BX-2360 head gasket blown?

[ShellKnobCat]

My 2360 is showing classic head gasket issues. It's been running hotter than usual and I had to add coolant to the radiator. I used it today for a couple of hours and just as I pulled it into the barn it started running rough and quit. Lots of black smoke. Then when I restarted white smoke and the engine quit. The oil on the dipstick looks OK but I did notice some oil had leaked from somewhere onto the belly mower, not sure what type of oil.

I do have the service manual and a after quick look through it I think removing the head and replacing the gasket, if that's the only problem, looks to be fairly straightforward but tedious. I'm a fairly good shade tree mechanic but I've never been into a diesel engine before. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

This is a high hour engine too!

 

[eserv]

My 2360 is showing classic head gasket issues. It's been running hotter than usual and I had to add coolant to the radiator. I used it today for a couple of hours and just as I pulled it into the barn it started running rough and quit. Lots of black smoke. Then when I restarted white smoke and the engine quit. The oil on the dipstick looks OK but I did notice some oil had leaked from somewhere onto the belly mower, not sure what type of oil.

I do have the service manual and a after quick look through it I think removing the head and replacing the gasket, if that's the only problem, looks to be fairly straightforward but tedious. I'm a fairly good shade tree mechanic but I've never been into a diesel engine before. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.

This is a high hour engine too!

Not a difficult job, but you rarely get off with just a head gasket! Those engines almost always crack their heads if they have been overheated and are blowing coolant.

 

[85Hokie]

I agree - once head is off, have it magnafluxed to see IF there are cracks that are not obvious.

How many hours are on machine????

 

[jaxs]

It's a mystery why so many more people ask for advice after engine quits than ask after first sign of overheating.

 

[Mountainman]

How does the coolant look? Rarely ever is it just a head gasket. Almost always cracks the head. I recently bought one same as you describe overheated and oil on deck. Turns out it was mixing oil in the coolant and puking out the overflow bottle onto deck. And aftermarket heads are hit an miss on whether they work or not just fyi

 

[ShellKnobCat]

It has about 13,000 hours so yes very high. Thanks for the help but Jaxs it did NOT overheat - just ran slightly hotter than usual. And, yes, I am prepared for a cracked head but hopefully nothing worse.

Any tips for teardown beyond what's in the service manual?

 

[John D 2]

13,000 hours?

Tractor Data shows that model was made between 2009-2013. If it was a 2009 model, that would be 15 years old.

13,000 over 15 years is 866 hours per year or 16 hours per week, or a little over 2 hours every day usage.

That's impressive.

 

[fried1765]

13,000 hours?

Tractor Data shows that model was made between 2009-2013. If it was a 2009 model, that would be 15 years old.

13,000 over 15 years is 866 hours per year or 16 hours per week, or a little over 2 hours every day usage.

That's impressive.

13,000 seems likely, not correct!

 

[ShellKnobCat]

!3,000 seems likely, not correct!

LOL, yes. It helps to have glasses on when reading hours. It has 1,578.6 hours on it.

 

[John D 2]

LOL, yes. It helps to have glasses on when reading hours. It has 1,578.6 hours on it.

If you're a hunter, I hope you wear your glasses.

Otherwise, your deer may have a saddle on it.

 

[ShellKnobCat]

I got the head off today. I see no obvious cracks in it or the block. Nor does the gasket have anything obvious wrong. But I have never done an head work so I have no idea what to look for. Pics of the block, head and both sides of the gasket are attached. Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

 

[jaxs]

I agree - once head is off, have it magnafluxed to see IF there are cracks that are not obvious.

^^Good advice^^ and only way of knowing because quite often cracks aren't visible to the eye. Almost any engine machine shop can preform the test but I'd take it to a shop equipped to rebuild head if tests don't find a crack and indicate the need to lap/grind valves or something.

 

[ShellKnobCat]

^^Good advice^^ and only way of knowing because quite often cracks aren't visible to the eye. Almost any engine machine shop can preform the test but I'd take it to a shop equipped to rebuild head if tests don't find a crack and indicate the need to lap/grind valves or something.

I took it to a shop this morning. They took one look at the gasket and showed me several spots that were suspect. Pretty sure it;s the gasket but they will magnaflux it and check for straightness to make sure. I haven't heard back yet.

 

[fried1765]

I took it to a shop this morning. They took one look at the gasket and showed me several spots that were suspect. Pretty sure it;s the gasket but they will magnaflux it and check for straightness to make sure. I haven't heard back yet.

Maybe,.... contact..... Joesmith123,.....he will "figure it out"

 

[ShellKnobCat]

Machine shop cleaned it, checked for warp and magnafluxed it. No warp and no cracks so it was just the gasket.

Question on the gasket - about $100 from Messicks but I see quite a few on Amazon for about $30 - #40. Are those any good or should I go with the factory one for $100?

 

[Runs With Scissors]

Machine shop cleaned it, checked for warp and magnafluxed it. No warp and no cracks so it was just the gasket.

Question on the gasket - about $100 from Messicks but I see quite a few on Amazon for about $30 - #40. Are those any good or should I go with the factory one for $100?

I have no personal experience with this, but that seems like a lot of work to try and save 60 bucks.

My tendency would be to get the one from the dealer.