3540 Hydraulic leak

hunt4570 · Jul 24, 2019

OK, question on a leak on my tractor. Background: L3540 with hydrostat and about 900 hours.

So under the tractor there is a little loose pin I believe used for draining water that gets caught up in there somewhere. You push it up and it will release the water (from where I've no clue) anyway, I have a leak of hydraulic fluid coming from there, reasonably slow steady drip, but if I push that pin up there is no change in flow..

Ideas?? Thanks.

Fallon · Jul 24, 2019

The split pin is in the clutch housing. Its suppose to keep that hole clean & open so any contaminants in there can drain out. If hydraulic fluid is comming out that means the seal on your input shaft is leaking. I believe you have to split the tractor to replace it.

hunt4570 · Jul 24, 2019

Fallon said:
The split pin is in the clutch housing. Its suppose to keep that hole clean & open so any contaminants in there can drain out. If hydraulic fluid is comming out that means the seal on your input shaft is leaking. I believe you have to split the tractor to replace it.

NOT what I wanted to hear, but thanks.

PHILIP8N · Jul 24, 2019

Is the leak hydraulic fluid or engine oil? Color translucent or black? Could also be from engine rear crankshaft seal. Philip.

hunt4570 · Jul 25, 2019

PHILIP8N said:
Is the leak hydraulic fluid or engine oil? Color translucent or black? Could also be from engine rear crankshaft seal. Philip.

With out a doubt hydraulic fluid..

jonsstihl · Jul 25, 2019

yes the dreaded prop shaft seal leak. might as well replace all seals while you have the tractor split. My brother in law had to do his on his 3240 a couple years back and they had to change the shaft also it was grooved where the seal made contact.

hunt4570 · Jul 25, 2019

jonsstihl said:
yes the dreaded prop shaft seal leak. might as well replace all seals while you have the tractor split. My brother in law had to do his on his 3240 a couple years back and they had to change the shaft also it was grooved where the seal made contact.

Yeah, splitting the tractor is not in my skill set! Will have to talk to the Kubota guys and see what its going to cost, for now its a slow leak and I'll just keep feeding it more oil. Might get the "universal" stuff at tractor supply instead of the high priced UDT at Kubota!

MHarryE · Jul 25, 2019

Mine started as a drip but when I worked it hard it was a stream. Never did find out the cost because I took it in for repair and returned home with a newer model - that I hear here will have the same problem. I was at 800 hours on the first one and am at 600 hours on the next one.

TripleR · Jul 25, 2019

The dealer will tell you it could be two or three things, but it always seems to be the prop shaft seal leak. Mine went out under warranty and learned it is not as common as it seems. The Shop Foreman asked if I minded them keeping it a bit longer so they could learn how to do one. Dealership is good sized with two locations.

hunt4570 · Jan 28, 2020

OK, long time overdue UPDATE on this..

I nursed this along for quite a while not wanting to shell out the $$$ to split my tractor. Got tired of buying hydraulic fluid so I finally called Kubota.

Turns out there is a seal for the shaft that drives the front axle. On my particular series and a couple before it that seal works loose and runs forward, it will also walk back into position causing the leak to stop again, hence my on again off again leaking. Turns out there is a repair kit to fix it. (newer tractors have this kit in it from the factory). Kubota guy made a house call and had it fixed in less than an hour and about a hundred bucks!!! YAY
Wish I had called the dealer earlier... He said that what I get for diagnosing it on the internet! ;-)

Gordon Gould · Jan 28, 2020

Sounds like there couldn't have been a better outcome than that. Maybe he is right but I have seen it work both ways.

gg

hunt4570 · Jan 29, 2020

Gordon Gould said:
Sounds like there couldn't have been a better outcome than that. Maybe he is right but I have seen it work both ways.

gg

Yep, outstanding outcome.. And I have seen it work both ways also! AND.. I got a bunch of empty 5 gallon buckets to boot!!:laughing:

lawn_king · Jan 29, 2020

It sounds like the propeller shaft seal to me. I had to have it done on my 3540 at 1200 hrs. It started off slow, just a drip here and there and then she just let loose! I have a cab model and was told by a local dealer they had to remove the cab to perform the repair, quoted me $3000 to $3500. I called another dealer in new hampshire ,they did the job for $1500. 00 It always a good idea to get a second quote on a major repair!

hunt4570 · Jan 29, 2020

lawn_king said:
It sounds like the propeller shaft seal to me. I had to have it done on my 3540 at 1200 hrs. It started off slow, just a drip here and there and then she just let loose! I have a cab model and was told by a local dealer they had to remove the cab to perform the repair, quoted me $3000 to $3500. I called another dealer in new hampshire ,they did the job for $1500. 00 It always a good idea to get a second quote on a major repair!

Like I say, its already been done and it cost me about a hundred dollars is all, no splitting the tractor. Also a 3540..

hunt4570 · Jan 29, 2020

lawn_king said:
It sounds like the propeller shaft seal to me. I had to have it done on my 3540 at 1200 hrs. It started off slow, just a drip here and there and then she just let loose! I have a cab model and was told by a local dealer they had to remove the cab to perform the repair, quoted me $3000 to $3500. I called another dealer in new hampshire ,they did the job for $1500. 00 It always a good idea to get a second quote on a major repair!

Like I say, its already been done and it cost me about a hundred dollars is all, no splitting the tractor. Also a 3540.. Hope your tractor needed what they sold you!

FatTire · Jan 29, 2020

hunt4570 said:
Like I say, its already been done and it cost me about a hundred dollars is all, no splitting the tractor. Also a 3540.. Hope your tractor needed what they sold you!

What year is your L3540? Also, do you have any info on the repair kit, like a part number? Thanks!

moship · Jan 29, 2020

FatTire said:
What year is your L3540? Also, do you have any info on the repair kit, like a part number? Thanks!

I agree it would be nice if the OP could supply specific details such as the Part number. I'm certain this would help a number of people as these tractors age.

hunt4570 · Jan 30, 2020

FatTire said:
What year is your L3540? Also, do you have any info on the repair kit, like a part number? Thanks!

I believe its a 2007, And I do not have any info on the kit, the mechanic put it in. I'll see if I can find out though, what its called and a part number.

jonsstihl · Jan 30, 2020

sounds like kubota may have developed a kit that repairs the prop shaft seal without splitting the tractor open. looking forward to hearing more about this.

hunt4570 · Jan 30, 2020

jonsstihl said:
sounds like kubota may have developed a kit that repairs the prop shaft seal without splitting the tractor open. looking forward to hearing more about this.

So I was there when he did it. That shaft goes in the recess in the oil pan, that's why it has two sides, to allow for this. there is a tin cover that covers the shaft. 2 screws removes the cover, Drive a pin out of the shaft connectors (sleeves) on both ends and the shaft will then come out. Then, toward the trans side there is a sleeve with an "o-ring seal on it, you drive that sleeve up in there... that pushes the seal back where it belongs. When you reassemble everything you leave the sleeve in there and that holds that seal where it belongs and will not let it walk back down the shaft.

Best as I can recollect the procedure as I saw it.