BX23S Cab NO HEAT!!

[Deleted member 47704]

I would try vacuum filling it before doing that

May be able to borrow one from Autozone if you have one nearby.

Take the radiator cap off and put yur shop vac hose on it, it will suck all the air out.

 

[DustyRusty]

My radiator is full to the top. The only thing that a shop vac will pull out is the antifreeze unless I drain the radiator. Wednesday it is supposed to be in the 40's, so I will take everything apart, and put the heater core on the floor of the tractor in an attempt to get the air out of it. I got the Kubota heater installations instructions today, and that is what they say to do to bleed the heater core. Once it is on the tractor floor, they say to remove the radiator cap and wait till there are no more air bubbles coming up to the top of the radiator. I am not certain, but I think that there might be enough room to put the heater on the ground alongside the tractor.

 

[Deleted member 47704]

My radiator is full to the top. The only thing that a shop vac will pull out is the antifreeze unless I drain the radiator. Wednesday it is supposed to be in the 40's, so I will take everything apart, and put the heater core on the floor of the tractor in an attempt to get the air out of it. I got the Kubota heater installations instructions today, and that is what they say to do to bleed the heater core. Once it is on the tractor floor, they say to remove the radiator cap and wait till there are no more air bubbles coming up to the top of the radiator. I am not certain, but I think that there might be enough room to put the heater on the ground alongside the tractor.

Vacuum brake bleeders pull air all the way from the back of the car.

 

[Fordtech86]

Not a shop vac, but one of these…

Robinair Coolant Refiller with Air Lock Prevention and System Check (75260)

Efficiently refill and check your vehicle's cooling system with Robinair's 75260 Coolant Refiller.

www.jbtools.com

 

[Deleted member 47704]

Not a shop vac, but one of these…

Robinair Coolant Refiller with Air Lock Prevention and System Check (75260)

Efficiently refill and check your vehicle's cooling system with Robinair's 75260 Coolant Refiller.

www.jbtools.com

That will work.

 

[DustyRusty]

Today, I took the heater off of the tractor while leaving the hoses attached. I set the heater on the ground alongside of the front wheel, and it did belch out some air. I then filled the radiator and reinstalled the heater. I now have 132 degree air moving out of the vents, and I checked the temperature of the coolant at the radiator. It is 144 degrees. I then blocked one-half of the radiator screen with a piece of cardboard, and it didn't make any difference in operating temperature. I do have heat, but it isn't that great. I called my dealer service department and was told that I shouldn't expect the cab to be warm like a car. I am not impressed with the quality of the heater, especially for the price.
When I was removing the inside shroud, I found it packed with snow that came in from the side vents of the cab.

 

[Henro]

Today, I took the heater off of the tractor while leaving the hoses attached. I set the heater on the ground alongside of the front wheel, and it did belch out some air. I then filled the radiator and reinstalled the heater. I now have 132 degree air moving out of the vents, and I checked the temperature of the coolant at the radiator. It is 144 degrees. I then blocked one-half of the radiator screen with a piece of cardboard, and it didn't make any difference in operating temperature. I do have heat, but it isn't that great. I called my dealer service department and was told that I shouldn't expect the cab to be warm like a car. I am not impressed with the quality of the heater, especially for the price.
When I was removing the inside shroud, I found it packed with snow that came in from the side vents of the cab. View attachment 74344 View attachment 74345 View attachment 74346 View attachment 74348 View attachment 74349

Maybe block more of the radiator? I think that is what I would do...maybe 80 percent? Your temp guage will tell you if you blocked too much. Not like it's summer and blocking the radiator has the same effect as a blocked radiator does when in a tee shirt.

 

[DaveFromMi]

Sounds like you got the air out of the circuit. Coolant through the bypass hose & core should be a little warmer than the rad inlet.
+ What diameter heater hose are you running?
+ Check that the heater hose routing is smooth, no severe bends or kinks.
+ Not sure of how the heater is built, but check around sides of heater core where cold air could bypass core. Better sealing between core and housing might be needed.
+ A 12V automotive heater coolant pump would likely improve outlet temps. You could operate it with a switch or relay it with the blower.

 

[ve9aa]

Are all the "holes" in your cab blocked off?
IE: under the seat, the PTO and speed controls, all the pedals, etc,?

I don't have a cab (always wanted one) but I
've read every post I can find on cabs and this is often a source of frustration for folks.....having a cab, but it's still relatively cold/cool in there in the winter.

