L4310 fuel leak - tank removal

oldstyles · Jul 21, 2015

I have a year 2000 L4310. A fairly heavy fuel leak started suddenly and seems to be coming from below the fuel tank. It lost about 2 gallons in 30 minutes after I shut the machine off, and finally quit when the tank ran dry. It looks like the whole steering column and controls need to be removed just to get the fuel tank out. I hope it's just a hose. Can anyone offer insight into my problem? Thanks

JRobyn · Jul 21, 2015

Mine is about a 2006 L4330, but I am pretty sure that the tank can be removed from the top after completely removing the hood. So do this first; even if you still can't get it out, at least you will have good access and visibility of the top and sides of the tank. The hood will come off with just hitch pins but it's heavy! A couple of pins on the hold-open mechanism and a pin on each hood pivot.

- Jay

oldstyles · Jul 21, 2015

Thanks Jay. The engine cowling is off and the dash is out. My tank appears to be held in by 4 bolts accessible (or not) through the dash/column. The tank has a mounting flange on the top and bottom which prevents it from being removed towards the engine.....so I either need a nifty trick to gain access to the rear of the tank or some tips on removing the whole column assembly. The column sheet metal or bulkhead is blocking my view of the rear of the tank, as well as access to the 2 lower mounting bolts.

This tank would easily be removed from the engine side if the mounting flanges and bolts had been reversed. The engineer should be flogged.

Can anybody offer advice on L4310 column removal?

Grandad4 · Jul 21, 2015

Here's the diagram from the parts list. You're right, it does seem to be attached from both the front and the back. I've had the instrument cluster out on mine a couple of times and seem to recall it wasn't that hard to remove. If that's correct, it might give you access to those bolts without tearing down the whole assembly. I'll check the shop manual tomorrow and see if there's a procedure in it for replacing the fuel tank.View attachment 433831

oldstyles · Jul 21, 2015

Cluster is out which allowed top bolts to be removed. The sheet metal shown in the right side of the diagram is blocking the 2 bottom bolts as well as rearward removal of the tank. It looks like all of the column, brake pedals, clutch pedal, wiring, etc have to come out to remove the sheet metal bulkhead. I guess I need to just start pullin'.

Grandad4 · Jul 22, 2015

oldstyles said:
Cluster is out which allowed top bolts to be removed. The sheet metal shown in the right side of the diagram is blocking the 2 bottom bolts as well as rearward removal of the tank. It looks like all of the column, brake pedals, clutch pedal, wiring, etc have to come out to remove the sheet metal bulkhead. I guess I need to just start pullin'.

The bottom bolts on mine are just 3/4" in length and do not go all the way through to the back of the tank. See photo.

View attachment 433891

Grandad4 · Jul 22, 2015

Grandad4 said:
The bottom bolts on mine are just 3/4" in length and do not go all the way through to the back of the tank. See photo.

<img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/kubota-owning-operating/433891-l4310-fuel-leak-tank-removal-forumrunner_20150722_143106-png"/>

Well it's a smart phone but its operator, not so much. Try the photo again.

View attachment 433896

Grandad4 · Jul 22, 2015

Guess the photo did go through, but did not show on the "smart phone". The service manual, by the way, does not say you need to disassemble the steering column, etc., to get the tank off. Removing the bolts plus that rear light gray support in the photo, should allow the tank to be removed to the rear and up. Hope that does work out for you OK.

C4Ranch · Jul 22, 2015

Looks fairly similar to my old b7500. When it R&R the tank on it, I had to get the cover under the steering wheel loose so I could shift to one side to get to the bolts. Didn't have to take it off, just remove all bolts to it so you can get at the tank bolts.