My MX4800 Went Tango Uniform. 112 Hours.

[redlevel]

Dealer says a small hose split, allowing all the water/coolant to leak out.
Tractor never steamed or smoked. No "running hot" symptoms whatsoever.
No light or gauge warning. We thought it was fuel starved, suspected water/trash
in the fuel, because that was what the symptoms were like.

Warranty will cover the repairs, but I'm without a tractor for 2-3 weeks.
Very disappointing. The last two brand new tractors I have purchased went down
like this. This one was bought in the Spring.

 

[CalG]

It's always the "three dollar" rubber part that dooms the whole she-bang. Unlucky I suppose.
I've got a 57 year old tractor with no rubber parts associated with the engine except the radiator fan.
Split hoses are not on my worry list. Of course some of the other tractors make up for that one. ;-)

 

[LD1]

So you are saying the motor is trashed, as in complete rebuild (or new engine).

Running low/without coolant I'd have thought the temp gauge would have been in the red.

 

[Gary Fowler]

So you are saying the motor is trashed, as in complete rebuild (or new engine).

Running low/without coolant I'd have thought the temp gauge would have been in the red.

I am surprised that the OP didn't notice coolant on the ground where the tractor was parked. Since all the water leaked out, I guess there wasn't enough left to make steam so the temp. gauge was not exposed to any water to make it work and no water so it didn't boil over.
Maybe they need to install a block surface temp gauge on the OP's tractor.

 

[LD1]

I am hesitant to blame anyone for misfortune, but I am really surprised Kubota is warranting a blown motor that tan with no coolant.

Usually if they fault fluid levels or some other routine maintenance item....they deny warranty and point the finger at the owner for neglect.

 

[AStanton]

If that tractor only had a $10 temperature gage that repair could of been avoided. I don't know why manufactures cheese up on the little things in their products that could prove to be a big savings or convenience. I'm still miffed about my B3030 coming without a 12-volt accessory port. Especially when I just bought a $2,000 riding lawn mower that came with one.

 

[LD1]

The mx's do have a temp gauge. (And I bet it got more than $10)

The issue is that air doesn't conduct heat like water. There for a dry system won't show that it's overheating even though it is.

Perhaps a $10 coolant LEVEL sensor. Don't know if the MX has that, as mine has never been low.

But I check my coolant often, and know for sure the gauge works. Cause when it starts flirting with my comfort zone I know its time to clean the radiator and screen. Which happens alot with a bushhog on and a hat tractor.

If the mx4800 the OP has is a gear, and if it's like any of the other gear Kubota I have been around, under normal use you'd think the coolant temp gauge just doesn't work, as they normally don't get hot enough. You really have to run a bushhog or similar pretty hard on a hot day to even see the needle move.

 

[AStanton]

The mx's do have a temp gauge. (And I bet it got more than $10)

I was thinking in terms of a gage that reflects the actual temperature of the engine, not an idiot light.

 

[dodge man]

In the late 1980's I restored a Dodge Challenger and did a lot of work to the engine. Short version, I didn't add coolant. I actually caught the problem because the temp gauge wasn't moving at all. I caught it pretty quick with no damage. The OP maybe parks it outside, coolant leaks out in the dirt or grass, temp gauge doesn't move................

 

[LD1]

I was thinking in terms of a gage that reflects the actual temperature of the engine, not an idiot light.

Yea, that's what I am saying. It has one.