Sounds like the mechanic needs to go, but you need to have another lined up if you arent able to do your own routine maintenance.
However you didnt give specifics on why the mechanic said the tiller was the issue and what other problems it has caused for your tractor.
Good question. I didn’t want to make my first post a wall of text.
Here’s the story.
One day, between atmospheric rivers, I see the tractor in the distance, and white smoke. I call the driver off the tractor. He says the day before it started leaking from the cap. He goes on to say that he refilled with water before starting today. I tell him no more tractor until it is checked out, I’m aware of the hours.
I come here and search. I order the new cap. Next day I have my tractor driver clean the screen of the radiator and the Kubota dust screen. He tells me it’s running cooler. I tell him to not the use tractor and wait for the mechanic.
Mechanic comes and does full service, and tells me I need a new radiator, and that the tiller is too big for the tractor.
New radiator on. I tell my driver to only till the top four inches until the ground dries out and weighs less. Just trying to get rid of the weeds so my plants have a chance to outgrow the weeds.
More heavy rains for about a month. No chance or need to use tractor.
Ground dries out enough to till under some older plantings starting to go to seed.
One week after regular use, a hose breaks. The hose from the radiator to the engine, 1 inch hose with a little belly.
Replace the hose and fluid. Back to work.
More rain, down about 10 days. Tractor work is backing up. Old plantings need out, fallow ground needs to be prepped for transplants, and need to spread compost on ground for plantings by seed.
Monday tractor driver shows me a phone video of the top seem of the radiator while tractor is on. The seem is where mesh and plastic meet. Radiator fluid is visible and bubbling/boiling.
No problem, radiator is under warranty. Call mechanic. “Your tiller is too big for that tractor.” I tell him we were’nt using the tiller, we were just scooping compost and moving it. His response, “well the tiller is too big for the tractor, so when you used the tiller in the past, you probably burnt the head.” I imagine he means the head gasket? He didn’t mention anything about the “head” when he did the full service in December. He wants $2500 to come take off the head and bring it to the machine shop to see if they can fix it, but reminds me that if it can be fixed, “the tiller is too big for the tractor, and that there could be piston damage that can’t be seen until the head is off.” I don’t think there is any piston damage, compression/accelarion power does not seem to have changed at all.
How is he already diagnosing head damage from from a new radiator with fluid at the seem, and a busted hose that was replaced, without even putting his hands on the tractor?
