Small Hydraulic Fluid Leak

[Bigfootconcepts]

My low hour (60 hours) MT342HC has started to leak hydraulic fluid around the cover where one would drain the hydraulic fluid from the bottom of the rear axle. It's not leaking from the drain hole nut but around the cover (6" x 7") that the drain nut is taped into. Its a small leak and a such a slow rate that there has been no noticeable affect on the fluid level, yet! I have 2 questions:

1. Will using any of the fluorescent type leak detectors one pours into the hydraulic fluid tank cause me any warrantee problems? I want to confirm it is coming from around the gasket on the plate.

2. Will any of the hydraulic fluid "pour-n-stop" products like the one from BlueDevil cause any warrantee problems? And do they work?

 

[JohnT3383]

BFC,
Why chance it? If you void the warranty chasing a small leak, what have you gained? Try talking to a dealer!

 

[Avenger]

I currently have a small leak from the axel. I noticed it after about a year or so of ownership. I took it into the dealer for warranty repair. A few days later they called me to complain about the severity of the leak, that it wasn't bad enough. A few weeks later, the dealership called me to tell me they needed to order parts. A few months later they called again to have me come pick it up. I parked it at home and the next day saw a small dirt stain under the tractor. I crawled under there, and saw evidence of the leak. The bolt holes they would have had to remove still had the paint on them. I called them and they said they did the work and it wasnt leaking when I left. I have never gone back to that dealership for anything.

All this to say, the leak hasn't been that bad. I check the level and add fluid when necessary. I fear with my leak, I would need to split the tractor. When the clutch goes out in it, perhaps thats when I will address the leak. It does suck to have a puddle form under the tractor.

I recently had to travel for a few months, leaving my tractor sit in the shop. When I came back 4 months later, the puddle was significant. It's my fault for not putting a drain pan under it.

I wouldn't add anything to the fluid. My experience with my dealership belongs to me, your mileage with your dealership may vary. I would call them and hope they treat you better than my dealership treated me. Fortunately for me, there are a few LS dealers around me, but I typically get my parts from the local NH dealership. They also said they would work on my LS if needed, but I'm out of warranty a few years ago, so I'd have to pay out of pocket.

Leaks suck, but if you can live with it, live with it... unless it gets worse. But I'd still get it fixed under warranty.

 

[GS650GL]

Do not add any stop leak products to the oil! It probably won't help anyway. They might help a leaky shaft seal by causing it to swell and soften the rubber, but it won't help a leaky cover or plug. The fluorescent dye won't hurt anything. Have the dealer fix it the right way under warranty by removing the cover, cleaning the surfaces, and applying new sealant and reassembling. Should be covered under the 2 year warranty, but may not be covered under the 6 year powertrain warranty because it's not internal inside the transmission housing. There is probably no gasket, only black silicone type sealant on the cover. The oil will have to be drained at least a day ahead of the repair so it will have time to stop dripping so the surfaces will stay clean and dry while installing the cover with the new silicone. The silicone won't seal properly if oil gets on it during assembly.
It's unfortunate that so many people are having issues with a poor dealer like what Avenger experienced, and it's unacceptable. Many people have a bad opinion of LS tractors (or other brands) when it's often the dealer that's the problem more than the product.

 

[5030]

Both my older Kubota's leak and I ignore it. I look at it this way... They hold a lot of fluid and it only takes a minute to top them off, besides, the drip keeps the gravel from getting dusty.

 

[Bigfootconcepts]

I have contacted my LS dealer about this problem and am waiting for his reply. Unfortunately, I am 1 month over the initial 2 year LS bumper-to-bumper warrantee. So far I have only had 2 other issues with the LS tractor and the dealer has been quite responsive in resolving them. The biggest problem is the expense of trucking the unit to the dealer for service ($500 - $800) as I don't own an equipment trailer.

I may follow GS650GL advice and repair it myself. Biggest problem, I see, is emptying/storing the 12 gallons of hydraulic oil while I do the repair.

 

[5030]

Renew it instead. Hydraulic oil makes an excellent accelerant for brush piles.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

The oil will have to be drained at least a day ahead of the repair so it will have time to stop dripping so the surfaces will stay clean and dry while installing the cover with the new silicone. The silicone won't seal properly if oil gets on it during assembly.

It'll still seal just fine.

I clean diff covers (for example) well, then lightly oil the surface it goes on. You can make your own reusable gaskets that way, and if nothing else the cover will come off easily next time, and there won't be any need to scrape silicone off of the surface. It'll all stay on the cover.

 

[Lavender Valley]

I currently have a small leak from the axel. I noticed it after about a year or so of ownership. I took it into the dealer for warranty repair. A few days later they called me to complain about the severity of the leak, that it wasn't bad enough. A few weeks later, the dealership called me to tell me they needed to order parts. A few months later they called again to have me come pick it up. I parked it at home and the next day saw a small dirt stain under the tractor. I crawled under there, and saw evidence of the leak. The bolt holes they would have had to remove still had the paint on them. I called them and they said they did the work and it wasnt leaking when I left. I have never gone back to that dealership for anything.

All this to say, the leak hasn't been that bad. I check the level and add fluid when necessary. I fear with my leak, I would need to split the tractor. When the clutch goes out in it, perhaps thats when I will address the leak. It does suck to have a puddle form under the tractor.

I recently had to travel for a few months, leaving my tractor sit in the shop. When I came back 4 months later, the puddle was significant. It's my fault for not putting a drain pan under it.

I wouldn't add anything to the fluid. My experience with my dealership belongs to me, your mileage with your dealership may vary. I would call them and hope they treat you better than my dealership treated me. Fortunately for me, there are a few LS dealers around me, but I typically get my parts from the local NH dealership. They also said they would work on my LS if needed, but I'm out of warranty a few years ago, so I'd have to pay out of pocket.

Leaks suck, but if you can live with it, live with it... unless it gets worse. But I'd still get it fixed under warranty.

Every dealership has a "master Dealer" and gives or sells a dealership to sell and service their products. If a dealership does not carry out after-sales and warranties, go to the Master Dealer with a complaint; they do not like a dealership not doing their job to the standards required.

 

[5030]

It'll still seal just fine.

I clean diff covers (for example) well, then lightly oil the surface it goes on. You can make your own reusable gaskets that way, and if nothing else the cover will come off easily next time, and there won't be any need to scrape silicone off of the surface. It'll all stay on the cover.

Using RTV silicone in the presence of lubricants isn't all that good of an idea and a really bad idea around hydraulics as all it takes is a smidge of RTV in a hydraulic pump to uchere it. Better off using a thin product like 3 Bond and or a gasket made from gasket paper and making a gasket is easy anyway. I do it all the time. You can get rolls of gasket paper at any auto parts storeand a small hammer and the paper laid over the part you want to gasket and tap the outline in the gasket paper and trim off the excess.

RTV has it's place but the place isn't on your tractor.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Using RTV silicone in the presence of lubricants isn't all that good of an idea and a really bad idea around hydraulics as all it takes is a smidge of RTV in a hydraulic pump to uchere it.

Somebody should inform vehicle manufacturers about the evil RTV they use, in the presence of lubricants.

And there's no need to use so much that it can end up inside of what it's supposed to seal. Somewhat like that you cut out holes in the paper gaskets instead of putting the entire sheet on there.

 

[Robfnk]

My RK55 leaks in the same place. I checked into having it fixed under warranty but do to lack of help they said they would have to have it for several months. They tried to blame it on not checking the torque of the bolts but I did not find any loose. I am adding 1/2 to 1 quart of hydraulic fluid every time I use it. I am do for my maintenance soon so putting it off till then. Haven't decided weather I want to go with another liquid gasket or make a gasket to fit.

 

[Fxfymn413]

So basically what the dealer is telling you is that any warranty repair will take several months and that you will lose the use of a several thousand dollar machine in the meanwhile. Not acceptable!

As the old saying goes "Everybody has a boss." I'd keep pushing the issue up the chain of LS's staff until the problem is fixed in a prompt fashion, and that is not "several months" for what sounds like a 30 minute job. And I wouldn't be afraid to point out how their reputation is being ruined by posts such as this one.

I pass billboards on I-95 near the LS factory touting how good and reliable their machines are. Now make them live up to that claim.

I'd also demand reimbursement for the oil you are using to "fix" their problem.

 

[Bigfootconcepts]

Just to update everyone. My LS dealer has said this repair will be covered under the 6 year powertrain warrantee that LS offers. However, I may use a John Deere dealer to do the work cause he only charges $120 to transport the tractor to/from his dealership. I will have to pay for the work which is at $120/hr. So even if this repair takes 2 hours (which I hope is high), that's a total bill of $360 which is less than my LS dealer charges for transportation. They are about the same distance away. Only caveat is, the John Deere dealer has stated is if LS parts have to be ordered they won't do the work.

 

[GS650GL]

If the trucking is gonna cost that much at the LS dealer, I would rent, borrow, or buy a trailer unless you don't have a vehicle to pull it. Also, draining 12 gallons of oil shouldn't be a big problem. 5 gallon buckets are easy to find everywhere.

 

[rScotty]

Just to update everyone. My LS dealer has said this repair will be covered under the 6 year powertrain warrantee that LS offers. However, I may use a John Deere dealer to do the work cause he only charges $120 to transport the tractor to/from his dealership. I will have to pay for the work which is at $120/hr. So even if this repair takes 2 hours (which I hope is high), that's a total bill of $360 which is less than my LS dealer charges for transportation. They are about the same distance away. Only caveat is, the John Deere dealer has stated is if LS parts have to be ordered they won't do the work.

I think I would do the same. It sounds like the JD dealer has his own trailering setup - maybe they even have a mobile mechanic. The LS dealer might have to rent something - which would explain the difference in price.
What you want is an experienced mechanic. Some of the older JD dealers locally still have factory schooled mechanics who went to trade school. If so, he will be familiar with sealants and gaskets.

Take a look at a parts book for your model LS. In there you can see if there is a gasket or seal in that area. If so, it wouldn't hurt to provide them. RTV just makes a paper gasket work better.

And BTW, even though most makes of tractor are similar, an experienced mechanic always appreciates having a parts book handy. I don't know LS, but my favorite parts books have exploded illustrations rather than photos. Send yours along with the gaskets.
Luck,
rScotty

 

[rScotty]

Does this look like your leaky cover (21)?

 

[Bigfootconcepts]

Does this look like your leaky cover (21)?

View attachment 3574939

Yes, that's the cover #21.

 

[GS650GL]

Nobody seems to like RTV sealant, but that's what all manufacturers are using on transmission housings these days instead of gaskets, except a few that use anaerobic flange sealant such as Loctite 515, so anything that oozes out where the parts are bolted together will stay soft and never cure. Then you don't get long strings of cured sealant inside the housings like you do with RTV.

 

[Bigfootconcepts]

So when I suggested to my LS dealer that I may use a John Deere dealer for the fix, he suggested having his mechanic come to my place and I would only have to pay for his travel time ($220) as it was significantly less than his trailering fee ($600). Why he didn't suggest this in the beginning I don't know? His mechanic is scheduled to show up in 2 days to do the work.