I purchased a M9540 HD new in 2006. Last year I had a steel hydraulic steering line that runs from under the seat on the right side of the tractor to under the dash develop a pinhole. Part 3C081-63232. I purchased a replacement line from Kubota and installed. The tractor is used primarily for cutting hay and has had less than 30 hours since it was installed, total hours on tractor 1200. The line completely severed in the first bend leaving the hydraulic pump. Kubota has refused to replace the part even though it is quite obvious the part was defective. There is a 90 day warranty. Part is less than 1 year old. The seat, seat pan, floorboard, fenders, shifter and controls, and dash must be removed to replace the part. Customer service was zero help. I read an old thread (2010) on Tractorbynet that stated there was a problem with this part and Kubota replaced under warranty. Anyone else have this trouble and is there a possible underlying problem?
M9540 Blown Hydraulic Line
- Thread starter HayFarmer
- Start date
yes make sure all of the pipe's support clips are installed and intact. Also make sure that the hydraulic pressure is within spec, and it is not "pulsing"--pulsing can cause vibration in the pipes. That vibration causes a resonance to occur which will find the weakest part of the pipe and break it. Also, if anything hits the pipe that too can break it (obviously)--and that should be easy to spot. If the pump is loose, and I remember seeing one with a loose pump (mounting base was loose), that too can cause it. Anything on the other end of the pipe being loose will also cause cracking/breaking. Basically it has to be tight for it's entire length, and it doesn't like vibration.
speaking of vibration I remember some of them had a valve in the system that wasn't working right and would cause vibration or pulsing in the pipes. Seems like there was a bulletin for the M-40 series? Anyone have access to look that up?
With that said, I would imagine that since the pipe was installed by someone other than a dealer, there are variables involved outside Kubota's control. Yes, 90 day parts warranty applies. If it's 90 days and 1 hour, it's out of warranty. if if failed a week before the 90 days was out and you didn't notify the dealer until the 91st day because you were haying, they won't help you. A lot of times it doesn't make anyone happy, not the owner, dealer, kubota, parts guys...nobody.
speaking of vibration I remember some of them had a valve in the system that wasn't working right and would cause vibration or pulsing in the pipes. Seems like there was a bulletin for the M-40 series? Anyone have access to look that up?
With that said, I would imagine that since the pipe was installed by someone other than a dealer, there are variables involved outside Kubota's control. Yes, 90 day parts warranty applies. If it's 90 days and 1 hour, it's out of warranty. if if failed a week before the 90 days was out and you didn't notify the dealer until the 91st day because you were haying, they won't help you. A lot of times it doesn't make anyone happy, not the owner, dealer, kubota, parts guys...nobody.
dvcochran
Active member
Equipment
Kubota M9000, New Holland TN90, Deere 2640, Vermeer 504N, Vermeer 504SI, more
Hard to tell from the blurry 2nd photo but it looks like there may be newer and older failures. Can you post a better picture of the end of the pipe?
I agree with @lugbolt on the pipe mounts and supports. Could be that some of them are completely gone (which may have led to the first failure).
You say there is a 90 day warranty but the part is less than a year old. In that case I doubt you have a leg to stand on and need to focus more on why did it fail in the first place. Even if it is a Kubota design flaw, it is your problem to fix now.
I see your pipe on the diagram. Not sure if you have the old or new but both show stays on each end of the pipe.
Kubota M9540HD-1 (Hydraulic Shuttle, 4wd / Rops / Tier III) Parts Diagrams (messicks.com)
I agree with @lugbolt on the pipe mounts and supports. Could be that some of them are completely gone (which may have led to the first failure).
You say there is a 90 day warranty but the part is less than a year old. In that case I doubt you have a leg to stand on and need to focus more on why did it fail in the first place. Even if it is a Kubota design flaw, it is your problem to fix now.
I see your pipe on the diagram. Not sure if you have the old or new but both show stays on each end of the pipe.
Kubota M9540HD-1 (Hydraulic Shuttle, 4wd / Rops / Tier III) Parts Diagrams (messicks.com)
Not the same thing at all, of course… but in a similar situation… a hydraulic line which consistently fractured due to suspected harmonics was replaced in a Lockheed/Howard I once flew. It broke 3 times over the period of a year, the last time at an out-of-the way noplace and the local mechanic mfr’d a hydraulic hose as a temporary replacement. That hose was renewed 12 years later with another hose when the engine and hyd-pump was replaced.
Sometimes a hose is better than a pipe.
Sometimes a hose is better than a pipe.
Thank you very much for taking the time to respond. The pipe clamp, which clamps the two pipes together, was never installed on my tractor. I bagged and tagged everything I took off the tractor and it was not installed. I just ordered the clamp and associated parts and will install when it arrives. The line fits perfectly requiring zero adjustment to line up the bolt holes and tubing fitting. The fact the original line lasted 15 years makes me wonder why the line in the pictures failed so quickly, clamp or not. I'll look online for the bulletin. That would certainly go a long way towards explaining the premature failure.
Sorry, no additional photos. I took those pictures before I left the part on the Kubota parts counter. Referring to the messicks link, J27502 Hydraulic Oil Line (Steering/PTO) illustrates only 1 pipe clamp. Not sure where you are seeing a second one. I did order all associated parts, 60 (2), 70 (2), 80, 90, and 100 and will install when they arrive.
That is very interesting that a steel line will fracture as shown in the pictures. No leaks prior to catastrophic failure. Hopefully the clamp I ordered will provide years of maintenance free service. One end of the line has a specialized 4 bolt fitting with a relief cut for an o-ring. If the line fails again, I will harvest the "puck" as I shall call it, and see if a hydraulic shop can fit a hose to it.