groundcover
Veteran Member
I have heard old timers say they replaced 6 volt batteries in old cars with 8 volt , really perked them up in cold weather.
Kubota M5660SUHD caught on fire (60hrs)!
- Thread starter fbitz777
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OP
fbitz777
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- Apr 17, 2014
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- South Western PA
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- Mahindra 7520 FWD Kubota L4310 M5660 M6060
that's right; my personal insurance co provided a quote to Kubota when I bought the tractor but then something got lost in translation in terms of billing me for it. They think I could be covered anyhow and will send a claim guy this week.
To the OP. You will be surprised how fast a short circut can melt wires. Father took MF240 out, got 300m and the wires started smoking due to a short circut. The tractor always had spanners on board so he was able to disconnect the battery in record time.
Insurance in New Zealand. You are required to open the bonnet of the tractor to stop birds nesting, or you are NOT INSURED. They (birds)don't like things to open as cats etc can get them. Starlings are particulaly bad and only take 20 minutes ( Insurance Co timed it) to put enough straw on an exhaust manifold to burn a tractor.
Insurance in New Zealand. You are required to open the bonnet of the tractor to stop birds nesting, or you are NOT INSURED. They (birds)don't like things to open as cats etc can get them. Starlings are particulaly bad and only take 20 minutes ( Insurance Co timed it) to put enough straw on an exhaust manifold to burn a tractor.
Torvy
Super Member
In the US, if the loan has collateral, the collateral must be insured. Not a company rule, government regulations. Anyone who got a loan to pay for equipment without insurance got a personal loan, not a secured loan. Most likely paid higher interest for that.
This damage might be caused by some defect, but odds are it is not. Either way, the normal process in these situations is for insurance (or individual) to pay and then the investigation (and lawsuits) will determine if warranty reimburses for their share.
A concern I would have is that most likely Kubota finance is going to demand payment in full. Their money is secured by an asset that has little value. If the OP stops making those payments is could be very difficult for them to recoup their money. That is why insurance is required. It (or cash) will pay off the loan and it will be closed. Only other option would be to get it repaired.
This damage might be caused by some defect, but odds are it is not. Either way, the normal process in these situations is for insurance (or individual) to pay and then the investigation (and lawsuits) will determine if warranty reimburses for their share.
A concern I would have is that most likely Kubota finance is going to demand payment in full. Their money is secured by an asset that has little value. If the OP stops making those payments is could be very difficult for them to recoup their money. That is why insurance is required. It (or cash) will pay off the loan and it will be closed. Only other option would be to get it repaired.
Had a similar fire on an older Kubota. Positive battery cable insulation wore or was damaged by brush and shorted on the frame. Tractor under load lost power until smoke finally billowed from under the hood, but fortunately it was the cable insulation burning. Turned it off before anything else caught on fire. Replaced cable, tractor runs fine.
Perhaps something damaged your cable or it was not protected properly.
Perhaps something damaged your cable or it was not protected properly.
OP
fbitz777
Bronze Member
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- Apr 17, 2014
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- Location
- South Western PA
- Tractor
- Mahindra 7520 FWD Kubota L4310 M5660 M6060
I did open the bonnet the day before and ran tractor for an hour on heavy load
Next morning i ran for 10 minutes hence I am more inclined to suspect a short by insulation shorted... I don't think a bird would build a nest overnight (and it not the season)
First of all have you figured out HOW the fire started and why? If it was a short then consider if it was carelessness in the design of the tractor. Second, most homeowners insurance has provisions for situations like this to some extent. Third, pursue your situation and do NOT take the word of the first insurance agent on this unless he or she is your close friend. Deregulation of insurers has resulted in some tall tales by agents in the past few years. IF you used glowplugs before you started tractor they have very heavy fuses and could start a fire before blowing a 30amp fuse if shorted AND also drawing current thru the glowplugs.
WinterDeere
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Not only would I argue that the burden of this duty is not on the owner, I'd suggest that any conclusion he makes is going to be completely irrelevant, unless the owner happens to be a fire investigator, insurance adjuster, or engineer with experience in agricultural or automotive electrical systems. Credentials are everything, when supplying testimony on any accident or fire, and only the conclusions made by a disinterested third party will be received without serious skepticism.
I've never sued anyone for anything, although I've had to employ lawyers several times for my business and real estate transactions. Given the value and age of the item in question, and the dealer's implication that this is his problem on a nearly new in-warranty machine, this is one case where my first stop after the dealer would have been a lawyer. If the OP hasn't already gone that way, and also followed through with at least getting his injuries documented by a doctor, I'd suggest again he do that now.
I wish the op the best on this.
but we really need to figure out how and why with evidence vs.'fire no warranty' attitude that the dealer seems to have.
I know years ago had a rv, and the bank imposed insurance on the loan... almost more than the loan amount each month, but I had insurance, but the ins company didn't send the right info to the bank... 6 months later, I got it figured out as I had ins actually 2 days before i purchased. but the point is the bank may have put ins on the op loan.
but we really need to figure out how and why with evidence vs.'fire no warranty' attitude that the dealer seems to have.
I know years ago had a rv, and the bank imposed insurance on the loan... almost more than the loan amount each month, but I had insurance, but the ins company didn't send the right info to the bank... 6 months later, I got it figured out as I had ins actually 2 days before i purchased. but the point is the bank may have put ins on the op loan.
In some states the Fire Marshal may be nice enough to look. After all if it is a fire hazard it doesn not belong in a barn. Knowing what went on yourself is always the first part of investigating. Pictures work wonders.