Overheating a BX2360

[Slade]

Unfortunately, the little lady decided to surprise me and mow with my new BX2360 while I was away. She called and asked what to do after she worked it until it overheated and lost all the radiator fluid.

What's the best way to determine if there is any serious damage when I get back home? I figured I would change the oil and see if there is any coolant in the oil, since it is almost at 50 hours anyway. What else?

Thanks!

 

[montelatici]

Unfortunately, the little lady decided to surprise me and mow with my new BX2360 while I was away. She called and asked what to do after she worked it until it overheated and lost all the radiator fluid.

What's the best way to determine if there is any serious damage when I get back home? I figured I would change the oil and see if there is any coolant in the oil, since it is almost at 50 hours anyway. What else?

Thanks!

If it overheated to the extent that it lost all the coolant, I would suppose that at a minimum, the head gasket is burnt. I think it is a warranty issue at this point.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My BX2660 temp gauge went to red a couple of times. I looked down and it was reading in the red. I turned it off and back on and temp went to about half way. It wasn't overheated either time. Wait to you get home and check it before you repair it.

 

[jlsmith]

Sounds like a head gasket. Think i would call my dealer and let him check it out. This should be covered under warranty.

 

[montelatici]

My BX2660 temp gauge went to red a couple of times. I looked down and it was reading in the red. I turned it off and back on and temp went to about half way. It wasn't overheated either time. Wait to you get home and check it before you repair it.

My 1850 goes close to red and just a few days ago into red, but it doesn't lose coolant. The sensor is next to the muffler so the temp gauge on these tractors is not useful, but losing all the coolant means it is a problem.

 

[BruceWard]

My B21 has only overheated once. It was when the fan belt broke. I caught it early but some fluid bled from the cooling system anyway. Maybe it is your fan belt. Much easier and cheaper than a head gasket.

 

[montelatici]

My B21 has only overheated once. It was when the fan belt broke. I caught it early but some fluid bled from the cooling system anyway. Maybe it is your fan belt. Much easier and cheaper than a head gasket.

The head gasket is probably not the cause of the overheating, I am saying that once you've run the tractor without coolant for any length of time, you will have cooked the head gasket, at a minimum. Perhaps other things may have been cooked.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

My 1850 goes close to red and just a few days ago into red, but it doesn't lose coolant. The sensor is next to the muffler so the temp gauge on these tractors is not useful, but losing all the coolant means it is a problem.

I believe the coolant gauges are useful and they read about half way on all of my Kubotas. The BX2660 had a bad gauge or bad sender that apparently was messing up from time to time. If my wife told me on the phone that my tractor had lost all of its coolant, I would not be planning repairs or overhauls until I checked it myself. If my wife was a diesel mechanic, then I'd be getting prepared for repairs. Not sure my wife would even know where to check for coolant but she does know where the key is and I'd never be surprised to come home and her be doing something with one of my Kubotas.

 

[BXpanded]

Unfortunately, the little lady decided to surprise me and mow with my new BX2360 while I was away. She called and asked what to do after she worked it until it overheated and lost all the radiator fluid.

What's the best way to determine if there is any serious damage when I get back home? I figured I would change the oil and see if there is any coolant in the oil, since it is almost at 50 hours anyway. What else?

Thanks!

Did the engine stop running? If not, odds are nothing is hurt. It must have been a very hot day and heavy mowing unless the coolant was low.
Also, if the coolant was overfull, some could spew out as the overflow tank got full.

If coolant is leaking into the oil, the oil will usually be milky.

If it still runs OK, not much you can or should do. An attempt at any warranty claim would likely be rejected if it's still running properly. The daily checklist probably includes checking coolant level.

Watch the oil level for the next several weeks. If the cylinder walls are scored, you could experience high oil consumption.

 

[Slade]

Thanks for all the help. I'm going to check it out when I get home in 10 days.

As I understand, she saw that the temp was in the red so she shut it off, then the fluid and steam came out so it doesn't sound like it ran without any coolant.

I'm hoping for the best and expecting the worst, I'll report back when I figure out the damage.