I bought a Kubota BX23(TLB) a few days ago. yesterday I was trying to get some stumps pulled before the storm. it was going good until the tractor started leaking from the front/mid section. I didn't notice it at first as I was sitting facing the back using the backhoe. I stopped and tried to raise the bucket/backhoe/stabilizer but couldn't so I just left it there. since this is my first time owning a tractor and want it to allow me to keep working in the yard as I get older. so I'm hoping someone here can tell what to do next. do you think I should put some hydraulic fluid in and try to see where it's leaking from? thanks for any guidance I can get.
Kubota BX23 leak
- Thread starter wrightri
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arto98607
Veteran Member
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- Southwest WA
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- Kubota F3060, Grasshopper 721D, Ford 1310, John Deere 440 ICD, John Deere 300 & 430
Couple of photos would be helpful and yes you need to try to figure out where it's leaking from?
Did you check the fluid level before you started? If you are lucky it could be as simple as the previous owner overfilled it and you heated up the fluid and it came out the vent. It is very hard to see the fluid level on the dipstick so overfilling could definitely be a possibility.
Doug in SW IS
Doug in SW IS
sorry for the delay. I refilled the Hydraulic fluid and it took several gal. I turned on the tractor and this is what happened.
appreciate any guidance that you could provide. after the purchase I can't really afford a big repair bill. tomorrow I plan to take a better look and see if I can see more exactly where it's coming from. ty, John
appreciate any guidance that you could provide. after the purchase I can't really afford a big repair bill. tomorrow I plan to take a better look and see if I can see more exactly where it's coming from. ty, John
LittleBill21
Elite Member
for the amount of fluid coming out, you broke a hose or a line or something major, stop driving it, till a dealer looks at it, based on your questions your not prepared to handle this yourself
robertm
Veteran Member
Not be be an arse, but open the hood. Do some research. With a leak like that, it’s not going to be hard to find. Since you are pulling stumps, it doesn’t sound like you are the kind of guy who smells dinner burning and goes on line to ask what it could be, so roll up your sleeves. That’s ALOT of fluid to be a hidden leak.
LittleBill21: I stopped as soon as I noticed it. I'm actually quite handy and mechanical. just don't want to screw things up so I'm probably being overly cautious.
robertm: NP and I appreciate the response. ya, I don't mind getting my hands dirty.
here's my update. I pulled the hood and front shroud to expose everything. upon closer inspection it looks like one of the hydraulic lines are leaking. my biggest fear was that it was something that would require the tractor needing to be split. I had read something about that online. thank goodness it doesn't look that bad. breaking the line fittings was a challenge in that tight spot but got it done. and whoever put the bracket on under the floor put it in the wrong spot so it was a very tight fit for wrench. I'll take care of that when I reinstall. with line freed up I'm still having a problem getting in out with the bends. looking from under the front of the tractor it's the 3rd one back and is green on my tractor. it runs to the back and connects behind the wheel (which I removed for ease of access). you can see the line in the second pict I posted earlier. here are a couple more pictures . . . .
just found this schematic for the fel oil line. I believe my line 010 is the one leaking.
it's listed as "tube delivery 1". as you can see it goes from under the engine and snakes through the body, ending up behind the rear left wheel. if anyone knows the best way to take it out I'd appreciate the info so I can get it replaced before the next storm. ty, John
robertm: NP and I appreciate the response. ya, I don't mind getting my hands dirty.
here's my update. I pulled the hood and front shroud to expose everything. upon closer inspection it looks like one of the hydraulic lines are leaking. my biggest fear was that it was something that would require the tractor needing to be split. I had read something about that online. thank goodness it doesn't look that bad. breaking the line fittings was a challenge in that tight spot but got it done. and whoever put the bracket on under the floor put it in the wrong spot so it was a very tight fit for wrench. I'll take care of that when I reinstall. with line freed up I'm still having a problem getting in out with the bends. looking from under the front of the tractor it's the 3rd one back and is green on my tractor. it runs to the back and connects behind the wheel (which I removed for ease of access). you can see the line in the second pict I posted earlier. here are a couple more pictures . . . .
just found this schematic for the fel oil line. I believe my line 010 is the one leaking.
it's listed as "tube delivery 1". as you can see it goes from under the engine and snakes through the body, ending up behind the rear left wheel. if anyone knows the best way to take it out I'd appreciate the info so I can get it replaced before the next storm. ty, John
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Not a clue as to how it would come out. I am sure as you are laying under the tractor you will figure it out after your clothes are soaked in hydraulic fluid. I wonder about the possibility of replacing it with a hose instead of a hard line. Maybe some of the true experts here can chime in on that option.
Doug in SW IA
Doug in SW IA
dougtrr2: I can get it out by cutting it into a couple pieces but then I'm wondering about getting the new one reinstalled. I usually do the reverse of taking something out to get the replacement back in. I was thinking about using a rubber replacement but was hoping to hear from someone more experienced as to weather that is am acceptable option. might do it as a temp fix and change it out if need be once the weather gets warmer. I'll zip tie it along the same path as the original. thanks for your input.
diesel85
Veteran Member
You will need to take the floor pan up and some other items as well. It's not hard -- it will just be time consuming.
Yes, as a temporary fix you can run a rubber hose until you get time to properly fix it.
Yes, as a temporary fix you can run a rubber hose until you get time to properly fix it.
toledoohio
New member
The First two pictures show possible damaged hard lines to me. They look out of place and the bends in the hard lines are flattening the hydro tube/line. Looks like someone replaced/moved the lines or an object has impacted the lines. Kubota usually have lines tucked away nice and neat along side each other. I would order new lines that are going to have the proper hydro flow GPM. I have seen them pinched and I even tightened a line clamp to tight and it crushed/pinched the line like that and you are loosing performance in PSI and flow. And you mentioned the floor pan was out of place, so i think someone was trying to fix something. Take the Pictures and show you local Kubota mechanic.
toledoohio: I think these are nonKubota replacement lines so that is why they look different. as a matter of fact I think the way they placed them is why it failed. the line even broke at the leak as I was trying to work it out. hoping to try again tomorrow. I do have an oem line coming from Messicks. floor pan wasn't out of place but the tube clamp under the cab was. since I'm a new owner I'll have to research who my local shop is. thanks for your info, John
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