Kubota BX 24 (400 hours) Overheating!!

[Skysurfer]

Wants to overheat very quickly, maybe 10 minutes. I have not had the machine long but this has just cropped up. Happening under a very light load of using the mower to cut grass about 2 inches high. I was trying to cut higher thicker grass with the mower rather than a trailing brush hog and that does not go well.
Perhaps that is where the thermostat or water pump failed.
Fan and belt good.
Radiator screen clean.
Coolant flow route and radiator core seem good.
Radiator fluid good with 50/50 mix. And I flushed and refilled it as part of troubleshooting.
Air Cleaner good and clean and new.
Nowhere is the water pump for these machines mentioned. I have the service manual. The thermostat is not really mentioned much either.
The Service Manual is perhaps a bit weak, maybe not but it fails to mention much about the cooling system. Where to get to the thermostat and water pump would be good.
If anyone has any ideas; I appreciate all input very much.
Perplexed at this point.
Thanks all and all the best for the holidays.

 

[SpudHauler]

Not a tractor or BX guy but, the top hose from the rad should connect to the top of your engine and somewhere very close to that point the thermostat resides. Usually under a domed cover with 2 or 3 bolts. I would suspect a stuck thermostat.

 

[fj40dave]

Yep....stuck thermostat sounding to me too.

Is the exhaust "clear".....not steamy or white'ish? (bad head/head gasket)

I'd look at the oil dip stick to make sure it doesn't have the dreaded "milk soup" look on it. For that matter, check the water level before running it, make sure there isn't oil in it as well (oil floats to the top - you'll see it when you check the coolant level under the radiator cap if there's a gasket failure)

Fan mounted correctly? (just thinking with my fingers here

It's about 37 degrees where I live, and considerably warmer over there in HI....if all else fails......at least you can fo for a swim in the ocean

 

[Babyfat]

I did not see in your post anything about radiator fins make sure those are clean and free of debris.

 

[OrangeRidge]

....Radiator screen clean..Thanks all and all the best for the holidays.

The screen is really rubbish IMO. The fan sucks up grass-dust from
the base of the assem. Check the radiator ; pulling out the battery
is an easy access for good view. With a MMM , I've got to pull
compacted grass off the rad every 5 hours !

Merry Christmas to you.

 

[Skysurfer]

Thanks for the input and replies.
Appreciate the ideas very much.
Relatively certain it is the thermostat. Will start there and replace it.

Tim

 

[Kubota_Man]

I have a BX 24 with a 54" MMM and a grass catcher. I am always hasving to clear the screen that is SUPPOSED to take keep debree from being sucked into the radiator. So I have to clean the screen twice as often as the radiator fins both of which gets caked with dirt and grass So as the Diabites commercial says check your screen and radiator and check them often.

P.S. A little post oporation TLC is a good thing as well. I rinse the underside with a garden hose every time I put her up for the night

Hope that helps

 

[Rennie]

Mowing is the worst. Hope you have an air compressor with an air gun. Blow the residue, grass etc through the radiator. Backwards. Radiators plug up fast. If not that the thermostat is stuck. But use a strong light to check that tiny radiator. I have a friend with a Big Ford tractor told me to bring all my tools because his tractor was overheating. You couldn't see light through the rad. Told him to blow out the hay chaf out and he'd be fine. I use a window screen in fron of my rad to keep the chaf out. Works great.