Kubota Generator Repower - ZB600

[Spudland_Dave]

So I picked up a Kubota GL-6500S Generator in like new shape..BUT it needs motor work. So before tearing into it, I'm just wanting to get a lay of the land as far as money goes...sometimes its cheaper to just remove & replace rather then repair
What if any is a repower option on a ZB-600 series engine? I know some reefer units used them, but I'd like to find a new equivalent...something plug & play so to speak. OR a good used one would be fine.
Thanks for any help

 

[brain55]

The first thing I would do is call a Kubota engine dealer and get a price from them for a new engine and a rebuilt engine so you have a baseline. Without this information everything else you do is guessing.

Brian

 

[leonz]

I would call engine distributors in NJ

They are the Kubota gen set distributors in the northeast US and Maine

1-800- 220-2700

You might luck out and be able to buy new or rebuilt one for an exchange price.


leonz

 

[kuboman]

So I picked up a Kubota GL-6500S Generator in like new shape..BUT it needs motor work. So before tearing into it, I'm just wanting to get a lay of the land as far as money goes...sometimes its cheaper to just remove & replace rather then repair
What if any is a repower option on a ZB-600 series engine? I know some reefer units used them, but I'd like to find a new equivalent...something plug & play so to speak. OR a good used one would be fine.
Thanks for any help

I seems strange that the generator is like new but the engine is hatched. What happened to the engine?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I seems strange that the generator is like new but the engine is hatched. What happened to the engine?

Bought it from a contractor who used it when starting on new buildings (and at his hunting camp)...she was getting hard to start so he brought it to his local dealer who gave him a quote on repairs and a 28+ Day lead time on the parts...he needed a gen that week so he said F-it and bought a new one. The dealer "hand tighted" everything back together on this one and he brought it back home with the intention of getting it running himself again. He warned me not to start it as is...at the very least torque everything down and she SHOULD start...but IMO with 7k hours on the clock might as well hone it and put some new rings in...I think a combination of poor glowplugs and normal cylinder wear and thats what caused the hard starting.
He took real good care of it...she looks Great for the hours, he always had it covered with the geniune Kubota cover so the paint is still shiny, have the Owners Manual, Service Manual and the Parts Book...seriously I couldnt go wrong.

Quick googling of this engine showed that this is fairly common on the ZB600...without good glowplugs, she's a hard starter.

Biggest problem right now is my life is HECTIC... we have a 2 month old at home :thumbsup: so personal project time is pretty much zero.
Pretty sure I might just list it on CL and let "nature takes its course"...either I sell it or fix it...whatever happens first.

 

[leonz]

UUUUUHHHH;

The 7,000 hours on the hour meter tell me you should not even rehab the little beast and repower it with the same exchange motor
but purchase an upgraded motor with the same engine model.



The engine will need much more work than what you wish to do
with it as a diesel with these many hours at high idle will have a lot
of worn components including the fuel pump.


I would call and ask if they have an engine exchange program for rebuilds


plus the hand tightened issue is another dead giveaway simply because you have no idea what was hand tightened and with a diesel
that can be deadly.

 

[kuboman]

Rings, bearings and a hone job and you can have a engine that will run a long time. If it is for personal use once in a while I can't see how it is worth the $$$$ it will take for a new engine. I have seen these engines in gen sets and reefers with 12-15000 hrs.

 

[repete]

I would just tighten it back up, check the glow plugs and fire it up. I have little faith in what some dealers tell folks about the cost of repairs or what the problem is. Seems they sold the guy a new one based on what they said the old one would cost to repair...

Reminds me of a John Deere LX178 that I had given to me. The thing was in pretty good shape but the owner said he was told by the dealer that the hydro transmission was shot as it had no forward or reverse. He just bought a new mower. When I got it home I just tightened the drive belt and it has run for years.

 

[kuboman]

I would just tighten it back up, check the glow plugs and fire it up. I have little faith in what some dealers tell folks about the cost of repairs or what the problem is. Seems they sold the guy a new one based on what they said the old one would cost to repair...

Reminds me of a John Deere LX178 that I had given to me. The thing was in pretty good shape but the owner said he was told by the dealer that the hydro transmission was shot as it had no forward or reverse. He just bought a new mower. When I got it home I just tightened the drive belt and it has run for years.

Yep....ditto to that. You have nothing to lose by putting it back together and see what happens. Checking the GP's is a must. Even just one plug in a 6 cylinder motor makes them bears to start so imagine what a weak one will do with 2 or 3 cylinders

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I would just tighten it back up, check the glow plugs and fire it up. I have little faith in what some dealers tell folks about the cost of repairs or what the problem is. Seems they sold the guy a new one based on what they said the old one would cost to repair...

In talking with the former owner, the reason he didnt have it serviced at the dealer wasnt the price of repairs (Quoted 900 from the dealer, the reciept was tucked in the pile of manuals he gave me)...it was the parts availability...he NEEDED the Gen that week, had a big dollar job that required it. He had tucked it away in his shop for a year or so with the intention of fixing it himself and leaving it up at his camp.
My problem isnt fixing it...its the TIME to fix it. I just wanted to check here because sometimes the cost of a Reman is just a shade over what rings/gaskets/machinework/etc.. costs... Doing a R&R would be something I have time for.
Combine my normal "winterization" duties, home upkeep, job, 2 month old, etc... I just dont have time to tear it down and chase parts.
I dont have the slip here with me, but I want to say the quote had Injector Tips, Gaskets, Glowplugs and a bunch of labor on it... So when I get time, I'll just order up those parts and get er put together.

 

[brain55]

Having been around Kubotas for the last 23 years and spending 12 of that working at Kubota dealers I have a hard time believing 28 days for parts. If it is in the US and you order it before noon, you can have it the next day. If it has to come from Japan you can have it in 3 days. Sure it cost a little for the freight, but far less than the difference between a new machine. It sounds more like the dealer wanted to sell him a new machine instead of doing the work.

Brian

 

[Randybee1]

I have an older ZB600C engine (maybe from the 80's?). Does anyone know if these are thermo siphon or not? I do not see a water pump or pulley just a water oulet low on one side of the engine and a water outlet high on the other side, but then again there was so much cobbled stuff on the engine I might be wrong.

Thanks,
Randy B

 

[Utah Smitty]

I just got a Kubota ZB600 from a reefer unit, but can't find manuals, etc. for it. Can you send me a copy of yours? Send me a private message and I'll give you my email adress.

Thanks,

Utah Smitty