Kubota M5660SUHD caught on fire (60hrs)!

[2manyrocks]

I left the hood open on the MX all winter in the shed and also used dryer sheets. Didn't see any nests when I looked earlier this week.

 

[oosik]

I must have, at least, twenty dryer sheet in the Taco Wagon passenger compartment. Tucked in the glove box, door pockets, under the seats - etc, etc. No evidence of any mice. But that may be due to the open hood.

Whatever - it DOES make the inside smell nice.

I have the hood open on the Kubota and JD riding mower. No mice there either.

Just think of the $$$$ a person could make if they found "something" that repelled rodents - 100%. You could have your tractor gold plated and the rear tires filled with French champagne. Better stop here..........

 

[ultrarunner]

I once ran into a similar insurance coverage situation on a $100k Freightliner OTR tractor at work. The new-ish truck was totaled in an accident. The insurance company said we had never had it added to the policy. I found the emails to and from our local insurance agent requesting coverage and his email response that he would add it. He failed to follow through but the insurance company honorEd the claim. Good faith on their part.

Emails and cancelled checks have saved me several times...

Document everything was the byword at work for as long as I can remember but now all emails are wiped at 2 years...

Lawyers decided more risk having documentation than not?

 

[redman135]

In New Zealand it is almost impossible to get fire insurance on a tractor due to the number that get burnt every year due to starlings. The favourite nest site is the exhaust manifold. You MUST pop the hood to stop starlings as they hate open space around the nest.
NOTE a starling can build a large enough nest to be a fire hazard in 20 MINUTES.
A farmer stopped for lunch and 20 minutes later went out to carry on with the job. He spotted a starling fly out of the tractor and popped the hood and found a partly built nest. The insurance companies pushed this story hard to raise awareness about the bird problem.

 

[WinterDeere]

In New Zealand it is almost impossible to get fire insurance on a tractor due to the number that get burnt every year due to starlings. The favourite nest site is the exhaust manifold. You MUST pop the hood to stop starlings as they hate open space around the nest.
NOTE a starling can build a large enough nest to be a fire hazard in 20 MINUTES.
A farmer stopped for lunch and 20 minutes later went out to carry on with the job. He spotted a starling fly out of the tractor and popped the hood and found a partly built nest. The insurance companies pushed this story hard to raise awareness about the bird problem.

So, by contrast to that saying, "Everything wants to kill you in Australia," it's just the starlings in New Zealand?

 

[fbitz777]

Update!

My lawyer managed to get some compensation from Kubota! It was "fair" in his opinion. Now I need to decide to either fix it myself or just sell it as is. Either way we avoided a long legal process in which Kubota always seems to win.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Good news

 

[fbitz777]

that new of a tractor I would think it's going to have a ECM,engine control computer. if it were mine and the wiring was burned really bad & would buy a wiring harness for it and if it doesn't fire up after that you will need a ECM too. you may get by with just a engine harness unless it is fried under the dash too.

<> MESSICKS <>
ENGINE & HEADLIGHTS HARNESS (UNDERHOOD)

Part # 3C111-77216
3C111-77213
-replaces #3C111-77213 HARNESS,WIRE(MAIN)
$2,036.60
-------------------------------------------------------------------
MAIN HARNESS, WIRE(MAIN) (UNDERHOOD)
Part # 3C111-77217
$1,649.56
-------------------------------------------------------------------


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I did start fixing the tractor (should not have waited for Kubota for a year to settle)

I had to buy:
Wiring harness; super easy to install and included every single wires for the whole tractor as well as all the fuses. I did not have to get access to wiring diagrams or service manuals so far; just the parts diagrams from Messick's.

A few sensors were burnt and were easy to find

Fuel lines

Injectors: was able to get them for about 500$/4 instead of 4000 from dealer.

I am still waiting for some parts but so far I am under 3k and 8 hours of work (far from 24k in parts and 5k in labor from original estimate)


Tractor cranks and display is up but waiting for fuel lines to see if it will fire up.

