exhaust making me nauseous

bostractor · Sep 28, 2012

I bought a L4400 not too long ago; it has the exhaust down low, toward the front of the engine. I've noticed I seem to breath quite a bit of exhaust when I'm using it, even to the point of getting physically ill a couple times after several hours. Anyone else have this problem?
Thanks,
Bo
Norman, OK

kcender · Sep 28, 2012

Welcome to TBN.As far as the exhaust I sometimes smell it from my 3240 but it never bothers me to the point of feeling sick.

sweettractors · Sep 28, 2012

Can you fabricate a re-routing job that goes out under the real axle. These muffler shops can do about any tubing bend you want. Ken Sweet

creekbend · Sep 28, 2012

I also have a L4400 that I bought new a little over a year ago. The fumes have never bothered me. The only time that I really notice the fumes is when the wind blows a certain way. If the fumes are causing you that much discomfort, perhaps you might reroute the exhaust? I think i remember seeing some threads in regards to issues relating to exhaust here on TBN. A SEARCH may aid you in locating these threads. Best wishes.

bostractor · Sep 28, 2012

I called my nearest Kubota dealer and they suggested the same thing (re-routing). Guess that's what I will do. I just can't believe it's getting to me. When I was young I worked in the oilfield and breathed diesel exhaust all the time; never bothered me. Must be getting sensitive in my old age! Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions.

TripleR · Sep 28, 2012

4shorts put a vertical exhaust on his L40', you might look at some of his posts or PM him for information. The exhaust on the L40's come out in front also.

Age does affect you, I had to go to cab tractors a couple of years ago due to increased breathing problems; exhaust didn't bother me, but everything else did.

Domush · Sep 28, 2012

I tried the rear exhaust, but that just moved the problem to when I was dealing with attachments. I moved to a down and out exhaust, where the stack aims directly out to the right of the tractor and have not smelled exhaust since. Far better, and it is protected from damage by the front right wheel.

I tried to upload a photo but the android app crashes trying to add attachments. Wish they would fix that..

Sent from my SCH-I500 using TractorByNet

jesseb3@att.net · Sep 28, 2012

Bostractor,

There are chemicals that the body develops a sensitivity to over time, based on exposure. Cyanoacrylate and cement are just two examples. Some masons can't touch concrete that's years old without reacting to it! Maybe your time in the oil fields caught up with you? Good luck... I'd rather have to avoid concrete the rest of my life than not be able to enjoy seat time on my 'Bota.

Jesse

kuboman · Sep 28, 2012

Yep I know what you mean. I wish Kubota had a vertical exhaust option. :2cents:

ccsial · Sep 28, 2012

I'm not sure why the tractors abandoned the vertical exhaust. I wish the had'nt.

94BULLITT · Sep 28, 2012

Are you keeping it revved up good so it blows away?

lhansman · Oct 1, 2012

I had the same problem with the low exhaust on my B21, B26 and L45 BosTractor. I had the dealer re-rout the exhaust on the B21 up to roof level and was about to put a stack on my B26 after seeing the job 4shorts had done but then I traded the B26 for an L45. If you search for L45 and exhaust stack you will see photos of how I added a stack to my L45. I breath much easier now and the whole thing cost me about $200 plus some labour on my part. I do not think out the rear is a good idea - go vertical!

Lauren

Domush · Oct 1, 2012

Here are the photos I couldn't add from my phone in an earlier post:

Cost me nearly nothing (cost of a 90 elbow and a clamp). I just cut the bracket on the elbow, re-welded it at a 45 degree angle, mounted the stack aimed downwards and added the extra elbow to aim the exhaust outward. Only time exhaust is an issue now is when I pull up to my garage, so I try to always pull up facing the other direction or head on.

Remember, it's your tractor, cut and re-weld at your leisure.

Grateful11 · Oct 1, 2012

Are you sure it's running properly? If it seems to be I'd just reroute as the others have mentioned and problem solved. There's no need in having to breath something that bothers you. I haven't heard any complaints about exhaust fumes from the L3940. If it was my son would be the first to complain.

suzy · Oct 1, 2012

I'm very sensitive to exhaust fumes and took a little Kubota with the exhaust down in front for a test drive and could smell it in the cab. Bought the m7040 with an exhaust up high. Our old MF165 had the low exhaust behind the driver's seat and it was too toxic for me to be on if there was no wind. Older diesel engines are the worst...

rScotty · Oct 3, 2012

kuboman said:
Yep I know what you mean. I wish Kubota had a vertical exhaust option. :2cents:

I feel the same way. If they had a vertical exhaust on the M59 I'd sure buy one.
rScotty

Deano · Oct 3, 2012

Start buying or making biodiesel...then your exhaust will smell like fried chicken!!!:drink:

4shorts · Oct 3, 2012

If you have a shop that's handy fabricating things you could get them to fab up a vertical exhaust. I did it and works perfectly. Just print off the photo's on the official thread I did on the subject and that will give them a direction in which to start. it's a well worth while modification.

Thread located here: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/customization/214487-kubota-grand-l-5740hstc3-stack.html

RobertN · Oct 3, 2012

On my old B8200, I moved the verticle stack to horizontal(simple unbolt and rotate muffler on flange. I did it because I was hitting branches with the muffler and pipe. It wound up exiting almost at the front of the tractor. I found I liked it better, not only because it no longer snagged branches, but because it moved the fumes forward and down.

As others have asked, is the tractor running correctly, not blowing smoke etc? Maybe you are getting extra/more fumes than normal?

FWIW, I have a neighbor that gets very sick from diesel exhaust fumes. He has no problem around the fuel, but the exhaust would make him very ill. I helped him a couple times a few years ago. He showed me what needed to be done, then got out of the way of the fumes; he could not help. Talking with him, all the trucks, pickups, busses make life on the road awful for him, because of the exhaust.