L3200 Overheating while Mowing

[JWR]

or thermostat

Agree. Every small (under 30hp) Kubota I have been around runs too close to the red zone when using a belly mower and/or other power consuming attachments. The hotter the outside air temp the worse the disease. Yes, you have to keep the screens clean and, yes, you need to flush the radiator both inside and out, etc. All good advice. HOWEVER, I am convinced that Kubota puts water pumps on these things that simply do not move enough water. Larger tractors never have this problem and you almost cannot find a way to drive them into the red zone. This was completely unheard of on very old tractors. Our 1954 MH Pacer was never overheated in the last 63 years and its poor little 16hp Continental engine was far worse overloaded many times than what a mere belly mower would do ! The radiators are plenty big for the size of these small diesels. The fans run like crazy and have plenty of flow. These complaints are WAY WAY too common. Sure we can live with them by using kid gloves but it reeks to have to do so. They ought to be designed with a huge amount of overkill on cooling capacity and they are not. In my opinion it is mainly undersized water pumps.

Anyone know of similar issues with comparable sized small diesel John Deere or Massey Ferguson machines ?

 

[Fallon]

Following up on my earlier post...

My L3200 was always solid with the needed half way up the gauge... Unless things were dirty or plugged. Even when mowing in the summer. That's in Colorado where we are noticably lacking in air for cooling & burning.

Also lift your loader way up before cleaning stuff of you can only get the screen out half way on each side. Which is annoying to have to slide it half way out in each side.

 

[gogo]

Well, The radiator was clogged! I just got done cleaning it from both sides with a leaf blower then a water sprayer to finish it off. It was around 80% blocked. Thanks for everybody's advice. I will sleep good tonight.

 

[s219]

That's the first thing you should check when mowing!! In fact, check it periodically as you mow.

 

[nybirdman]

Well, The radiator was clogged! I just got done cleaning it from both sides with a leaf blower then a water sprayer to finish it off. It was around 80% blocked. Thanks for everybody's advice. I will sleep good tonight.

Plan on cleaning at least once a day when bush-hogging.

 

[teg]

Plan on cleaning at least once a day when bush-hogging.

I mow in the dead of winter... I have to clean it out 3-4 times a day.

Also, Fallon, Older standard L's... Our screens come out the top!! We have to remove the air cleaner to remove the screen!!! What a butt pain.

 

[Fallon]

Well, The radiator was clogged! I just got done cleaning it from both sides with a leaf blower then a water sprayer to finish it off. It was around 80% blocked. Thanks for everybody's advice. I will sleep good tonight.

Good to hear. Annoying, but the nature of the beast. Can't really call it a design flaw. Driving through brush & dust all day does have consequences. Pretty easy to remedy with proper screen cleaning & occasional gentile washing of the radiator.

 

[gogo]

Well, The radiator was clogged! I just got done cleaning it from both sides with a leaf blower then a water sprayer to finish it off. It was around 80% blocked. Thanks for everybody's advice. I will sleep good tonight.

Here's a picture of the blockage/Users/home/Desktop/Radiator.pdf

 

[Baby Grand]

gogo,
Very common problem that you experienced. Luckily, just a clogged screen & inexpen$ive to fix.
For future reference, one of my favorite tools for tinkering with overheating/underheating engines and wood stoves is an inexpensive infrared thermometer that I picked up at Harbor Freight.
Keep up frequent cleaning that radiator & screen so you don't have to go thru what I did with a used machine that had not seen much cooling system mainteneance:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-lawn-garden/343265-g5200-cooling-system-2.html?highlight=g5200
Now get back out there & cut some grass!
-Jim

 

[teg]

Here's a picture of the blockage...

THAT does not look like it has a Screen in front of the radiator... The photo looks like JUST the radiator!!!

Did you buy this tractor new or used?

Couldn't find a photo on internet will take a photo of mine.... (see next post)