Coolant Problems on L2202DT

BobTheKubota

New member

Equipment
L2202DT
Aug 21, 2011
3
0
0
Ardrossan, AB, Canada
Hello,

I am a newly register to this site but am no stranger, I have in the past enjoyed reading, educating and learning about my Grey Market L2202DT here. I bought this tractor 3 ½ years ago, then realized very quickly that I had bought myself a Grey Market Tractor. I was told that in very un-polite and rude way from a dealership in the City “That’s Grey Market” and to take a hike! I went home that day feeling like I was a criminal and committed a crime by buying a used Kubota tractor. They made out that I should have known this and that this was common knowledge. “What”? It a used tractor...:mad:

And on my way home that day I was thinking what did I just get myself into here? That’s the day I was lead to believe that you could not get any parts for this tractor and that is a biggest problem about Grey Markets. And since then I have gotten really good at getting stuff for my tractor.

On doing a bit of research since been able to find, purchase and installed a V-Tek Chinese Front End Loader. Found this site with lots of helpful information on owning, operating and maintaining Kubota Tractors. I received some very great help from Service Depart Vic via emails, phone and his posted videos. THANKS Vic! Was able to purchase some Manuals for my tractor in which have become the best thing I bought for my tractor.:)

I have put on several hundred hours on this tractor and was quite happy and pleased with this little Kubota Tractor...well up until now:eek:

I have a new problem that is very strange...I have talk to a couple of mechanic friends about this problem but really not getting an answer I wanted to hear! But am getting “That Strange”? Now I am not sure where to go from here. Here is the problem that I been having...

The first problem I am having is with the Tractor is as long as you are running continuously about 2000 rpm the running temperature stays normal. But when you idle the tractor down it begins to heat up but doesn’t or hasn’t boiler over. The temperature gauge needle will go up, not all the way in to the red on the gauge but just under it when the tractor is at an idle. When you rev back up the engine up again to about 2000 rpm the tractor starts to cool down and seems to run at a normal operating temperature as long as you are rev up. (Maybe this could be time for an new Waterpump?)

The second problem is that the coolant goes into the overflow tank and fills up but does not return back into the radiator. The interesting part is when you remove the radiator cap there is always a bit of pressure there...this built up pressure in the radiator will keep there for days and even after the tractor has sat for a couple of weeks. This is only when you first remove the radiator cap after it has been run and cooled off to the touch or overnight. It doesn’t seem to be losing any coolant. Just fills up the overflow tank up to the full mark...that is when you start off with the overflow tank level at cold about ½ ways between the low and full mark. I have been manual transferring the coolant back into the rad before running. And of course I have only been running the tractor to run test. About 5 hours of runing testing.

The radiator is in good condition, there is no visible corrosion, no leaks in the radiator, radiator cap is brand new, the top / bottom rad hose’s are new, from the rad to overflow tank ¼” hose is new, hose from radiator to frame drain valve is new and the bottom of radiator to the bottom of the fuel injector pump is new (or should say have been replaced somewhere in the last 100 hours). The thermostat was replaced (new), as well as the alternator / water pump belt (new). All of this work was done after the low hose from the bottom of the rad to the frame drain valve hose split on me last summer.

Last summer I notice the temperature gauge climbing up when I shut it down could hear hissing noise from the front end of the tractor. I thought it was the lower tank on the rad give up. But when disassembled found a hidden hose at the bottom of the rad to the frame drain valve. The only other thing I fix up on the tractor since then, about 5 hours ago I replace the key switch out because the old one was not working properly.

I have done a pressure test on the coolant system and the results of this test was, it was pressured up to 18 psi and over a 2 hour time period the pressure drop was 1 psi. And I saw no visible leaks at all.

I see no evident of the coolant getting into the engine oil, no discolouring of the engine oil. It doesn’t appear to burning coolant either...no white smoke when running weather at idle or 2000 rpm. The only white smoke I see is for about 1 second, there is a puff of white smoke on start up, right after it fires up. It appears not to be losing any coolant volume and for that matter, it has never lost coolant expect for the hose split episode last summer. The fluids levels are check every time I start and run this tractor and it appears not to be losing any of it's coolant.

Any help on this would be much appreciated...thanks .

BobTheKubota
 

birddogger

New member
May 29, 2011
433
0
0
Pittsburgh
Weird stuff happens. I occasionally run a NH tractor that acts similarly, it gets hot, I idle it down to clean the seeds off the screen and the temperature goes down but it bubbles over coolant anyway; now isn't that whacky?

Not too surprised the cap retains a little pressure, they are called "pressure caps" after-all.

If I was going to throw time and money at it I'd first adjust the fan belt tension to spec (not just what feels good.) Replace the pressure cap and thermostat.
If you replace the thermostat, since you've drained the coolant, buy the gasket and pull/inspect the water pump impeller, they can erode away, but that takes lots and lots of hours (normally). If you haven't by now, change the coolant and use distilled water for the refill; this avoids mineral buildup in the radiator, it's worth the $1.50.

Fan centered up in the cowling nicely? the rear edge about even with the rear of the cowling? I mentioned seed screen, yours clean (if you have one,) if not, seeds or cuttings jamming up the radiator?
 

cmorningstar01

Active member

Equipment
B7500HST LA302 FEL 5'Finish Mower B5100E 46" Snow Plow 22 ton splitter
Mar 27, 2011
341
81
28
Pemberton NJ USA
My first thought was insufficient air flow thru the radiator which would explain the heating up at idle and cooling down when the fan was moving at higher speeds. I would check over the radiator to make sure there was no debris in the fins, then check the fan to make sure it was not worn down and go from there.
 

BobTheKubota

New member

Equipment
L2202DT
Aug 21, 2011
3
0
0
Ardrossan, AB, Canada
Thanks for all the good advice guys...I have done most of those tests and checks. Looks like I have a Project in my garage tearing down a little Kubota L2202DT and throwing some money at it.:cool:

Hey Service Dept Vic my thought was to hear a big BANG just before it went on to start many little fires at the back of the yard! :) You may be lucky enough to hear the bang and see some smoke from your part of the world but you’ll have to look little to the north.:cool:

I may posted some pictures and document some of my progress on this project that’s there is any interest expressed in that sort of thing here on “Orange Tractor Talks”:p

Owner of ”Bob the Kubota”
 

BobTheKubota

New member

Equipment
L2202DT
Aug 21, 2011
3
0
0
Ardrossan, AB, Canada
Thought I would give an up date on my coolant problem. And I am happy to say that I have the coolant problem solved. It turn out to be a bad head gasket.

When I had the cylinder head off, I had it checked for cracks. It was also checked for warps and both check out in my favor (good).

I now have no more cooling issues with Bob the Kubota.

Just wondering if anyone can recommend when to re-torque the cylinder head bolts.

What is the recommend procedure?

This would be very help...to complete my project.

Thanks
Owner of Bob the Kubota

:cool: