Weird transmission leak

[dnw64]

I put my snowblower on almost 2 months ago. Yes, early, but it was the weekend before I was scheduled for shoulder surgery and I knew I would be in no shape before snow flies to put it on later.

Anyways, I had been using the tractor a week before, trailered it from NJ to VT and reset for snow. Took the loader off, installed the snowblower and parked the tractor in its winter shed. Attaching and setting up the snowblower was all on my paved driveway, and it was only driven on said paved driveway into the concrete floored shed to await Old Man Winter.

Today I went out to replace the lower rear glass in the cab - it had been busted earlier when I foolishly didn't leave enough clearance for the PHD control arm...

Anyway, after I got that done I was fussing with some other minor stuff when suddenly I noticed a puddle under the tractor. Hydraulic oil. There were no drips in the driveway, or leading up to where it was parked in the shed.

While I'm in much better shape now, there is no way I was going to get under the tractor and figure out where the leak was, let alone fix it. So I loaded it onto my trailer and took it to the local Kubota dealer. I knew they would be closed by the time I could get there but had called and made arrangements to drop it.

There were no signs of any further leakage after starting it, driving it down our driveway, nor sitting on the trailer for the half hour it took to get it down there. It will be interesting to hear what they have to say. While I await their diagnosis - any thoughts?

 

[dodge man]

What kind of blower, front or rear. If front the mid pto seal.

 

[dnw64]

It is a front mount. Guess I'll have to wait and see if their paid diagnosis is any different than your free one

 

[anomad]

Sure better to catch it in the shop like that rather than when you are trying to move snow late one night. Good luck. Looks like a tiny amount of oil too. So that is good.

 

[dnw64]

Sure better to catch it in the shop like that rather than when you are trying to move snow late one night. Good luck. Looks like a tiny amount of oil too. So that is good.

Ditto to both points. Probably less than 4 oz I'd guess.

 

[mikester]

Take a good look under the seat inspection panel to help you find the source of your leak. My tractor main hydraulic steel line split at the weld seam at the first bend. The split was invisible when the machine was off, squirted out like a pressure washer jet when running the hydraulics. Keep your body parts clear when doing inspections!

 

[Carl_NH]

The loader and blower hydraulic connections are all on the right side of the tractor so could it be a fitting didn't couple tightly or a loose connection? But then you would expect a leak when operating... will be interested to hear what the diagnosis is - hopefully its something simple.

 

[dnw64]

Just heard from the shop. Apparently it was a hose.

I don't recall for sure, but my guess is that after I parked it I made sure that all the snowblower functions were all still operational (I had replaced the snowblower gearbox over the summer) and that one of those had developed a leak.

So thankfully pretty simple

As an aside, they also told me that the augers were mis-aligned. They were symmetrical when I got it, and I assumed that's how they should be, but they told me they are not - if both augers throw their max mass at the same time it can overcome the second stage. Learned something new today...

 

[Carl_NH]

Excellent news on the diagnosis and fix glad it was simple.

As far as the asymmetrical vs symmetrical for the SB augers I have always thought they were both symmetrical pulling snow into the center at the same time. But now that you mention it it makes sense that one is 90* or is it 180* out of phase with the other? Take a pic when it comes back,

On the ribs hope your healing - it takes time. I've broken mine twice 2011 and 2014 falling on ice-covered snow onto my back. I displaced them too, so not just a fracture - extremely painful for weeks. Hated the Oxy codone took as few as possible. For 2 years they would move/flex - oh crap moment where they fused together if I was on my back and turning on floor or concrete under a vehicle or tractor.

 

[Shawn T. W.]

Glad it was a simple fix!

On the way home, stop and fill up the diesel tank, save your shoulder from lifting a jug, if that's how you fill it ...