Problem with radiator. After 20 minutes use of our B1700 Kubota the radiator fan is working but not able to cool down the water into the radiator and steam is escaping from the rubber hose attached to the cap where you pour the water. When we stop the tractor and check, the quantity of water lost in the radiator is around one to one and a half litres. This particular tractor doesn't have a temperature gauge and a natural cool down. There is no leaking around the hoses or the radiator itself. THANK YOU
Help with Kubota B1700
- Thread starter meandyou
- Start date
I'll give that a shot. Water goes through the block and gets hot. Then it goes through the radiator and transfers its heat to metal fins attached to tubes that water goes through. I'm not trying to be a smart A here. Something is not happening with one of these things in your tractor.
With the engine off see how easily you can turn the fan pully. If it turns pretty easy your belt is not tight enough.
Look at the front of the radiator. Clean it. See if there is a screen on the front of it full of debris.
Only one thing left now, water not circulating. Radiator clogged or restriction somewhere in the engine.
My guess is that if the outside of the radiator is clean and the belt is tight, I would say the odds are the radiator is clogged. Wierd things could happen like a gasket blown in a way that forces too much gasses into the radiator for water to circulate but that is a slim chance. That is the kind of thing that would happen to me.
Maybe now the experts here will step in an get us straight.
How about letting us know what the problem is when you find it.
Good luck,
Tom
Good reply Tom 
meandyou - first, welcome to the OTT, glad to have you with us.
What type of environment are you operating the tractor in? As in dirt with lots of dust or weeds and high grass, etc.
There have been more than a few posts like yours on here. The normal fix that has worked is making absolutely sure the radiator is cleaned for excellent air flow.
Some of the fellows will bring along a charged up air compressor to periodically blow out the cooling fins.
I'm not saying this is the issue you are having but something to think about.
meandyou - first, welcome to the OTT, glad to have you with us.
What type of environment are you operating the tractor in? As in dirt with lots of dust or weeds and high grass, etc.
There have been more than a few posts like yours on here. The normal fix that has worked is making absolutely sure the radiator is cleaned for excellent air flow.
Some of the fellows will bring along a charged up air compressor to periodically blow out the cooling fins.
I'm not saying this is the issue you are having but something to think about.
Assuming that the above mentioned is all good. How long has it been since the anti-freeze has been changed? Although it will always be able to resist freezing in cold weather it does loose it's ability to dissipate heat. You may just need to flush the cooling system out and fill up with fresh 50/50 mix.
Thanks so much everyone.
I am quite concerned that it is a serious problem although the tractor is still working it just keeps steaming up after 20 mins. It is over 20 years old and has clocked up 1,800 hours. I had already checked everything as recommended. But will try and further investigate whether the radiator is clogged. Are there any other ideas out there?
I am quite concerned that it is a serious problem although the tractor is still working it just keeps steaming up after 20 mins. It is over 20 years old and has clocked up 1,800 hours. I had already checked everything as recommended. But will try and further investigate whether the radiator is clogged. Are there any other ideas out there?
I have been thinking on this today trying to remember what my B 7100 did. I had the exact same problem you are having. Tried everything, flushed, washed, cleaned, kicked and quite a bit of cussing. It ended up all that was wrong was the radiator cap. Put a new one on and the problem stopped. I can't remember the exact number but I think it had around 5,000 hrs on it when I replaced the cap. When I traded mine in it was 24 yrs old and had 6,000 hrs on it and still running strong.
Dang Bulldog, 24 years old and 6,000 hrs
You must of had some a that Rotella in there
Just kidding buddy...Just kidding! Remember, it's the one's that love you the most that hurt you the most
Actually in that tractor I ran Mobil Delvac until Mobil 1 came on the seen and then it had 10w30 Mobil 1 from that point on. I have had several friends tell me that they have seen my old B model still running today. I traded it in on a new Kubota in 2000. I wish I could see it. I would love to no how many hrs it has on it now. Most people don't understand the many benefits of synthetic oil. I use Amsoil synthetic oil now, Mobil doesn't even compair to this. In my F 250 with 7.3 powerstroke I save on average $500 in fuel every 10,000 miles. It may cost more to put it in the engine but I'll take a $500 dollar savings any day. I guess some people have plenty of money and don't mind buying the extra fuel and replacing their equipment more often.
Butch
Active member
Equipment
Kubota 2410, RC60-24B, FL1000- kubota hydrolic front snow blade- plug aerator
My first kubota was purchased on the cheap. It would overheat and puke at every chance it would get. It wa an abused machine for sure. I bought it and welded and fishplated the frame brake... took 5 hours and with a wire cleaned the radiator corte from the outside... and fired the puppy up!
TRhat machine did EVERYTHING I wanted it to do till I traded it in. I wish I had it back....
That was a horse with heart.... I know who bought it and it is going as strong as ever...
Butch
TRhat machine did EVERYTHING I wanted it to do till I traded it in. I wish I had it back....
That was a horse with heart.... I know who bought it and it is going as strong as ever...
Butch
I take it that you are losing antifreeze through the overflow tube. Have you placed your finger over the end of it after the engine has run for a few minutes?
Try that (without burning your finger) and see if there is pressure coming from the tube. If there is then you may have a head gasket leak. If not then go the radiator cleaning route both in side and out.
OK Thanks again everyone for your replies....the radiator cap has been checked previously and was ok. I will check to see if there is any pressure coming from the overflow tube and get back to you. Because I am not in a position to buy a new/secondhand tractor, can you tell me (if the problem is a leak in the head gasket) what the risk is if I keep running the tractor and just adding water to the radiator . Gee I hope its not a leak in the head gasket Kubota's are sooo expensive to fix in Australia.
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Just thought I would let you know that I fixed the problem by changing the oil as suggested. Thank you again for your advice.
The suggestion was to change the anti freeze, you said you changed the oil.?? Engine oil or antifreeze???? Which did you change?
Meandyou,
I had a similar problem last weekend. Radiator looked clean, good antifreeze, new cap....... still got hot after 20 minutes of work. I removed the radiator thinking it needed rodding out. When I looked through the radiator (the direction the air flows through) 75 percent of the air "holes" were plugged. A good flushing with the garden hose and some air and it was cleaned. The front and back surface of the radiator was clean just the space between the fins was plugged. Ran it hard after the cleaning without any overheating.
hope this helps,
JWB
I had a similar problem last weekend. Radiator looked clean, good antifreeze, new cap....... still got hot after 20 minutes of work. I removed the radiator thinking it needed rodding out. When I looked through the radiator (the direction the air flows through) 75 percent of the air "holes" were plugged. A good flushing with the garden hose and some air and it was cleaned. The front and back surface of the radiator was clean just the space between the fins was plugged. Ran it hard after the cleaning without any overheating.
hope this helps,
JWB
Yeah, what everyone else said, the radiators in these tractors commonly get clogged up, especially if you are mowing a lot. If you dont clean it out, it can cause further damage. If it is pushing coolant, it is either overfilled, overheating, or leaking compression into the cooling system.