I have a 3240 with 800 hours, bucket and 6' mower. Lately I have noticed that if the weather gets into the mid eighties, after a half hour or so of mowing (hilly), the temp gauge goes up one notch over normal. All the fluids are fine and the radiator is clean. So, is this natural for an older machine...should I shut down the minute the gauge goes up or is it safe to continue mowing? Normally the mowing takes about an hour, but like I say, the gauge goes up after a half hour. I am not sure where to look for problems that could be causing this....BTW, I have been a member for years but forgot my password. There was no way they were going to accept my application for confirmation....so, I guess I'm a new member again
heating up
- Thread starter Donatello
- Start date
The first things to check are the water pump belt for tightness and another check of the radiator. It's hard to tell, on the machine, whether it's really clean or not. Be sure to check the fins closely. Often you will see dirt and crud blocking parts you didn't see. You might want to invest in a laser thermometer so you can really know what's going on. What you describe seems to be the beginning of a problem and shouldn't keep you from cutting the grass to see what happen. Just keep an eye on the temp gauge just in case.
North Idaho Wolfman
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Donatello,
Being a not new member, I don't think we can help you as we don't have any help sections dedicated to "kabota 3240's".
Alas, if you only owned a Kubota L3240 then we might have been able to help!
Being a not new member, I don't think we can help you as we don't have any help sections dedicated to "kabota 3240's".
Alas, if you only owned a Kubota L3240 then we might have been able to help!
Wolfman, What the 'L ? .....and thanks rentthis, I'll take your advice. Maybe the radiator fins are not as clean as they should be .
Donatello, welcome to the forum.
The questioning of tractor model number and spelling of manufacturer could be because the forum is to help folks with questions/problems with their Kubota tractors. Not to just get an answer for your particular problem, but to make the information available for others in the future.
You title says, "heating up". I don't think the search function even works with less then three words. So whatever information is in this thread, nobody will be able to link to it with a word search. Might have some good information for someone else, but they can't find it!
If you edited your title to read something like this, "L3240 over heating" helps to tell a better story and may got you more responses.
Rentthis has good advise. I'd add to spray you radiator front and back with a cleaner solution like simple green. Let is soak a while a wash off with garden hose. There is always more "stuff" in the fins then imaginable!
Then when you get your problem solved, no what what the solution is, come back to this thread and report your answer. That help others now and in the future.
Word of caution, don't let your engine run hot continually, or you will encounter a need for a head gasket!!
The questioning of tractor model number and spelling of manufacturer could be because the forum is to help folks with questions/problems with their Kubota tractors. Not to just get an answer for your particular problem, but to make the information available for others in the future.
You title says, "heating up". I don't think the search function even works with less then three words. So whatever information is in this thread, nobody will be able to link to it with a word search. Might have some good information for someone else, but they can't find it!
If you edited your title to read something like this, "L3240 over heating" helps to tell a better story and may got you more responses.
Rentthis has good advise. I'd add to spray you radiator front and back with a cleaner solution like simple green. Let is soak a while a wash off with garden hose. There is always more "stuff" in the fins then imaginable!
Then when you get your problem solved, no what what the solution is, come back to this thread and report your answer. That help others now and in the future.
Word of caution, don't let your engine run hot continually, or you will encounter a need for a head gasket!!
Boy are the guys yanking your chain. As for model number, the answer to your question is the same regardless of make and model of tractor. Some think I'm nutz for doing it but I like to remove the radiator and clean the crap out of it. You have 800 hours so I'm guessing you have had the machine for at least a few years or that it's a few years old. I said that to say that you would only have to do it once in a blue moon. Give up a report.
I appreciate all the advice...mechanically and forum-ly. I spent an hour, off and on, trying to have the forum send my password via e-mail and failed every time. By the time I re-registered I was rather p'd off so wasn't in the best of moods to make my self understood. Thats my excuse and I'm sticking with it....my chain has been properly yanked......Wouldn't go so far as to take my radiator out, but all I have done is blow it out with compressor . A proper blasting with water, both sides is probably a solution to the problem....thanks for the info. I'll let you know
Have you ever changed the anti-freeze?
It needs to be changed and the system flushed every 2 years unless you have ELC.
Coolant looses it's ability to dissipate heat.
It needs to be changed and the system flushed every 2 years unless you have ELC.
Coolant looses it's ability to dissipate heat.
Even though I use compressed air to blow out the radiator, it still manages to clog up about every two years. Like the other folks have said, the cure is to pull the radiator, soak in water and dawn, and then carefully flush with low pressure water through the fins.
Makes all the difference.
Makes all the difference.
Great advice folks. The tractor is 7 years old and I have never changed the coolant. Figured if it was at correct level it was ok. I will change this week-end. I'll look at removing radiator, but I'm not all that mechanical.
Anybody with a tractor should look at a Radiator Genie. It sure makes cleaning hard to reach spot much easier.