F-Series Hydro Leak

[Rip]

My F-3680 has had a minor hydro leak that just became major from the swash plate / trunnion shaft left (solid) side support cover plate. Would be simple fix, but tight access/visibility inside the frame. Has anyone dealt with this in F-series or other B/BX machines and have any tips??

I still have my F-2880 w/60" deck which has been working fine for 11 years, but came across a local 3680 with 72" deck at a "too-good-to-pass-up" price (had been traded in to the JD dealer!) so added it to my small fleet. Did have to fully reweld the deck itself, but the tractor was in pretty good nick. Mowing now almost 20% faster!! Sooner to BEER time!

Cheers, Rip in Tasmania

 

[arto98607]

Hi Rip,

Couple of years ago I took the HST, speed range selector & front axle apart on my F3060, which should be very similar design as F3680

Kubota F3060 HST / 2-Speed Range Selector Housing Oil Leak

It's nearly impossible to access much of it without removing the frame etc. which is fair bit of work involved.





Do you have any photos of the area in question?



PS.
I also took the HST apart in order to replace the cradle bearings just to be sure they will be new (Item 050 below), since the speed change treadle was little stiff to adjust.

The design of later model F3060 of this particular detail is different.

 

[Rip]

Thanks Arto, I am either going to do this "in place" or send to the dealer. Looks tight but doable with the (un)appropriate cursing to move it along. My leak is on left side, middle of hydro section (opposite the forward/reverse shaft, which is on the right). Looks like you had a major job on your machine!

 

[arto98607]

F3060 has threaded removable plug (item 220 above) for the left hand end bearing of the forward/reverse shaft.
I did not remove it, but it must have seal of some type (aluminum or copper?).

Like mentioned above, the swash plate design has changed - this is the F3680 HST housing left side view:




And here is the inside, showing an O-ring seal for item 4:



You can get detailed F3680 parts drawings for example from Messicks site.

Kubota F3680 (4WD TRACTOR W/FOLDABLE ROPS) Parts

 

[Rip]

Thanks Arto, I have the Workshop manual and use the Messicks parts lists all the time... both quite helpful. The B cover is circlip retained, not threaded and is O-ring sealed. Figure the O-ring gone bad, but getting to it in-frame is the tricky part. The side cover plate is also the bearing support for the swash plate/trunnion shaft and I may replace it with the O-ring as I do not want to do this job twice!

Am diving into YT videos as well, looking for what is involved.... will see. Rip

 

[arto98607]

Rip,
Good to hear, sounds like you have it figured out.

Yes, the swash plate design was changed and newer model F3060 also have the same design as you have, IE no 'slide' cradle bearings or threaded plug.

It's a challenge to get to it without some disassembly for sure!



Cheers

 

[xawenog736]

Well. It's good

 

[arto98607]

Thanks Arto, I have the Workshop manual and use the Messicks parts lists all the time... both quite helpful. The B cover is circlip retained, not threaded and is O-ring sealed. Figure the O-ring gone bad, but getting to it in-frame is the tricky part. The side cover plate is also the bearing support for the swash plate/trunnion shaft and I may replace it with the O-ring as I do not want to do this job twice!

Am diving into YT videos as well, looking for what is involved.... will see. Rip

Please keep us posted whether you are able to access & replace the O-ring without much disassembly?

 

[Rip]

I gave up planning to deal with this myself.... just not up to doing all that seems necessary at my age (73), even though just a lot of bolts to remove ROPS, seat, floor pan, fuel tank, inner side frame, etc, etc before getting access to the hydro side cap to replace one O-ring! Had dealer field tech look at it and order parts.... will take to shop and will let you know if they do all the above or have some tricks up their sleeve! Lot of these machines around for many years so has to have happened before.

Cheers, Rip

 

[Hay Dude]

My F3680 just needed the motor mounts replaced. 1300 hours seems kinda low for this repair.

 

[Rip]

I would tend to agree.... mine has about 3000 hrs, but as not original owner, not sure if original mounts. By the way, you mentioned in another post an engine block oil plug that was popping loose.... can you show on parts or shop drawing what and where that is? I can not seem to identify it.

Overall, I have not had too many unexpected or serious repairs on the two F-series machines I have.... and not found any other machines that look to meet my property needs for reasonable price and locally available sales/service. So far, I have been able to do majority of service/repairs myself.

 

[Rip]

Hey Dude, Can you point out specifically which plug has popped out on you? Look to be over half dozen possible plugs on the drawing.... no problem yet, but want to keep my eye on the potential problem.

Wonder if your engine somehow building up excess crankcase pressure as I doubt they would use a push-in plastic plug on the pressure side of the oil system.

Meanwhile this machine out-of-action waiting on parts and dealer to pick up....

 

[Rip]

Dealer got it fixed but did take all the disassembly I had figured.... and dreaded, but all good now! Took 1 1/2 mechanics over a day to accomplish.

 

[Hay Dude]

Hey Dude, Can you point out specifically which plug has popped out on you? Look to be over half dozen possible plugs on the drawing.... no problem yet, but want to keep my eye on the potential problem.

Wonder if your engine somehow building up excess crankcase pressure as I doubt they would use a push-in plastic plug on the pressure side of the oil system.

Meanwhile this machine out-of-action waiting on parts and dealer to pick up....

Sorry it took me so long to respond.

The back right side (“passenger side”) of the engine. I’ve lost 2 of them and began carrying spares.
Beginning to think this happens on very steep slopes. Oil runs to back and pressurizes crank case and blows off cap???? Otherwise I don’t see how else it happens

 

[Rip]

Big Thanks Dude.... looks like a casting plug that should not be subjected to more than (vented) crankcase pressure, thus my thought that crankcase vent on top of valve cover blocked or defective. I have been running an F-2880 and now a 3680 on terrain so steep (to 40 deg) I have made up a set of tire chains for even better control and safety margin and not blown such a plug nor have high oil consumption.

After confirming this series machine actually would handle my property in OEM configuration I upgraded my safety and comfort margin with 3" wheel spacers and fluid-filled main wheels, 120% additional rear counterweight, always wear seatbelt (and sometime a bike helmet)..... and disabled the seat switch to prevent killing engine at truly awkward moment if butt light on seat and losing hydro control as brakes mostly for parking!! Absolutely best machine locally available and serviced for my situation.... all the councils (municipalities) all over OZ use them for years.... so durable and available at reasonable $$ after they have spent many years & hours using and abusing them hard.

After being on lookout for several years to upgrade from the F-28 w/60" deck to F-36 w/72" I finally found a good deal a year ago.... and after fair bit of time rebuilding it, now have TWO F-Series.... was going to sell the F-28, but decided more valuable as a fully functional spare.

I do not envy you in the rust belt.... we retired 12 years ago after many years in Colorado Rockies and then BC Canada and the heavy snow and ice conditions before making the big sea-change and settling in coastal Tasmania.... no looking back! Had a K2500 and Western plow, a PowerTrac PT1845 with 6' hyd blower (and blade, bucket, etc, etc) in Colorado and a ToolCat w/blower, blade and sand spreader in Canada.... distant memories (and not all good ones) now! Acres of 'mowed paddock' now plus few odds and ends for friends & neighbours.... but keeps me as busy as I want or need to be!

Good Luck to you!!! Cheers, Rip

 

[Hay Dude]

Big Thanks Dude.... looks like a casting plug that should not be subjected to more than (vented) crankcase pressure, thus my thought that crankcase vent on top of valve cover blocked or defective. I have been running an F-2880 and now a 3680 on terrain so steep (to 40 deg) I have made up a set of tire chains for even better control and safety margin and not blown such a plug nor have high oil consumption.

After confirming this series machine actually would handle my property in OEM configuration I upgraded my safety and comfort margin with 3" wheel spacers and fluid-filled main wheels, 120% additional rear counterweight, always wear seatbelt (and sometime a bike helmet)..... and disabled the seat switch to prevent killing engine at truly awkward moment if butt light on seat and losing hydro control as brakes mostly for parking!! Absolutely best machine locally available and serviced for my situation.... all the councils (municipalities) all over OZ use them for years.... so durable and available at reasonable $$ after they have spent many years & hours using and abusing them hard.

After being on lookout for several years to upgrade from the F-28 w/60" deck to F-36 w/72" I finally found a good deal a year ago.... and after fair bit of time rebuilding it, now have TWO F-Series.... was going to sell the F-28, but decided more valuable as a fully functional spare.

I do not envy you in the rust belt.... we retired 12 years ago after many years in Colorado Rockies and then BC Canada and the heavy snow and ice conditions before making the big sea-change and settling in coastal Tasmania.... no looking back! Had a K2500 and Western plow, a PowerTrac PT1845 with 6' hyd blower (and blade, bucket, etc, etc) in Colorado and a ToolCat w/blower, blade and sand spreader in Canada.... distant memories (and not all good ones) now! Acres of 'mowed paddock' now plus few odds and ends for friends & neighbours.... but keeps me as busy as I want or need to be!

Good Luck to you!!! Cheers, Rip

Please send pictures of your country if possible.

 

[arto98607]

Wow that was a quite a leak and made a mess - hopefully you can figure a permanent solution.

I got little concerned and just went out to check my F3060 which has a 4-cylinder 30 hp V1305-FM engine and looks like it does not have an opening for a plug in that location.
It's due for valve clearance check soon so I will make sure to inspect the crank case ventilation while at it.