Hi all,
I recently purchased a 1999 L35 with the GST transmission and ~3000hrs on it as I was looking for something smaller and more reliable than my clapped out old Case 580CK, unfortunately that plan isn't working out too well....
I've put about 25-30 hours on the tractor since I purchased it, the previous owner had receipts showing the hydraulic fluid had been changed about 100hrs before I bought it with Kubota UTD and a new filter.
About 3-4 weeks back just as the weather started to cool off, I noticed that if I let it idle in neutral to warm up at all, the tractor wouldn't move when I went to use it. The same thing would happen if I left the tractor idling in neutral for more than ~30 seconds. If I started the tractor and started driving right away, it would be fine. If it wouldn't move, I usually just shut it off for 10-15 minutes and it would be fine when I restarted it. I did a bunch of reading here as others have had the same problem, usually it seems to be an air leak on the suction side causing the pump to lose its prime.
Today, I went to move the tractor and got nothing, I've since tried it 3 more times over the day and still nothing. Never done that before. I did notice a couple of differences in how it acted though. The power steering seems to be working, usually it isn't. This seems strange as I believe its run off the same pump? When releasing the clutch in either forward or reverse, it seems like the machine is trying to move, I can see the wheels twitch when the clutch is let out.
A couple of other things to note that I've seen asked in other posts for the same issue:
-the hydraulic fluid is right up the top of the mark on the dipstick
-the PTO does work, I currently have a snowblower hooked up to it
-it seemed like the mechanical clutch was holding fine before today as it was possible to stall the tractor out or have it lug going up a hill in too high of a gear
-I did notice a drip hanging off the suction tube on the bottom of the transmission housing, I'm guessing this o-ring may be the culprit of the air leak, but I'm a little stumped as to why the power steering would work but the machine still won't move.
I will order a WSM manual tomorrow morning, unless anyone has had luck with any of the manual websites such as kubotamanual.com? I'm hoping I can get it before Christmas as I have 10 days off. I'll also order a 500, 1000 & 3000psi gauge with a 1/8" flexible grease hose as per North Idaho Wolfman's recommendation and start checking pressures.
I know it's not a new tractor by any means, but I'm pretty bummed that I'm having issues already. It also has an aftermarket cab on it, which will definitely make it even less fun if I need to split the tractor. Does anyone have any thoughts on what may be going on here or other things I should be looking out for?
Many thanks in advance,
-Luke
I recently purchased a 1999 L35 with the GST transmission and ~3000hrs on it as I was looking for something smaller and more reliable than my clapped out old Case 580CK, unfortunately that plan isn't working out too well....
I've put about 25-30 hours on the tractor since I purchased it, the previous owner had receipts showing the hydraulic fluid had been changed about 100hrs before I bought it with Kubota UTD and a new filter.
About 3-4 weeks back just as the weather started to cool off, I noticed that if I let it idle in neutral to warm up at all, the tractor wouldn't move when I went to use it. The same thing would happen if I left the tractor idling in neutral for more than ~30 seconds. If I started the tractor and started driving right away, it would be fine. If it wouldn't move, I usually just shut it off for 10-15 minutes and it would be fine when I restarted it. I did a bunch of reading here as others have had the same problem, usually it seems to be an air leak on the suction side causing the pump to lose its prime.
Today, I went to move the tractor and got nothing, I've since tried it 3 more times over the day and still nothing. Never done that before. I did notice a couple of differences in how it acted though. The power steering seems to be working, usually it isn't. This seems strange as I believe its run off the same pump? When releasing the clutch in either forward or reverse, it seems like the machine is trying to move, I can see the wheels twitch when the clutch is let out.
A couple of other things to note that I've seen asked in other posts for the same issue:
-the hydraulic fluid is right up the top of the mark on the dipstick
-the PTO does work, I currently have a snowblower hooked up to it
-it seemed like the mechanical clutch was holding fine before today as it was possible to stall the tractor out or have it lug going up a hill in too high of a gear
-I did notice a drip hanging off the suction tube on the bottom of the transmission housing, I'm guessing this o-ring may be the culprit of the air leak, but I'm a little stumped as to why the power steering would work but the machine still won't move.
I will order a WSM manual tomorrow morning, unless anyone has had luck with any of the manual websites such as kubotamanual.com? I'm hoping I can get it before Christmas as I have 10 days off. I'll also order a 500, 1000 & 3000psi gauge with a 1/8" flexible grease hose as per North Idaho Wolfman's recommendation and start checking pressures.
I know it's not a new tractor by any means, but I'm pretty bummed that I'm having issues already. It also has an aftermarket cab on it, which will definitely make it even less fun if I need to split the tractor. Does anyone have any thoughts on what may be going on here or other things I should be looking out for?
Many thanks in advance,
-Luke