hand, and make sure the filters are at least as snug as you can get them by hand..........

Slightly OT:

Chuck, maybe you could find a filter like we use on airplanes that is safety-wired to prevent it from unscrewing. Oil Filters from Aircraft Spruce They have tabs that accept the wire. You may not find one unless an aviation filter happens to work but it might be worth a look.

 

[leonz]

So you have a hydraulic drive tiller-thats the issue, you have pin hole leak in one of the the rear remote steel lines.The pressure lines should be deigned for at least three thousand PSI shock loads in any case. if the leak is at a bend the piping was not bent properly with bend forming equipment used to bend hydraulic lines made of the proper steel-No, normal pipe bending equipment does not work properly nor is it designed to bend steel line made for hydraulic fluid pipelines.




If the lines are not secured using steel line brackets with rubber cusion mounts for the pipe thats a NO NO.



leon

 

[ChuckinNH]

Slightly OT:

Chuck, maybe you could find a filter like we use on airplanes that is safety-wired to prevent it from unscrewing. Oil Filters from Aircraft Spruce They have tabs that accept the wire. You may not find one unless an aviation filter happens to work but it might be worth a look.

When I worked on Cessnas in the Army I sure safety wired a bunch of those filters! One of these times I'll have to look closely, and see if there is a little bump in the machining there, or something.

 

[KubotaTech]

Just had some pictures sent to our dealership today- rear hydraulic line had a pinhole right by the banjo fitting, spraying oil everywhere. This line runs from the loader valve to the hitch. Ordered a new one- same tractor, B3200

 

[MW66]

So you had the same problem too? That is interesting. I wonder how big this issue could be? I did not get mine back yet, but I will take a picture and post it once it's been delivered. I don't think they are putting on the exact duplicate line.

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

The first thing is don't touch it call your dealer if you touch it it's your problem and if there any good they will come out and look at it fix there or truck it back to the shop all at no cost to you I had this problem with other things and with a lot of bull **** it got fixed if you let them push you your done never get mad till they start they straiten things out fast :confused2:

 

[tthopskin@yahoo.ca]

i should read all the replays before i send mine lol :thumbsup: its good you got a good dealer makes a world of different s --as for the hose that is a common thing and not of the machine the motor and tranny and drive to me reflects the name---- all the small stuff happens too them all good luck