BX2230 Running Issue

[Billy_S]

Let me describe my problem and see if any of you good people have any suggestions.

After the tractor is very warm, for example, mowing for an hour, it will sort of stall. Sometimes, in fact, it does actually die, but usually, it acts like you turn the key off then quickly back on again. Generally, it almost dies but then it comes out of it without intervention on my part. It seems to happen most commonly when at full throttle and under some load. My hunch is the problem is fuel related.

The dealer I purchased the tractor from has gone out of business. Closest dealer is so new that the mechanics haven't been to Kubota school yet. This, no doubt, compounds the problem. I have had the tractor in to them twice. Once, they replaced the fuel shut off solenoid, I think it was. The second time, they replaced both fuel filters. The tractor was in the shop for about a week both times.

Although the dealer seems to want to resolve the problem, I am getting a little frustrated. I have spent $300 and had my tractor tied up for 2 weeks and I still have the problem.

Any idea where to suggest they look? FWIW, the tractor is about 3 years old with 450 hours.

 

[TripleR]

I had the same problems with my BX2200 and solved it by adding fuel conditioner and HEET ESO. I sold it to my son in law and it does OK unless you run into some bad fuel. My BX2660 does not seem to be as sensitive for some reason.

 

[Billy_S]

I always add Power Service. When it is not acting up, there is absolutely no other issue with it. IOW, most of the time it runs just fine.

EDIT: It seems to me if it was a fuel quality issue, the problem would be evident more frequently.

 

[dodge man]

Just a guess on my part but could it be the fuel lift pump, or whatever it's called. It looks like a fuel filter, but it pumps the fuel just enough to get to the main fuel injection pump.

 

[TripleR]

I always add Power Service. When it is not acting up, there is absolutely no other issue with it. IOW, most of the time it runs just fine.

EDIT: It seems to me if it was a fuel quality issue, the problem would be evident more frequently.

You could say the same thing about a mechanical issue too. Unfortunately these intermittent issue are really hard to diagnose. All I know is that fuel conditioner did not do it alone and had to use HEET ESO to eliminate the water as it is often an issue of storage as opposed to poor fuel coming out of the pump. Mine did the same as you describe and I never could understand why the symptoms only manifested themselves while at full or almost full power. Sometimes it would just miss a beat and others it would stumble really badly or die only to start back up and run fine for a while again. One a couple of occasions it wouldn't run more than a couple of minutes without acting up, but mostly it was more intermittent.

I am far from being a mechanic, so I may be way off base on the problem.

 

[Billy_S]

I can certainly try some Heet. I have nothing to lose. Thanks for the response.

 

[TripleR]

I can certainly try some Heet. I have nothing to lose. Thanks for the response.

Be sure to get the HEET that is diesel compatable; should be in a yellow bottle as opposed to the usual red. I don't know what the difference is, but I was told there was.

 

[89cummins174]

You said that its like the key is turned off then turn back on, kind of like a jump out of the seat and it tries to shut off then goes back to the set rpm. I know its weird that it does it when it is at operating temp but, do you think it could be faulty wiring on one of the safety devices.

 

[rdsaustintx]

It could be a buncha things. Hard to even guess unless other symptoms show or it dies altogether.

Intermittent problems magically heal in the presence of an open toolbox.

No harm in cleaning up or supplementing fuel quality, never a bad thing.

 

[radioman]

try to blow air from bottom of tank before it goes into the first filter. There was a BX on this TBN with simalar issues and the problem was a leaf blocking the fuel and ever now and then it would stutter then run normal.

 

[redharley]

Radioman is on to something,most problems are from Air or Fuel.In the past I have run into this problem several times.Is there any water in fuel?Is your airway is clear [filters and such] if no water and air passage is good you most likly have a blocked fuel tank or line somewhere.Just had a freind whose Kubota ZTR was acting the same ended up removing fuel tank completly to clean and resolve his problem.Check for kinked lines,you can remove line from rear filter on tank side and blow some air back thru there, not to much presure 30psi and have cap off,sometimes after this tractor will run fine for short time untill junk in tank reblocks hole.still need to clean tank. good luck keep us posted

 

[KeithInSpace]

I have had that 100% EXACT thing happen with my tractor. It started about halfway through last season and persisted until the beginning of this. It would do it maybe 10 times in a mow. Even completely stalled once. For some reason, it did it more mowing than FEL or BH work. More load on the engine amplified the momentary lapse of power, I guess. Dunno.

I started doing two things:

1) Use fuel conditioner. Soaks up the water.

2) Don't let fuel hang around in plastic cans in the garage...especially half-full. Condensation forms in the can and helps with the water problem. Since I can run about 10 hours on 5 gallons, I go buy my fuel when I'm down to about 1/2 to 1/4 tank and put it in soon thereafter.

I have no clue if the second thing helps, but since I started paying attention to making sure I minimize the possibility for water in my fuel, the problem has not repeated itself.

 

[radioman]

billy S- how did things go for you ?

 

[Billy_S]

I did add Heet and Power Service to the fuel but haven't really had a chance to test it. I did use the tractor a bit this past weekend and it did act up a couple of times. I plan to mow tonite. That will be the real test.

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[Billy_S]

Follow up.

For some reason that makes no sense to me, the Heet seems to have done the trick. Knock on wood.

Thanks for the advice guys.

 

[radioman]

congrats.

 

[TripleR]

Follow up.

For some reason that makes no sense to me, the Heet seems to have done the trick. Knock on wood.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Good to hear it worked; always did for me.

 

[Billy_S]

I knew I shouldn't have said anything. It actually died twice on me while I was mowing last night.

 

[TripleR]

I had to run a couple of tanks through mine to get it to completely clear up, if that doesn't do it, I am at a loss.

 

[radioman]

have you tried running air in the hose to back flush before filter going into the tank yet ?