However I am getting the following ERROR on
ERROR-60 Analog reference supply voltage +5V trouble

I think this +5V created within the main ECU (by steering column) Probably 5 volts is used for most of the engine sensors.

 

[WinterDeere]

Great news.

Of there's no +5V line into the EPU main connector, then you're probably right in assuming it's on that board. If you can locate the bad regular, it's probably a $7 part from DigiKey at qty.1. Anyone with reasonable soldering skills could swap it. It would be nice if Google could turn up a likely culprit for that error, and perhaps a schematic and board layout.

 

[fbitz777]

Great news.

Of there's no +5V line into the EPU main connector, then you're probably right in assuming it's on that board. If you can locate the bad regular, it's probably a $7 part from DigiKey at qty.1. Anyone with reasonable soldering skills could swap it. It would be nice if Google could turn up a likely culprit for that error, and perhaps a schematic and board layout.

I opened the Engine ECU and found plenty of +5V power all around the board's ICs

I think the +5V error is generated on the MAIN ECU (one below the steering column which would have been subjected to fire/heat) That Black Box is non serviceable all molded in plastic (second picture)

 

[WinterDeere]

Replacement cost of that non-serviceable unit?

 

[fbitz777]

Replacement cost of that non-serviceable unit?

It's $1000 (main ECU). The engine ECU is 2k but I think it is the main ECU.

I will know more once I get the fuel lines connected and run the engine and if it runs then it is the main ECU.


I ordered the service manual too,

 

[CliffordK]

Have you poked around Tractor House at all?

Tractor House, Dismantled, Kubota M5500, M5700

I'm not seeing any M5600 tractors, but there are M5500 and M5700 tractors.

It may take some hunting to cross reference parts numbers.

If you do go with an ECU, there would be advantages of purchasing new.

Do you have a Kubota diagnostics tool/ECU reader/programmer? That would help a lot.

 

[Rhino35]

When my mother in law's lawn mower tractor caught on fire last week and burned up she found out her home owner's insurance would not cover it unless it happened inside her barn.

 

[Zork]

It's $1000 (main ECU). The engine ECU is 2k but I think it is the main ECU.

I will know more once I get the fuel lines connected and run the engine and if it runs then it is the main ECU.


I ordered the service manual too,

Now might be the time to install a stripped mechanical injection pump, if possible, due to all that heat damage and get rid of that crap.

 

[fbitz777]

Now might be the time to install a stripped mechanical injection pump, if possible, due to all that heat damage and get rid of that crap.

injectors were actually easy to install. The heat damage was on the plastic connector on top of them.

I got the fuel lines and fuel flows but does not get to the injector rails. Probably solenoid does not want to let fuel run due to ERROR-60

 

[CliffordK]

When my mother in law's lawn mower tractor caught on fire last week and burned up she found out her home owner's insurance would not cover it unless it happened inside her barn.

The barn is the last place I'd want a tractor fire. And it could be very expensive for the insurance company.

 

[tradosaurus]

Update!

My lawyer managed to get some compensation from Kubota! It was "fair" in his opinion. Now I need to decide to either fix it myself or just sell it as is. Either way we avoided a long legal process in which Kubota always seems to win.

glad you were able to reach a decent conclusion. I'm assuming your homeowners policy would not cover the tractor?

My homeowners policy covered an almost brand new SXS have frame damage from running into a tree on my property.

 

[5030]

Never had a 'Goof' cart and don't want one either. Far as tractors catching on fire, non issue here as I disconnect the negative terminal on the starting battery (via a master disconnect), every time I park my tractors. No power equals no shorts equals no fires.

 

[fbitz777]

glad you were able to reach a decent conclusion. I'm assuming your homeowners policy would not cover the tractor?

My homeowners policy covered an almost brand new SXS have frame damage from running into a tree on my property.

My homeowners/farm policy would not cover as it was not listed specifically and it was outside. I did add the two tractors that I am making payments to Kubota since then.