My relationship with L5740 just hit a rough patch...

[FatTire]

I was in love with her yesterday..... today I'm not so sure.... feels like she dumped me. Parked the L5740 in my shop this afternoon and the puddle of condensation from the AC caught my eye, then "What's that?" Several drops of black oil. Coming from the clutch weep pin. So looks like now we are about to "split", if only temporarily. And let me say this is the first time I thought "Wish I didn't have a cab."

What are some potential causes of a rear engine seal failure? Bad luck? Or did I offend her?

Tractor has 527 hours, of which 420 are mine.

 

[Jchonline]

Well look on the bright side. It could be a Jinma with a leak!

 

[nybirdman]

Still haven't got mine back from the dealer for the same($) problem.
Mine has 1200 hours on it.Nothing you did it just happens.Mine is a cab model also,more labor.

 

[Jchonline]

Still haven't got mine back from the dealer for the same($) problem.
Mine has 1200 hours on it.Nothing you did it just happens.Mine is a cab model also,more labor

Awesome you are just a Home Equity Loan away from paying for the repairs!

 

[FatTire]

Still haven't got mine back from the dealer for the same($) problem.
Mine has 1200 hours on it.Nothing you did it just happens.Mine is a cab model also,more labor.

Did they give you an idea of how many hours to split and repair? Are they going to replace both the engine and transmission seals while they have it apart?

EDIT: Was yours leaking engine oil or hydraulic fluid?

 

[Tx Jim]

Several yrs back I had to have my M4900 with a cab split to repair sync-shuttle. Cab remained on rear half of tractor while it was split

 

[nybirdman]

Mine was leaking hydraulic oil,a lot and it happened quick.I was lucky to notice before it ran dry and did a lot of damage.
I have no idea what the repairs are until I get it back.

 

[number two]

Sure seems like quite a few Grand L40 tractors need to be split for one seal,or the other.
Good Luck!

 

[MHarryE]

If yours is engine oil it’s rare. If it’s hydraulic oil it’s normal, and costly. Mine was a fairly common fwd shaft seal, first noticed when I was working hard so the oil was thin. Only a slight weep until really working and then it streamed. Loaded it and hauled it to my dealer but I was 3rd in line behind 2 with the same problem I got to see, and take pictures of someone else’s tractor split. I really needed the tractor to get straw baled so I asked the dealer owner to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He did, so I went home with a L6060 as a replacement. By the way, before leaving for the dealership I searched here and found several with the same problem. I also read here my L6060 has the same seal arrangement so I keep looking for a puddle. Mine failed at 800 hours and I have more than that on my L6060. For me it was a fortunate happening as my L6060 has been more reliable, outperforms, and is more comfortable operating.

 

[5030]

My 2002 M9 (with 6000 hours on) it was weeping a bit (few drops every oil change) from the hex plug (mine are hydraulic shuttle so the pin is not needed. Nothing in the bell housing but the damper plate. added a couple ounces of brake fluid to the gearbox hydraulic oil and viola, the leak vanished. Brake fluid will swell a worn seal. Cheap fix. 4 bucks.

 

[5030]

For me it was a fortunate happening as my L6060 has been more reliable, outperforms, and is more comfortable operating.

One thing everyone needs to do (you included) is make sure the breather hose on top of the transmission case isn't plugged with junk. Kubota has a somewhat poor habit of routing the breather hose either down the side of the gearcase or facing rearward where it can get clogged easily. I re-routed the hose on the cab M9 and added a sintered bronze filter and never had had a leak issue. Bought the OS9 used and never checked it and it was weeping. Probably re route it on the OS9 and also add a sintered bronze filter to that as well Filters are called 'air mufflers' I think. Motion Industries sells them, not expensive so does Parker Hannifin.

 

[MHarryE]

One thing everyone needs to do (you included) is make sure the breather hose on top of the transmission case isn't plugged with junk. Kubota has a somewhat poor habit of routing the breather hose either down the side of the gearcase or facing rearward where it can get clogged easily. I re-routed the hose on the cab M9 and added a sintered bronze filter and never had had a leak issue. Bought the OS9 used and never checked it and it was weeping. Probably re route it on the OS9 and also add a sintered bronze filter to that as well Filters are called 'air mufflers' I think. Motion Industries sells them, not expensive so does Parker Hannifin.

