Warranty issue dispute with Kubota - Advice anyone

[aczlan]

Maybe we need to clarify this. I believe we might be talking about two different setups.

1. Puke tank with hose coming from radiator cap neck to tank. Hose above water level in the puke tank. This setup is only there to catch overflow and will not refill radiator.

2. Coolant Reservoir tank with hose coming from radiator cap neck to reservoir. Hose enters reservoir and goes to the bottom of the tank. Or the reservoir may have a nipple formed into the bottom that the hose plugs onto. This setup is there to catch overflow and to refill radiator as the system cools.

With type #2, when working properly, there is no reason to open radiator. A glance at the plastic tank with "full" and "low" clearly marked on the tank will quickly tell you whether the radiator is low or not. As long as you maintain a "cold" coolant level in the appropriate range in the tank the radiator will always be full. So full that you cannot remove the cap without losing a spoon full or so.

There is also a third system which has a pressurized tank that you fill (and often no radiator cap). Most cars/light trucks use this system.

Aaron Z

 

[zoltanthegypsy]

Maybe we need to clarify this. I believe we might be talking about two different setups.

Indeed. Puke tank, overflow tank, burp tank, expansion tank all get used rather casually and often not too accurately

My attempt at explaining burp/expansion (unpressurized) external tanks applies to your type #2 as you've noted. Since maybe my '56 Chevy (the Corvair and the 911 don't count...) that's all I have experience with including all my little tractors, the cars, the trucks, the boats, and the water-cooled generators.

Thanks. I'll let you all get back to your discussion in progress ... and good luck to the OP.

Z.

 

[4570Man]

From December
Should have checked the fluid level.

Um, yea. While I agree that checking the fluid level before every use is an unrealistic expectation he already suspected the tractor of running hot. The first step should have been checking the radiator for chaff buildup and checking the fluid level which in this case would have cured the problem or at least reviled the deeper problem. The next logical thing to do would be to check the suspected not working gauge with another one.

 

[ovrszd]

Great description!

Thanks Rick!!!

 

[ovrszd]

There is also a third system which has a pressurized tank that you fill (and often no radiator cap). Most cars/light trucks use this system.

Aaron Z

Yep. That's what my Super Duty uses. I don't know of any tractors that use that system unless it might be the large AG versions. I left that one out so as to not muddy the waters anymore than they already are for some.

 

[5030]

Yep. That's what my Super Duty uses. I don't know of any tractors that use that system unless it might be the large AG versions. I left that one out so as to not muddy the waters anymore than they already are for some.

Far as I can ascertain they don't... (looked under the hood of a New JD large ag tractor the other day, just the usual non pressurized catch and release container.) My 'Super Stupidity' is the same, pressurized catch bottle with rad cap on that.

 

[ovrszd]

Far as I can ascertain they don't... (looked under the hood of a New JD large ag tractor the other day, just the usual non pressurized catch and release container.) My 'Super Stupidity' is the same, pressurized catch bottle with rad cap on that.

Sounds as if you don't like your Super Duty? Why do you own it?

 

[5030]

Bottom line here is... Ignorance is no excuse and I'm sure that is how KTC views it. Maybe I'm the odd duck but, I check my fluids everytime before I start any of my tractors and my vehicles get checked often as well. I have to on my tractors as I have the hoods up everytime before I crank them, I have a master disconnect on each of them (theft deterrent) so hood is up and I check various levels.

Good habit to get into anyway, an offshoot from driving big trucks. The pre trip inspection is a Federal DOT requirement and has to be noted every day in your log book or on the data recorder if you run electronic logs.

 

[fried1765]

Bottom line here is... Ignorance is no excuse and I'm sure that is how KTC views it. Maybe I'm the odd duck but, I check my fluids everytime before I start any of my tractors and my vehicles get checked often as well. I have to on my tractors as I have the hoods up everytime before I crank them, I have a master disconnect on each of them (theft deterrent) so hood is up and I check various levels.

Good habit to get into anyway, an offshoot from driving big trucks. The pre trip inspection is a Federal DOT requirement and has to be noted every day in your log book or on the data recorder if you run electronic logs.

"everytime"....before you start your tractors and vehicles you visually check the oil and water levels?
While it may be a good idea, I have NEVER before heard of ANYONE actually doing anything even similar to that since the 40's, when gas stations did check the oil every time you filled up.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Bottom line for me is, while I may not have checked the radiator every time I started the tractor, I dammm sure would have looked/noticed fluid that leaked out, under the tractor.

Then there's that "damaged" tube, NOT a tube failure caused by the factory.

SR