Oil & Fuel BX2230 hydralic leak

[torrin]

Good Morning;

I recently purchased a used (670 hrs.) BX2230. I have done all of the maintenance and adjustments on it to bring it up to date. I did discover one problem that as of now has me stumped. When mowing, I lower the deck and if I do not manually return the lever to neutral, when I am garaging it there is a trail of hydraulic oil on the garage floor. I have checked fittings and tightened any that seem loose, but the problem has not gone away. the leak is on the left side (when facing forward) and behind the rear wheel.

As a side note. How do I know when to add hydraulic fluid? The dipstick always shows a full tank, and with this leak I know that can't be right.

 

[Barneyhunts]

I recently replaced (on a BX2200) the power steering hoses from the hydraulic unit to the steering control (under the steering wheel) The supply originates from the hydraulic pump just inside the left rear wheel. The return hose connects just in front of the transmission to the left side of center. The leak was somewhere up in the sleeve which encases the hoses and the fluid dripped onto the mower deck and then onto the ground. I had to check for leak with the tractor running and it was worse when turning the steering wheel. When I check the hydraulic oil on my BX I always remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it and then remove it to read the level. If I just pull it out it almost always looks full.
Barney

 

[torrin]

I recently replaced (on a BX2200) the power steering hoses from the hydraulic unit to the steering control (under the steering wheel) The supply originates from the hydraulic pump just inside the left rear wheel. The return hose connects just in front of the transmission to the left side of center. The leak was somewhere up in the sleeve which encases the hoses and the fluid dripped onto the mower deck and then onto the ground. I had to check for leak with the tractor running and it was worse when turning the steering wheel. When I check the hydraulic oil on my BX I always remove the dipstick, wipe it clean, reinsert it and then remove it to read the level. If I just pull it out it almost always looks full.
Barney

Thanks for the response. The original loose fitting was on the left side of the hydro tank. Tightened a line about 3 and 1/2 turns. That seemed to solve the problem. but yesterday after I mowed. I was trailing oil behind. The oil was all over the tank, and dripping down the side behind the mower deck

As for the dipstick, I wipe it and reinsert it every time. It never shows less then full. The tank never looks full at the tank.