Pitted Kubota BH77 Bucket Cylinder

[CanuckPT]

Here's some background I had posted in a different thread:

2011 Kubota B3300SU with BH77. Purchased used 10/13 with 19.8 hours on it. Had a leaking hose on BH - replaced it 11/13 & didn't have an opportunity to use the BH over the winter.

I was about to attach my new Bro-Tek thumb a few weeeks ago when I realized my bucket was curling with just it's weight & gravity!

I took the cylinder to my local dealership and they replaced the seals in the cylinder but found that there was a lot of "pitting" - quoted me $580 to have it repaired. I called Marshall Machinery in PA where I bought the tractor and they've gone to bat for me!! They had the cylinder UPS'd to them and have had it sent out to a local hydrualics guy there for repair so the good news is, it appears that the problem is being takend care of by the dealership I purchased from.

However, both dealerships had mentioned that pitting is often a sign of water in the hydraulic fluid. This tractor only had 19.8 hours on it when I took delivery and has been garaged since I bought it in October except for 1 night.

Is there any other reason that pitting would occur? I'm now freaking out wondering if there's a systemic problem with water (if there is even any water at all) that's eating away at other vital parts of my tractor that only has 32 hours on it!!

Advice/insights???

 

[J_J]

It is nothing new that water will creep into hyd systems.

Condensation, QD's disconnected and left so water can fill the QD, and therefore be sucked into the hyd when the hyd fluid cools.

When any warm or hot hyd fluid cools and moisture is present, water and air can be ingested.

No real cure other than cover, garage the machine, drain and replace on a schedule, observe the fluid for color, smell, etc.

There are filters that will absorb some water.

If the water has not been emulsified, it will be in the lowest part of the machine where fluid is stored.

Once the fluid is emulsified, it will turn into that milky color and it is hard to remove the water.

The contaminated hyd fluid can be cleaned and made like new, but there are other chemicals that have been developed because of the water, and the cleaning process is expensive.

You may only have that much run time on the tractor, but how long has the tractor sat around, heating and cooling in the rain, etc.

 

[CanuckPT]

Thanks for the in put J.J. I think I'll do the 50 hour service early & replace all the fluid and hope for the best!

 

[CanuckPT]

Great news! My backhoe cylinder was repaired by Marshall Machinery (in PA where I purchased it) & it arrived today! It's all reinstalled, fluid topped off (I will do my 50 hour service early & replace all the fluid with SUTD when I get the chance to pick up some fluids & filters. Back in the saddle, now to get some seat time in!! Thanks for your advice!!!