Mowing BX 2350 Overheating while mowing?

[DeeReyn22]

I have a BX2350 with 60" belly deck and the engine will run real hot about 1/8 - 1/4" from the red zone while mowing. I know it is a big deck for the 24 hp but if it can't handle it, then they should not sell it! I sometimes will mow a while with the hood open to keep the temp from creeping even closer to the red zone.

Anyone have this problem? Is it ok to run in this area? Is there anything else I can do?

 

[Hootie]

Have you made sure all the filters are clean and the MMM has gear oil and spindles are greased? Call your dealer for help.

 

[B2400]

Sounds to me as though your radiator screen is dirty or you have some debri in the radiator fins themselves. My B2400 is the approx HP as yours w/ a 60" MMM and barely runs above the "C" unless it's over 90. When I notice the temps running higher than usual, I run the hose from the backside of radiator and clean/ spray it out real good. When it's dirty you can actually see the dirt ( muddy looking water) flowing out from the opposite side of the radiator! My fan draws from the front and then back into the engine compartment. Yours is the same except the radiator is between the engine and the dash console if I remember right. Just flush from engine side out.

 

[DieselPower]

I would have to agree with B2400, check your radiator. I have had problems in everything from garden tractors to combines over the years. The majority of the time it's just a dirty radiator.

 

[proudestmonkey]

I just mowed my 3 acres of "lawn" (half grass/half weeds) yesterday, it was in the 70s. I have a BX 2230 (roughly same as yours) with a 60" deck. I can confirm what others are saying. I noticed that my temp gauge was running higher than usual (about 40% of the way from cool to hot). I looked down, and sure enough, the radiator intake grille right in front of my knees was plastered with dandelion seeds. I turned the engine off, brushed off the dandelion seeds, let it sit for a few minutes, and engine temp quickly went back to normal for mowing with my deck (just above cool).

 

[chrisjbell]

I've used a number of different Kubotas for mowing. They will all overheat in a heartbeat when the radiator is clogged (which make sense, when you think about it ), and in many of them (including my B7300) the design is such that they clog really easily.

I have seen people use water to clean them off, and that works great to cool them down quickly but I suggest caution with that approach. The water will tend to allow the radiator to collect more stuff, which turns to goop that is really tough to get out. Blowing the junk out with air is the best way most of the time.

 

[Tom_H]

First clean the pre-screen which is right in front of your shins as you sit in the seat. Now remove that same screen by unscrewing the knob at the top. Open the hood and pull out the second screen which you'll see right behind the battery. It lifts from the top; clean it well. Now, behind the battery, you'll see the face of the radiator. If you see a big circle of dirt and dust centered in the square, the radiator vents are clogged. Get your vaccuum cleaner and put on that long skinny wand. Vaccuum off all the dirt and dust. An alternative is to blow it from the opposite side if you have a high pressure air compressor. Replace everything.

When I'm brush hogging with my BX, I have to clean my outer screen every 5 minutes and the inner filter and radiator face about once an hour.

Good luck.

 

[DieselPower]

Hmm, sounds like they need to redesign the air flow over the radiator so it draws from a less dusty area. The overheating seems to be a common problem.

 

[jkade72]

I have a new bx 2350 and they told me that there was a problem with the way the guage was calibrated and they were having trouble with the utv's also. They ordered me a new cluster for mine, I will let you all know if it fixes it.

 

[c-and-a]

I have a BX2350 with 48hrs on it - 60" deck and it never moves North of mid range...never near red...

As stated by last post, there is a gauge cluster replacement, but I thought it was for condensation issues...but I could be wrong...

Something else going on with your rig

 

[ByronBob]

Get the manual out if you need to and read up on the screens and where they are and how to clean them. On the off chance it's something else did your fluid level check out ok?

 

[Kevin Beitz]

I was having the same problems with my street-rod ...

I was told to put a wetting agent in my water...
It cools it down about 20-30 percent...
I got it at an auto speed shop...
Any place that sell parts for races cars should have it...