Breather on both the L5740 and my L6060 rather crude. The one on my L6060 is simply a hole in the end of the molded synthetic drain plug. Not at all what I was used to on construction and large ag equipment. As there is a large volume of air (unfiltered except for chunks greater than 3 mm), I’ve been surprised that Kubota doesn’t have a proper air filtration.

 

[CH4Ohio]

If yours is engine oil it’s rare. If it’s hydraulic oil it’s normal, and costly. Mine was a fairly common fwd shaft seal, first noticed when I was working hard so the oil was thin. Only a slight weep until really working and then it streamed. Loaded it and hauled it to my dealer but I was 3rd in line behind 2 with the same problem I got to see, and take pictures of someone else’s tractor split. I really needed the tractor to get straw baled so I asked the dealer owner to make me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He did, so I went home with a L6060 as a replacement. By the way, before leaving for the dealership I searched here and found several with the same problem. I also read here my L6060 has the same seal arrangement so I keep looking for a puddle. Mine failed at 800 hours and I have more than that on my L6060. For me it was a fortunate happening as my L6060 has been more reliable, outperforms, and is more comfortable operating.

Looks like I have the same problem now. I see why they call it a "weep hole". Made me want to cry when I saw the trail of hydraulic fluid.

Mine sounds like what you've described in that it wasn't noticeable until I got the tractor warmed up and then I was leaving a very obvious streak of hydraulic fluid as I crossed the ground.

I'll have to dig into the WSM and prior forum topics to get on top of this, but sounds like it's a very common problem. My machine has 2000 hours on it now.

Do I need to do a lot of diagnostics to figure out what's going on? Does anyone try to repair this themselves as opposed to taking it to a dealer or shop? Anyone care to guess at the cost to repair a L5740 that's trailing hydro fluid out of this weep hole?

Thanks.

 

[dstig1]

Cost? $5 for the seal...if your time is free... I am waiting for the day this happens on mine... Hopefully many years hence when I am retired and can deal with it with time to spare...

 

[4570Man]

I split a 3240 a few years ago. It’s not high tech job that requires a bunch of fancy tools but it is fairly time consuming. Getting all the hoses out of the way is the worst part of the job. Getting the 2 half’s alined and back together isn’t a lot of fun either.

 

[MHarryE]

Pictures I took at my dealership when I brought my L5740 in to have the leaking FWD shaft seal replaced. These pics are of another customer's L5740 in for the same repair. Overall shot showing the split. Second picture shows the shaft and the seal with the problem - and why the tractor needs to be split to get at the seal. In my younger days I would have tackled the job but there are so many things that can go wrong and I am a lot more clumsy in my old age. Can visualize dropping one of the halves to the floor during the split not having overhead hoists to lift, but dealer mechanics used 2 floor jacks to move, then stands for added support once separated.

 

[CH4Ohio]

Pictures I took at my dealership when I brought my L5740 in to have the leaking FWD shaft seal replaced. These pics are of another customer's L5740 in for the same repair. Overall shot showing the split. Second picture shows the shaft and the seal with the problem - and why the tractor needs to be split to get at the seal. In my younger days I would have tackled the job but there are so many things that can go wrong and I am a lot more clumsy in my old age. Can visualize dropping one of the halves to the floor during the split not having overhead hoists to lift, but dealer mechanics used 2 floor jacks to move, then stands for added support once separated.

The pics are very helpful. Took mine to a dealer today and dropped it off. I wish I had a shop with concrete floor that I could pull it into, but I don't. Not sure yet what the damages will be . . .

 

[FatTire]

Dropped my tractor off at a Kubota dealer last week. The service manager said 20 hours, plus or minus. So that will be around $2000. I had a couple pails of SUDT2 that I left with them, at least I won't have to purchase that now.

 

[Leejohn]

I did a long write up on this with alot of pictures a while back, but with this new form I don't know how to get you to thread.
Found it. Splitting A Kubota GL4240HST 4WD

 

[CH4Ohio]

I did a long write up on this with alot of pictures a while back, but with this new form I don't know how to get you to thread.
Found it. Splitting A Kubota GL4240HST 4WD

I found this previous thread last week and your pics were a huge help. Thanks much!