L6060 HSTC Gear Clatter

[bdhsfz6]

This is a very minor issue but I thought I'd post to see if others have noticed this noise.

I've got 125 hours on my L6060 and I'm now noticing a noise which I can only describe as "gear clatter". It's not a binding or grinding sound, more like gears with a little play between the teeth. It happens only when at operating temperature in hot weather while rolling over uneven ground. It occurs in all gears and both high & low hydraulic ranges. Engaging the differential lock & FWD makes no difference. It isn't loud or even annoying but it is noticeable over the usual HST "whine". The factory SUDT2 fluid is clean and at the proper level. All maintenance has been done per the manual. It came on slowly after around 100 hours but doesn't seem to be getting louder. This relatively minor noise has no effect on tractor performance at all.

I've owned 7 Kubotas over the years, 6 of which were HST's, and they all make noise but this is a new one. I'm hoping this is the result of normal gear wear coupled with the very thin SUDT2 fluid under high operating temperature. This tractor is also the first cabbed machine I've owned. It's possible the noise is more noticeable inside the cab and probably wouldn't be detected on an open station machine.

Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[pokey1416]

I haven’t noticed that but I do think the diesel clatter is more noticeable at various times. I’m partially deaf though

 

[5030]

Both my M9's do it. Far as I'm concerned, 'clatter don't matter'...lol

Of course both mine have serious hours on them so it's probably due to some wear in the gearcase. 1700 and 6300 hours respectively.

 

[Tx Jim]

Both my M9's do it. Far as I'm concerned, 'clatter don't matter'...lol

Of course both mine have serious hours on them so it's probably due to some wear in the gearcase. 1700 and 6300 hours respectively.

6300 hrs of use is barely "broke in". My tractor that's been pulling my rd balers since '93 has nearly 12,000 hrs showing on speed/hr meter. It pulled my rd baler yesterday baling hay.

 

[5030]

6300 hrs of use is barely "broke in". My tractor that's been pulling my rd balers since '93 has nearly 12,000 hrs showing on speed/hr meter. It pulled my rd baler yesterday baling hay.

Mine aren't quite that old Jim. What my Kubota tech says, 'barely broke in'....

Truck farmer down the road a ways has a couple 4020 OS's that have rolled the hour meters over. No idea how many rebuilds but they both run very well. They have various operators too, mostly the migrant workers he has that do the planting and picking.

Far as gear noise goes, they are all straight cut gears (mine) so some gear whine (clatter is always there) anyway. Only the 2 speed pto's aren't straight cut.

What are you getting per bale presently btw?

 

[Tx Jim]

Yes my tractor is old similar to me BUT It's engine had new pistons/liners installed last year & I wouldn't be afraid to place it in the field against one of the newer electronically controlled tractors. At least after engine is operating I could disconnect batteries & my tractor could continue operating.

$30 per bale to cut/rake/bale a 4X5.5 bale. Not enough for what inputs cost but one must remain inline with other local custom balers charge for same task. Last few yrs I just bale for my own needs & my close neighbors who have been my customers for many yrs.

 

[5030]

Nothing wrong with old, I am too. No new tractors here ever, but then I'm not into all the electronic gizmo's anyway (on tractors). Better clarify that statement so I don't get in trouble. Mine run with no battery connected too. Works with mechanical injection.

 

[5030]

$30 per bale to cut/rake/bale a 4X5.5 bale. Not enough for what inputs cost but one must remain inline with other local custom balers.

I'm just a tad higher $35.00 per in net. Neither of us are getting wealthy on it for sure. That new bailer I purchased runs an exceptionally tight bale, thumping one sounds like a kettle drum. I do it because I like to do it. Always been that way actually. Think if I had to, I'd quit doing it. At my age (and I'm sure at yours), everything is optional. I watch Michigan hay prices. Most of the advertisers on there are at 50 per. I sometimes wonder if they sell any. Me, I have one rancher that buys it all (as you know) so I have no issues with payment or transportation, he hauls them all himself.

 

[amhicks21]

Is it possible that it's from the front axle? The L6060 I run now with about 900 hours had the front dif blow up at 80 hours and then about a month ago the hub bearings broke allowing the whole front hub and wheel to fall off while I was mowing a median. Ive never had any issues with kubota's hst transmissions but their front axles are a different story. Ive rebuilt a few myself and had both l6060's need warrantee work. I guess the one other thing you could look at is if the 4x4 lever is properly engaging and disengaging. It seems like while disengaged the teeth are still just barely making contact with eachother on mine but not enough to make noise unless a little pressure is applied.

 

[5030]

While not really germane to this thread, Kubota (and other tractor makers like to use ball bearings in the outboards instead of roller bearings and ball bearings because of their very limited contact area are always prone to failure from excessive loading which is why, first thing I do is drain out the light weight hydraulic fluid (UDT or SUDT or whatever) and replace it with 80-90 or 85-140 weight hypoid oil. The gear oil provides a better shock load surface. I've never had an outboard fail (I have has to replace the bushings on one side of one of them because they wore out) on either of my M9's. If they used roller bearings, there would never be an issue unless all the lubricant drained out from a failed seal. Mine are 2002 and 2004 models and both have some pretty good hours on them and both have front end loaders as well (which imparts added load on the front ends). Always moving round bales of hay around in fields and not all of them are smooth either.

 

[amhicks21]

If they used roller bearings, there would never be an issue unless all the lubricant drained out from a failed seal

Ive said exactly the same thing multiple times about roller bearings and swap out the udt for 80/90 at the first change interval. Unfortunately this only goes so far from preventing failure under certain types of use like steep hillside work, commercial snowplowing and extensive loader work on and off pavement like I do. I also think the wide turf tires contribute to extra bearing stress. every time ive had an outboard bearing literally break in to pieces i was working on the side of a steep slope. Here's a month ago mowing a 4 mile stretch of steep ditch. I started backing up and without warning the hub fell off and the bearing was in about 8 pieces sitting in the housing. Anyway, I don't mean to derail the thread but its worth it to pay extra attention to those front axles.

 

[5030]

Not good. Haven't had an issue with mine yet and I do a lot of loader work as in moving and loading round bales but I've always ran 85-140 on the front axle and outboards. In fact that is the first thing I did was drop the UDT and change to gear oil. Do a lot of snowplowing too in the winter, almost 2 miles from there to the pavement...

I change the oil in the front axle every time I change the hydraulic oil too.

Don't know about tires, all I run are R1's.

 

[Robert Soccio]

I have the same noise on my L6060HSTC since day one. Had the dealer and the Kubota rep. come out and they were stumped. Said it could be cab mounts. They ordered some for me but I never went back to have them installed because I thought they were just grasping at straws. Went to the dealer and drove 2 of the same new units to compare. One didn't do it and the other made the same noise but not as noticeable as mine. Other than breaking down the tranny, they had no answer. Just living with it. If it blows up after the warranty expires I'll try to get it repaired on the basis that it was documented on day one. Good luck with that. Let me know if you find the answer.

 

[Hilbilly]

My 2019 L6060 cab does not make that noise and it has 610 hrs on it.

You guys are scaring the crap out of me with the information about the weak front axles. I do a lot of loader work with my tractor and have used UDT in it since day one. When I had the tractor at the dealer about a year ago to have it split (damn recall for possible loose bolt in transmission), the tech told me that the L6060's had a very strong front axle and he never experienced any issues with those axles. I'm going to call them and tell them what I am reading on this thread and ask about using gear oil or any other possible preventive measures.

 

[pokey1416]

Here's a video that Paul Short did on clatter in the cab, probably not same thing but thought I'd pass it on.