 

[Jibber]

I had been reading about overheating issues with this tractor for the past year. It was one of the issues I was concerned about before buying my 2350 this year.

I can report NO overheating while using the mower so far, and that includes on some pretty hot days. Most of the time the temp gauge has been in the lower quarter.

The other day I used the loader to spread some topsoil and had the bucket full going uphill across the lawn. It was the only time the tractor has hit the midway point on that temp gauge.. but never crossed it.. and never smelled or seemed real hot.

I think this may be an issue with some tractors.. maybe there's a thermostat problem?

 

[Tom_H]

I know why it happens on my BX. See this thread for a more complete description:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1171835#post1171835

 

[jkade72]

Mine was almost in the red the other day mowing and I pulled it in the shop to check it out. I let it set for about five minutes and I spit on the manifolds and the wouldn't boil spit. It should have heated up a little after sitting becasue of the hot water in the block. I put a manual temp probe in the top of the radiator and it hit about 180. Like I said my problem is the guage and that could be some of the others problem.

 

[Lockport]

I recently went down this avenue and this is what I found. Besides the screen at your feet, the other one under the hood that slides up and out, be sure and check that foam strip is not come unglued. It NEEDS to seal the top edge of that inner screen on the engine compartment side. When you have that inner screen out and with the battery cover open, check the front of the radiater where the battery is. Odds are it is clogged. I was approaching red (but not going into it) under any load and that was my problem. After cleaning it, it won't even go to halfway when mowing on a hot day.

 

[caw1101]

I have a G5200 and am not sure that the water is circulating. The hose at the top of the radiator is very hot. I am not sure if the temp gauge is working. Any ideas before I take it to the repair shop

 

[gilldawg79]

I have had my BX1850 for over 2 years now and the dealer still hasn't gotten my "false" overheating fixed. They have replaced the sending unit, thermostat and gauge cluster. Then they said there was a fix out for it. The sending unit is right next to the exhaust manifold and senses heat off of that and quickly deteriorates the sending unit. Apparently Kubota came out with some sort of fix for that with some kind of heat sheild around the sending unit. Well, that isn't what I got from my dealer....I got some jury rigged crap that everyone on here ought to see. I will post some pictures of it....I wanted to bring it home and use it and see how it works....I still doesn't....And I am disgusted.....I just got my second customer satisfaction survey from Kubota on my last bit of warranty work (new fenders and the sending unit crap). I let them have it and I expect a phone call or email any day now.

 

[rdsaustintx]

I recently went down this avenue and this is what I found. Besides the screen at your feet, the other one under the hood that slides up and out, be sure and check that foam strip is not come unglued. It NEEDS to seal the top edge of that inner screen on the engine compartment side. When you have that inner screen out and with the battery cover open, check the front of the radiater where the battery is. Odds are it is clogged. I was approaching red (but not going into it) under any load and that was my problem. After cleaning it, it won't even go to halfway when mowing on a hot day.

EXCELLENT advice! The pre-screen (battery cover) is pretty obvious, but if you get in there and look around the battery debris works its way around everything.

I pulled my battery this weekend (cells were half dry) and was amazed how much crud gets in there, mostly underneath the pre-screen.

My little weatherstrip piece rotted-off, gonna try some vinyl foam tape under there.

I don't think it's a design flaw. The reverse engine arrangement keeps heat off the operator and is probably the cleanest place to take in air. Mowing is just a filthy business...

 

[Ob1kubota]

I recently went down this avenue and this is what I found. Besides the screen at your feet, the other one under the hood that slides up and out, be sure and check that foam strip is not come unglued. It NEEDS to seal the top edge of that inner screen on the engine compartment side. When you have that inner screen out and with the battery cover open, check the front of the radiater where the battery is. Odds are it is clogged. I was approaching red (but not going into it) under any load and that was my problem. After cleaning it, it won't even go to halfway when mowing on a hot day.

Agreed this or defective gauge which most Dealers have knowledge about warranty replacement.