Minor Hydr Fluid Leak hopefully!

[TMAC]

Well, last Saturday with only 3 hours on my tractor I noticed a small puddle of hydraulic fluid about the size of a silver dollar on the concrete floor. Traced it back to where it was coming from and it appears to be seeping out from underneath the FEL joystick, specifically from one of the lines connecting to the joystick block. My guess is that maybe an O-ring on that line is pinched and not sealing properly? I've been continuously checking the fluid level and everything seems OK so far. I have some fluid on standby just in case to keep it filled but wanted to know if any one has any suggestion or have dealt with the same problem? Maybe refer me to a previous thread.

Since then yesterday I bush hogged some but didn't use the FEL that much in regards to the slow leak. Still not a lot of leaking just the next day I notice a few drips on the floor.

I called the dealer Saturday as soon as I noticed and he said check it out to see if it needed tightened and call back if not. So I tried to get a wrench in there but without unscrewing the other lines I cant get a wrench on it. So here I am with 7 hours on my tractor and still a little leak. I hope it's only a minor fix. Any suggestions. Do I just need to get it back to the dealer right away or make them come out and take a look?/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[_RaT_]

Greg, my experience tells me your leak is a simple connection especially since your tractor is new. If you can get to the hoses and where they attach to the valve body, give them a check. Tight but don't crank on the fittings. It will take a lot of fluid loss to show up on the dipstick. They hold a lot of fluid.

 

[TMAC]

Rat, now say I unhook not just the one line but all the ones in that area coming off that distribution block under the FEL joystick. Would it be safe to try and reseal them myself with pipe tape or should I not go that far into it and let the dealer take care of the issue being that I only have 7 hours on it?

I just know that drip aggrevates the fire right out of me /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif and I wan't to be able to use the thing without thinking, "if I work it a little harder it might leak a little more harder as well". /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Thanks for the reply and help Rat. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[byax65]

TMAC,

I had a hydro leak after 27 hours, right under the center of the tractor, near the seat. I called the dealer and they came right out picked it up, fixed it, and returned it in 3 days. I felt much better knowing the dealer was looking at it. Not to mention that thats what the warranty is for. Turns out the clutch pack plugs were not sealed tightly enough.

Good Luck,

BY

 

[jinman]

Greg, a tiny leak like you are describing is not much. If you can put something under the tractor to catch the drip, I'd wait until my 50 hr service check. By then, you might find several other things needing to be fixed. I doubt that the leak gets worse. You could have a leak like that for months and it only adds up to a pint of fluid. A little fluid on the floor looks like a lot. If it's coming out of my own tractor, it looks like gallons. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I just installed two additional remote hydraulic valves and had to retighten several of my fittings. They didn't leak until I had them under full pressure. What I'd be afraid of is that if you loosen other fittings to get to the one leaking, you might end up with another fitting leaking. Maybe that's just my own dumb luck, but that's the way it usually works for me. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

None of us like "dripping" tractors, but I almost always have some slight seeping when I first disconnect my remotes at the quick-connects. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Soundguy]

Just my .02$ but here is what I would do.

First.. it is under warranty, so I wouldn't disconnect anything, and risk making it worse.... I would contact the dealer, and let him know about the problem,( it is now documented ) but that you were going to wait until the 50 hour service to bring it in as it is a minor issue.. and just 'monitor' it until then. If he's cool with that.. go for it. Now in the mean time.. take a paper towel, and a zip tie. Locate the line/fitting that is leaking.. Most likely it is the fitting leaking.. and the drip runs down the line to the lowest point then drips. Anyway.. identify that line.. and the leak point.. wrap the paper towel around that line and make it bunchy..( wadded up.. around the line ) and then zip tie it on.. if will now catch the oil and prevent drips. A real slow leak like that ought to make it to the 50 hour service in one or two paper towels!

( An old kitchen sponge filched from the wife will probably work even better.. )

Soundguy

 

[TMAC]

Jim, I think that's what I'll do I'll just wait till the 50 hour service. Pine Ridge Suggested the same thing. And I'd rather not disconnect any fittings because of the points you mentioned. Thnaks for the re assurance. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Chris, good idea about the zip tie and paper towel, I might give it a try. I have talked to the dealer a few times already to let him know of the situation. I actually asked him if I could bring it down in a few days for him to take a look. He said sure. But now reconsidering to wait it out and maybe kill to birds with one stone.

I asked this in PineRidges post about noises so I'll ask you guys in case you didn't catch it. To make is quick here's the question:

There is a noise like a valve clattering coming from the left side of the tractor aronud the Hydr Oil Filter when idealing or else when I increase the throtle I can't here it any more. When I got off the tractor to check it out last Saturday I could feel the vibration of the ticking clatter when I held my finger tips on the hydr. line that runs to the filter. Just want to know is this a common functioning noise for the boomers or Class III's for that matter? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Thanks.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Just want to know is this a common functioning noise for the boomers or Class III's for that matter? )</font>

Greg,
See the link below. Near the end of the thread I attached a repair manual illustration that removes the mystery.

