Returned home from a week long trip to a coolant puddle under the tractor back in the middle of December. Coolant level was low but not empty. The tractor ran for an hour or so about a week before leaving on the trip with no problems. Also no puddle the day before I left.
I wrote off the cause as age since it is a 30+ year old radiator. We don't really get that cold here and the tractor is kept garaged anyway. Even though the low temperature isn't an issue, I still run a 50/50 mix. So I went to the Kubota dealer and ordered a new one. No problem; aside from sticker shock. Got a call a week or so later saying Kubota discontinued the radiator (15291-72060) and they had no luck through some other avenues (not sure what that meant exactly).
Been looking online since but can't find an exact match for a L185. I have seen several aftermarket models that supposedly fit a L175 and others that fit a wide range of models. It is my understanding that the overall size and the orientation of the in and out stubs are different on each old L series model which makes me question a "universal" model. So my questions for the experts here. Where can I get a new radiator? Is the 15291-72060 part number superseded by another p/n that maybe isn't appearing when the dealer goes to place an order?
As best as I can determine, the leak is at the seam between the bottom tank and the core. On other radiators I have never had exceptional luck with repairs and recoring is about the cost of a new radiator.
Thanks for the help.
I wrote off the cause as age since it is a 30+ year old radiator. We don't really get that cold here and the tractor is kept garaged anyway. Even though the low temperature isn't an issue, I still run a 50/50 mix. So I went to the Kubota dealer and ordered a new one. No problem; aside from sticker shock. Got a call a week or so later saying Kubota discontinued the radiator (15291-72060) and they had no luck through some other avenues (not sure what that meant exactly).
Been looking online since but can't find an exact match for a L185. I have seen several aftermarket models that supposedly fit a L175 and others that fit a wide range of models. It is my understanding that the overall size and the orientation of the in and out stubs are different on each old L series model which makes me question a "universal" model. So my questions for the experts here. Where can I get a new radiator? Is the 15291-72060 part number superseded by another p/n that maybe isn't appearing when the dealer goes to place an order?
As best as I can determine, the leak is at the seam between the bottom tank and the core. On other radiators I have never had exceptional luck with repairs and recoring is about the cost of a new radiator.
Thanks for the help.
