Kubota L245H--Head Gasket Woes

[Mike Madison]

Hello Good People. My Kubota L245H cultivating tractor, over a period of a week, became hard to start, died at idle, and significantly lost power. I thought it was a fuel problem, so I drained and cleaned the fuel tank (full of dirt) and fuel lines and put a new fuel filter. No better. The intern (smart girl) noticed a fluid leak (coolant) coming from the junction of the block and the head. Before pulling the head I drained the coolant by removing lower radiator hose. Hardly any coolant came out. When I pulled the head it appeared to be still full of coolant, mixed with oil. The head gasket had been installed by a previous owner with a lot of rubbery goop on both sides and white deposits where it had been leaking. Cylinders are smooth (no ridge), but piston tops have significant carbon deposits (up to 1/4 inch thick) as do valves. The tractor did not overheat and the head is flat. Should I just reassemble with a new head gasket (no goop), or I should I do something more, like an in-frame rebuild? Tractor doesn't smoke, but even before this event it seemed to lack power. I did not do a compression test. This is a 40 year old tractor that was worked hard in the strawberry fields before I got it. Hours unknown, maintenance history unknown. Thanks for your wise advice.

 

[Agvg]

Why has it so much build up of carbon? Never used hard enough? It it's not much work I would pulled the pistons, clean and maybe hone and fit new rings.

 

[Walter L]

mike i would use star bright in the fuel after you clean it up, dont think pistons need removing just clean up and install new gasket . Set valves cold at 007 to 009