My entire basement is heated (in-floor hot water) but my garage (also part of the basement) is always 5-10*C cooler in the winter no matter what. Why? Cracks around the garage door that I can barely see light through are letting heat escape and cool air in.

Sometimes it doesn't take much Dusty.

 

[DustyRusty]

I don't have the Kubota sealing kit, but I did seal up under the seat. It is just the outlet temperature that I am concerned with. This is my second Kubota with a cab, and the other one had gaping holes in the cab, and it was always very warm. That heater put out a lot of heat. I am inclined to believe that the thermostat isn't closing, and I have to believe that it has something higher for a thermostat than 140 degrees.

 

[Henro]

I don't have the Kubota sealing kit, but I did seal up under the seat. It is just the outlet temperature that I am concerned with. This is my second Kubota with a cab, and the other one had gaping holes in the cab, and it was always very warm. That heater put out a lot of heat. I am inclined to believe that the thermostat isn't closing, and I have to believe that it has something higher for a thermostat than 140 degrees.

Just beating a dead horse maybe, but if you do not have hot enough liquid on the input side of the heat exchanger, you will not get what you want on the output side.

Don't think I am missing anything but I might be...

 

[ve9aa]

I know this is another apples/oranges comment, but on my old VW diesels (I had 3 of them), I could idle that sucker all day long and never get a whole lot of heat, but once I had it running a minute or two and headed down the road, only THEN could I get heat out of it. Something about it being thermally efficient or some such. On the coldest days I'd chuck a small pc of cardboard in front of the rad, so I wouldn't freeze my butt off on my 35minute commute to work.

My MINI COOPER (gas) is much the same, unless I work it, I get very very little heat from it.

If it were me, I'd yank the thermostat and put it in a pot of boiling water and see what temp it opens at.
Second thing I'd do, if that was OK, would be the cardboard on the rad thing.

YYMV and I have very little tractor experience, but been playing with cars and bikes for nearly 50yrs.

 

[Ping]

Dusty
On my fabricobbled BX 2370 cab, I have about 75% (10" sheetmetal) of the rad debris screen blocked for winter use. I tried 50% but the temp gauge would only read 1 bar. With the increase to 75% I get 2 bars on the gauge, same as summer use. I'll check coolant temps and heater discharge tomorrow morning during warm-up before the snow removal fun starts.
Hope this helps.
Regards,

 

[Deleted member 47704]

I don't have the Kubota sealing kit, but I did seal up under the seat. It is just the outlet temperature that I am concerned with. This is my second Kubota with a cab, and the other one had gaping holes in the cab, and it was always very warm. That heater put out a lot of heat. I am inclined to believe that the thermostat isn't closing, and I have to believe that it has something higher for a thermostat than 140 degrees.

Motor oil has to be warm. 140 coolant temp the oil isn't hot enough.

 

[DustyRusty]

Sounds like you got the air out of the circuit. Coolant through the bypass hose & core should be a little warmer than the rad inlet.
+ What diameter heater hose are you running?
+ Check that the heater hose routing is smooth, no severe bends or kinks.
+ Not sure of how the heater is built, but check around sides of heater core where cold air could bypass core. Better sealing between core and housing might be needed.
+ A 12V automotive heater coolant pump would likely improve outlet temps. You could operate it with a switch or relay it with the blower.

The hoses come preassembled by Curtis and all you need to do is to plug them into the fittings once they are installed.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

WOW, you GOT some heat !!! So that is 'fixed'.... Your temp gauge is lil lower than mine so 'normal'.
I'd cover up more of the 'debris screen' AND block off some,most, all ? of the hood vents.
The 140*F heater inlet temp shows the engine isn't hot enough. I'd expect 160 ,though I've never looked at the tstat spec. By blocking off the 'hood vents', you keep more engine heat IN the engine.
hmm, wonder if adding an 'air inlet heating tube' would help ? Simple 2" ABS/PVC to get air from around the muffler to feed into the air cleaner. This way engine gulps warmish air NOT bone chilling,brrrrrrrr air.

 

[leveraddict]

Dusty I have to ask does the Curtis cab still pull air from the cab for the radiator ? Ive never seen under the steering wheel where the intake screen is with a Curtis cab installed.

 

[i7win7]

 

[Ping]

Dusty,
Just check my heater discharge temp on my home brew cab heater and it's running about 170F.
Radiator debris screen blocked off about 75%. Outdoor temp 19F.
Hope this helps.

 

[Henro]

I may be in my moron mode, but why would you not block the radiator more to get more engine coolant temperature?

More engine coolant temperature means more heat available to the heater.

What am I missing...except a cab for my tractor...LOL