ok my tractor started blowing a little smoke ,took to the shop ,guy tells me my valve seats are loose. been in the shop for 4wks I know there busy, but its geting old. think kubota will help pay the bill. its a 2007 yr with 184hrs, realy sucks my old D9200 was 22yrs old and never had a problem. my tractors are in like new condition. question? hows a valve seat come loose??
B 7800 184hrs engine has loose valve seats acording to repair shop.questions
- Thread starter ohiojim
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Toolguy
Platinum Member
How do they know the valve seats are loose. Did they pull the head off and find that to be the problem? Sounds unusual, but I suppose it it could be true. Did they give you an estimated cost of the repair? I would be surprised if Kubota would help out on an 8 year old machine unless it is a known problem for a certain serial number range for that engine. The other thing that comes to mind would be a leak in the air intake system that would allow dirt to get into the engine and prematurely wear out the piston rings. I have seen that happen before. Anyway, sorry for your bad luck. I hope it has a happy ending.
Gafn
Silver Member
Kubota L series - 24 months or 1500 hours - Basically NO Kubota will not help you at all on this one.
First ting I would do is get a second opinion at a good diesel mechanic/tractor mechanic - not another Kubota dealer/shop.
The Dealer/shop is there to make them $$ - not help the customer. I mean look 4 weeks to be told this... - what did they charge you for the diagnostic? Did they tear down the head? What is the proof the seats are loose.
In today's age they could take photos/video of the seat moving, or **** just pull you into the shop and show you the loose seat.
At 184 hours you don't run this engine much - what do you mean by "Blowing a little smoke" what color is the smoke and how long does it blow - it is constant, intermittent?
Does it blow under load, at idle... folks on here have a lot of knowledge but we need more information - heck start it up and take a video - then post it...
Fawken
Platinum Member
Never heard of loose valve seats. Loose valve guides and seals, yes, but never on an engine that new.
sandyc
Veteran Member
I am an old guy and I think that the valve seats are actually machined into the head. I agree, valve guides can loosen but seats that are machined into the head? We used to lap the valves into the head using a specific compound and a drill. Maybe times have changed!
Fawken
Platinum Member
I'm an old guy too. Don't know what's going on today in the world of auto/tractor repair. My buddy who's still working as a mechanic (only now he writes estimates) says that if the customer is under 50 they just make up anything and the customer will sign off on it. He says that some of the girls have more general automotive knowledge than men under 50. I have 4 boys of my own and it really is the case. They can all program the main-frame computers where they work with their IPhones while sitting on my sofa and simultaneously ordering us pizza on their Androids, but wouldn't know a valve guide from an injector. I failed as a father.
Dave M7040
Elite Member
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- Location
- Williamstown Ontario Canada
- Tractor
- Kubota M7040 Nuffield 465
Suggest you do a Google search on "Diesel Slobber." It will enlighten you. Basically your engine needs to be worked hard. Diesel's cannot survive long periods of low load conditions. I dont mean high rpm's just a heavy load. Plow ground, blow deep snow, pull a heavy trailer up hills, run a pto alternator with a big electrical load on it. You need to be building up high pressures in the cylinders to keep the piston rings seating properly.
If you search this forum you will find many owners of low hour tractors complaining of smoking. One even said the problem went away for awhile when he lent his tractor to a friend to do some plowing. Once he learned of diesel slobber he was better able to take care of his tractor through regular periods of hard work.
If it is not apart get it back and try my suggestion.
Dave M7040
