Strange tractor issue

[yoderjac]

I've got a real strange issue with my old Kioti DK45. It has had a small engine oil leak for a long time. The shop said that it would be a very expensive repair because of the location of the leak and it probably was not worth fixing and that I should just keep an eye on the oil level.

The tractor was working fine this fall when I stored it in the barn. I did not do any hunting at the farm after Muzzleloader season started. One of my partners texted me and said there was a huge oil like under my tractor. I was busy at the time and did not get a chance to get out there. While I was at the farm today to meet with the certified burner, I checked out the tractor. There was more oil on the floor than usual and it seemed like hydraulic oil. I assumed the engine oil leak would not get any worse with the tractor just sitting all winter and assumed some vermin chewed through a hydraulic hose or something.

When I checked the levels, the engine oil as slightly over full so I'm sure that is not the issue. But for the life of me, I could not find the hydraulic leak. The hydraulic level was low but still on the low mark on the stick. I started up the tractor and it started fine. I was able to lift the 3point (nothing on it) with no problem. When I got back under it I saw no additional oil leaking.

I did not have time to operate the tractor or diagnose it further. The good news is that I'm sure I'll be able to operate it enough to load it on the trailer and take it into the shop if necessary. Hopefully when I have time I'll be able to diagnose it myself.

Any other thoughts on likely causes or simple diagnostic steps would be welcome! I'll need to deal with it soon so I can disk for the upcoming controlled burn.

 

[Jerry-B-WI]

I think there's dye you could put in the hydraulic reservoir. Then use a black light to find your leak.

 

[yoderjac]

I think there's dye you could put in the hydraulic reservoir. Then use a black light to find your leak.

Good idea. One would think the leak with that much fluid on the floor would be obvious. If I can't find it, dye might be a good tool.

 

[buckdeer1]

You have to get the dye for which fluid you are looking for,maybe not each type of fluid but I believe oil VS Hydraulic.I would fill hydraulic up if on low side and move tractor a little bit or put cardboard down so you can see if thats whats leaking

 

[yoderjac]

Good to know about the dye. I was thinking the same thing about the cardboard. I can see a hydraulic drip from a large nut under the tractor, but you can see fluid is traveling from somewhere to that nut. There is some kind of shield plating and there is a lot of hydraulic around that so I'm sure the source is draining to that nut and dripping from there.

But the cardboard may still be a good idea in case there is more than one leak.

Just from looking at the fluid, I'm pretty convinced it is hydraulic. It is clearer than engine oil usually is, but I can't remember when I last changed the oil so the engine oil could be new. However, I'm seeing some yellowing of the oil in places on the floor.

I think you are right that if I fill the hydraulic, I'll probably see the leak get active. The tractor had been sitting for 3 months before I started it, so I'm guessing the hydraulic leaked down to a point of equilibrium.