Blown head gasket? Can I use it?

[DieselBound]

Gittyup, I feel for you: my NX had issues that were quite troubling; fortunately the dealer and Kioti resolved them (as they should with a brand new machine); but, I was really feeling shaky about my purchase. Vince mentioned the fuel bowl, that it's been upgraded. Were the other issues dealt with with upgraded parts?

I have an early Maytag front-load clothes washer. I had all sorts of problems with it. Someone came out to make the first repair. I then did the next one. Both covered under warranty. Both repairs were with updated parts. That was MANY years ago (I replaced the front drum seal- it was moldy; Maytag, long after the fact, said I had to use bleach to keep that from happening- I pointed out that they didn't mention that in their manual; I have since just allowed the door to stay open a bit when not in use- many years now and no issue). No failure of the two replacement parts. While not a tractor, it's an example of a manufacturer (mostly) recognizing and correcting their failures. I could have bailed early, but would I have got another manufacturer's product that still had bugs to work out?

A good dealer should go to bat for you if there's a good case. At a minimum I'd look to get to the bottom of why the failure. If I thought that it was a fluke, or that there's a better head gasket available, (and if there wasn't any factory or dealer support) I'd just do the job myself (save some money; and then I'd decide whether to keep or sell).

My B7800 really pissed me off a couple years back. I was banging it around pretty good, needing to get stuff done NOW, and the stupid fuel cap kept loosening up and or popping off, spilling fuel all over (and on me- back in the seat)! Went in to the dealer's and found that Kubota had updated the fuel cap. You'd think that anyone with the old style should get the new one for free, nope. Talk about stupid! (come on, Kubota, couldn't make a fuel cap that would hold up?)

 

[CJONE]

I just online priced a JD 2038R. Real nice tractor, with the typical JD advancements. But, ouch! It's expensive. Don't know what I'm going to do when I get my tractor back. I'd like to sell it. But, notwithstanding the expensive repairs every few hundred hours, it is paid for. What's next? Front axle? Clutch? PTO? I'm afraid to wait to find out.

If you don't have any confidence in it then sell it, they hold value real well. tough choice on what to replace it with. CJ

 

[Gittyup]

Kioti did step up on the injector and loader issues. Both were under warranty. But they both still cost me money and considerable down time. The problem with the head gasket is that it's a known recurring issue. One TBNer replaced his 3 times in about 1200 hours from what I remember, and the engine seized the 3rd time. I suspect that another head gasket failure will be in my future if I keep the tractor. Reliability just isn't there due to design, and the head gasket has inherent issues that aren't fixable. I'm doubtful Kioti will do anything to help on an 11 year old tractor just shy of 700 hours.

I bought the Kioti because it had the best digger specs in its class for far less money than the closest competitors. What good is saving money up front if it's going to keep breaking down and costing me time and money over the long haul. I want to work my tractor not work on it. I expect to get at least 1200 hours or more before any major repairs. Anything less would be defective in design, materials, or workmanship.

 

[RickB]

Head gaskets seem to be somewhat problematic. We have had no repeat failures when new head bolts were installed along with the new gasket.

 

[alligatorob]

Blown head gasket? Can I use it?

In college I had an old Ford station wagon, I think it was about a 1962 with a 428 V8. I paid about $100 for it about 10 years old. It had a blown head gasket and the radiator gurgled, but you could run it with the fluid down a inch or so, the exhaust gas just vented through the radiator cap. Ran it that way for 2 years and as many miles as my student budget could afford in the great gas guzzler. Sold it to another student for the same $100 and I know he got at least another year out of it.

So it is possible, probably not a great idea, but possible.

 

[Gittyup]

Got an estimate for the repair. Close to $1500. Mechanic said one cylinder was scored and would require machining.

 

[JimR]

Got an estimate for the repair. Close to $1500. Mechanic said one cylinder was scored and would require machining.

Ouch on that repair. A scored cylinder is usually caused by antifreeze getting into the cylinder and washing down the cylinder wall. I blew a head gasket on one of my boats a few years back and had it hydro-lock. The cylinder was fine but the connecting rod sure got bent.

 

[Gittyup]

Update. They finally completed the repair on my tractor after 4 weeks plus one day. Total is $1416. I haven't picked it up yet nor seen an itemized list of what was done/replaced. I do know they sent the head out to get it machined.

 

[CJONE]

Update. They finally completed the repair on my tractor after 4 weeks plus one day. Total is $1416. I haven't picked it up yet nor seen an itemized list of what was done/replaced. I do know they sent the head out to get it machined.

I'd be curious, that is actually pretty cheap if they pulled the block to have it bored. Unless they honed it and the damage was not that bad. CJ

 

[conkli48]

I mean its not ideal, and early in the tractors life but 1416, while cost a good chunk of money, if the tractor will go another 11 years or longer with new parts that alot cheaper than buying another tractor. I mean 1416 for the work they did is not to bad at all. I would feel a little PO'd but you can at least say the motor was gone through and fixed. I mean for a car thats a set of brakes and a tire set which will always need to be done at some point. It is cheaper than I would have thought.

 

[Gittyup]

Picked up the tractor today after 4 weeks and 3 days. I really have no quarrel with the dealer over their costs. Seem reasonable. Price included a new tie rod that was $189 of the cost. The amount of time it took to repair was bit too long. They claimed it was the machine shop that caused the delays. I have my doubts, but it is spring time. BTW, it was only the head that required machining. Of course, it included oil and filter change. Radiator flush and refill. All new radiator hoses. And the head gasket parts. Nice to have the tractor back, but the immediate need has passed, now.

I discovered the head gasket issue right after taking deliver of 20 yards of mulch. I certainly couldn't let it sit in the street for 4+ weeks. So, my wife and I moved it with a lawn trailer and wheel barrow. Reliability is everything. Not sure how long I'll keep this tractor, going forward. Maybe another 100 hours or so.

 

[conkli48]

Man, that is hard to be without for 4 weeks. Especially as spring is hitting hard. I used to have a yanmar 1500 that I used for some small stuff around our hobby farm. It went to crap on me first day of winter when I wanted to push the 12 inches of snow we got. I did want to put much money in it as it developed some electric gremlins, timing cover oil leak, and rear axle seal. Not to mention it started to get really hard to start in the winter, probably loosing compression or something like that.
I sold it as a repair project and put money towards my Kioti ck 2610. I bought last thursday, and dealer sold a couple of these in a row so didnt have them in stock so they had to get more in. They quoted me 2 weeks and I am fine with it,but knowing that tractor is coming, is driving me crazy with all the things I want to work on So I feel your pain. Ya for all that service pretty good deal. The funny thing is with all that work done, you might never have another issue for along time. The new gasket could be better quality and never give you a problem again.Along with all the fluid flushes andnew hoses and such, its probably feeling the best it has in awhile.

 

[DK35vince]

All the issues you have had with only 700 hours I would probably get rid of the thing also.
16 years and 2000+ hours on my DK 35 other than a few small items (tach cable, fuel filter bowl, radiator hose, 11 year old battery, Etc) I have had no issues