Here's the link:
Is this noise normal?

 

[TMAC]

Thanks Jim, sorry about posting in two different threads I know that's annoying sometimes. But anyway thanks a bunch. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[44trxfun]

I had the exact same symptoms on my GC2300 last winter. Turned out to be a faulty swivel on the hydraulic hose connections on the joystick. Slight loss of hydraulic fluid didn't affect overall level. Dealer fixed it (under warranty). Hope your problem is equally simple!

 

[TMAC]

44trxfun, Thanks for posting your similar problem and diagnosis of the problem. What procedures did your dealer go through to fix the problem. Just reseal and reconnect or what?

 

[TMAC]

Well last Friday I had enough. My leaks were getting worse and I made up my mind to take the unit to the delear this past Monday to get the leaks fixed.

Well last Sunday morning I got up and checked out my small leaks again on my tractor. I notice I still had some dripping. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif So I decided to take another look. Took off the guard around the joystick and grabbed a few wrenches. I again tightened the one I can access that had been dripping. I applied slightly more torque this time. It seemed to tighten just a little. The other fitting that I cannot get a wrench on still had the worst seepage. So I got desperate. I forgot I had a small pair of Robo Grips that I keep in my archery quiver that has the protective tips on them. I ran to the house and grabbed them then was barely able to get a good grip. I must have turned that fitting an easy 1/4 of a turn. Wiped the threads off and still a small, but better leak if there is such a thing. I got another grip and tightened it about another 1/16 of a turn. Wiped thread and WALLA! no leaking./forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I pursued to check all the fittings that seemed to be a little moist and gave them another tightening.

So it appeared that all my small leaks might be fixed except for the one quick connect coupler on the FEL. I would have to take the FEL off to get to it better but I tried anyhow to tighten it a bit and make sure the connection was secure. Ran the tractor messing around in the yard a bit and brought it back to the garage. No leaks. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I took it out to my property and Bush Hogged for 5 hours and checked the lines again when I got home and still no leak. Not even on the quick attach couplers. So Monday morning came and I was planning on taking it to the dealer but as I checked again and found no leaky lines I was satisfied the problem was fixed so I went back out to the land to do more work and all seems to be well now with 24 hours on the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

What was weird is that the one quick connect line that was dripping stopped as well. I didn't even really tighten it I just messed with the connection a little and made sure it was fully connected securely. The only thing I can guess is if there are O'rings in these connections maybe they swelled up and seated better. Oh well I know I got a lot done this weekend and no leaky lines to hold me back. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[jwstewar]

Great to hear. I'm glad you got it fixed. Wonder if the fluid could've been running down the line to look like it was coming from the quick connect?

 

[TMAC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Wonder if the fluid could've been running down the line to look like it was coming from the quick connect? )</font>

Possibly so Jim, but I don't know how it would from where it was leaking. It would actually have to leak down the line from under the Joystick then back up to the quick connect. It might have done that when I went down hill and there was enough to run down the line and hold around the coupler to make it look like a leak when I was back to level ground. That possibly could have been, never thought about that.

Well I'm not going to keep beating the "fixed" word into the ground just yet but, it appears that the lines are dry now. Thanks everyone. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[have_blue]

TMAC,

My, what a complainer! "Oh are those leaks bad! Oh are those leaks bad! Oh are those leaks bad! Oh are those leaks bad!"

Then you get them fixed, and you say "Oh were those leaks bad!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I complain and moan about those little hydraulic leaks too, because they grow a beard when I work in the dust. I think I got one fixed, I'll have to check it tomorrow in case it's a real slow one.

 

[TMAC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( My, what a complainer! "Oh are those leaks bad! Oh are those leaks bad! Oh are those leaks bad! Oh are those leaks bad!"
Then you get them fixed, and you say "Oh were those leaks bad!" /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif))</font>

Don't think you mean any harm, but I don't understand which way you are rubbin me here. I see the smiley face but don't know? So I'll forget this first part.

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I complain and moan about those little hydraulic leaks too, because they grow a beard when I work in the dust. I think I got one fixed, I'll have to check it tomorrow in case it's a real slow one. )</font>

At first I was afraid to torque on them too hard cause I've been known to always over tighten everything. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif But figured I would be a little more aggressive the second try. Luckily nothing stripped or broke. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Brings me peace of mine now that there "fixed", nock on wood. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Good luck Have_Blue hope you solve your leaky problems as well. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif It's just like a bee swarming your head you wish he would just go away or kill’em, one of two. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks for the reply! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[44trxfun]

TMAC, glad you got your leak(s) fixed! I'm pretty sure the dealer told me when they fixed mine that they "just replaced the swivels". I didn't ask for details but it fixed the problem.

 

[TMAC]

Thanks 44trxfun, I sure feel better now. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif Kindoff feel like mowing down some more field if I had any left to mow. I still have a bunch of wood piles I need to get picked up and out of the way. That'll keep me busy among other things until next month when I'll probably chop her down again. I sure do love my new twactor. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Makes all the work that much more enjoyable. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif