Smells like burning rubber

[logcabin]

I am posting for a friend, he has a 40 hp Kioti. While moving snowbanks that have set up, he is smelling what smells like "burning rubber". If in softer material he doesn't smell at all. It appears to be while the unit is working harder to move the snow. I asked him if the temp guage rose when he smelled it. Everthing appears normal. It is a 2022 Kioti, not sure of the exact model number. Any type of insight would be greatly appreciated.

 

[zzvyb6]

FWD ? Front drive clutch fighting tire radius difference ? Burning wire ? hydraulic fluid or undercoating dripping onto the exhaust (working harder gets exhaust temp up), dead animal in the exhaust pipe ? Does seem associated with powertrain because of hard/soft ground response.

 

[scootr]

I had a similar instance with my Kubota last summer. Definite whiff of burning rubber after the machine got good and warmed up. A little investigation found a wire got loose from it's keeper and the rubber jacket was melting on the exhaust once the machine got good and hot... fixed it with a zip tie. Hope this helps.

 

[Robin Veerman]

Ask him if it’s a gear tractor. I’m thinking it’s a slipping clutch….smells like burning brakes tho, not burning rubber

 

[logcabin]

he came back with a 3 speed gear box. Would that possibly have two ranges? If he is say in range 2 it very well could be too high a gear for what he's doing?? I would think too much of smelling this condition will have adverse effect on the clutch.

 

[ruffdog]

he came back with a 3 speed gear box. Would that possibly have two ranges? If he is say in range 2 it very well could be too high a gear for what he's doing?? I would think too much of smelling this condition will have adverse effect on the clutch.

Check to see if the clutch is adjusted correctly. Does it have sufficient free play?

 

[Robin Veerman]

he came back with a 3 speed gear box. Would that possibly have two ranges? If he is say in range 2 it very well could be too high a gear for what he's doing?? I would think too much of smelling this condition will have adverse effect on the clutch.

Yep, he should be in the lower gear if he’s digging. You want the wheels to spin, instead of the wheels not spinning but the clutch slipping…

 

[logcabin]

I know he has a larger area to work wih, I think you all may be on to something here. What's common sense to some may not be to others. I am hopefully going to see him at his house this weekend, I will get more information then. This site, TBN, has always always always given me such valuable information. Cannot thank you all enough!!

 

[logcabin]

Well, I guess some of you hit it perfectly! He has 3 ranges with 3 gears each. He was in the second range. I did not want to belittle him at all. I suggested that some folks on TBN suggested possibly using the lowest range and a lower gear on the more difficult stuff. The clutch play to the friction point was perfect as ruffdog suggested. I believe you all possibly saved him a big expense. Sounds like he was burning the clutch fluid. With this said, I thank you all very much for your input. Kinda glad it was not a dead animal in the exhaust pipe.