MX5400 troubles

[Edwardo]

I bought an MX5400 in October and put 33 hours on it doing box blade, disking, and grapple work. I was very happy with its performance. Then while doing grapple work digging some brush the engine warning and emission warning lights came on. I idled it down for 10-15 minutes (the lights went out after a minute or two) and then proceeded back to the truck box blading on the way. With a full load the a few minutes later the tractor started losing power and then died; would not recrank. I ate lunch and two hours later finally got it to crank again. I proceeded to box blade and back drag with the grapple and 15 minutes later the tractor died again; this time with some white smoke coming from under the hood. I knew then that something was bad wrong so I got loaded up and took it to the dealership.
Apparently I had a stick which punched a hole in the lower radiator or hose causing the coolant to leak out. The shop said I will need a new engine and radiator. No other warning lights came on nor did the engine heat gauge rise that I noticed.
I’ve operated dozens of different tractors over several decades and this is the first time that I have ruined one. I’m downtrodden! And to cap it off, the shop manager said a cursory check showed NO MX5400 engines in the US. Luckily I got Kubota insurance. I hope to get better news! Anyone with similar problems?

 

[mikester]

I feel your pain. I managed to put a hole in my plastic grill using my grapple. I am constantly weary of poking a hole in or breaking off something crittical, especially when working with brush. You really need to be vigilant and not rush - the faster you go the quicker problems happen.

Skidsteers and CTL's offer better protection for that kind of work, but you can still rip off a track or tear off hydraulic lines if you aren't careful.

An expensive lesson learned.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Wow that is a problem at least you have Kubota insurance. Hope they can source an engine soon for you. My tractor use is mainly woodland, at times very rough ground. I added grill guards and later a lower chin guard from Lown Performance, I really like this lower front guard as I feel it provides protection right where your issue has occurred.

I agree with the slow and steady but is not always possible to see everything and it is so easy to cause damage from a stump, stick or branch under the tractor. I have a hole in the floor of my Polaris ranger from a stick that flipped up on a track.

disappointing about the lack of warning lights.

 

[BCfromVA]

I bought an MX5400 in October and put 33 hours on it doing box blade, disking, and grapple work. I was very happy with its performance. Then while doing grapple work digging some brush the engine warning and emission warning lights came on. I idled it down for 10-15 minutes (the lights went out after a minute or two) and then proceeded back to the truck box blading on the way. With a full load the a few minutes later the tractor started losing power and then died; would not recrank. I ate lunch and two hours later finally got it to crank again. I proceeded to box blade and back drag with the grapple and 15 minutes later the tractor died again; this time with some white smoke coming from under the hood. I knew then that something was bad wrong so I got loaded up and took it to the dealership.
Apparently I had a stick which punched a hole in the lower radiator or hose causing the coolant to leak out. The shop said I will need a new engine and radiator. No other warning lights came on nor did the engine heat gauge rise that I noticed.
I’ve operated dozens of different tractors over several decades and this is the first time that I have ruined one. I’m downtrodden! And to cap it off, the shop manager said a cursory check showed NO MX5400 engines in the US. Luckily I got Kubota insurance. I hope to get better news! Anyone with similar problems?

Sorry to hear that. I have a two month old MX5400 and like it great so far. I run a chipper a lot and spend a lot of time in the trees, running over brush and the like. I will definitely keep an eye out for this type of mishap. Sure hope they find a way to get you going quickly.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Good thing you have insurance.
Maybe a better choice was when the warning light went off the fist time, would have been to check the tractor over completely!

 

[Edwardo]

Wow that is a problem at least you have Kubota insurance. Hope they can source an engine soon for you. My tractor use is mainly woodland, at times very rough ground. I added grill guards and later a lower chin guard from Lown Performance, I really like this lower front guard as I feel it provides protection right where your issue has occurred.

I agree with the slow and steady but is not always possible to see everything and it is so easy to cause damage from a stump, stick or branch under the tractor. I have a hole in the floor of my Polaris ranger from a stick that flipped up on a track.

disappointing about the lack of warning lights.

I actually had a Lown grill guard and chin guard. The stick came up from the rear apparently when I backed over a stick or sapling.

 

[UpNorthMI]

I actually had a Lown grill guard and chin guard. The stick came up from the rear apparently when I backed over a stick or sapling.

That’s really unlucky but just shows you what can happen.

I also own a dozer, track loader and excavator all of which are much more suitable for rough woodland work as they have plated underbodies.

At some point the tractors come out and just have you have reported it’s easy to have a serious issue.

Good luck sorting things out.

 

[Edwardo]

Wondering if anyone makes a underbelly guard or plate?

 

[Tx Jim]

Good thing you have insurance.
Maybe a better choice was when the warning light went off the fist time, would have been to check the tractor over completely!

Ditto on necessity for checking fluid levels after warning lights came on.

 

[prattusa]

Wondering if anyone makes a underbelly guard or plate?

Lown makes an underbelly skid plate for the MX5400 as well as a chin guard and grill guard - look at their website: would this have stopped your problem from occurring? I'd love to know, as I am considering buying the guards and this skid plate for the MX5400 I intend to get shortly (I have a lot of forest to clear)