BX2200 alternator upgrade problem

[rbarker]

I know this upgrade has been covered here many times and I have found Charliebrn's great step by step on how to acomplish this but I have run into an issue with the pivot bolt. Charlebrn talked about a bushing in the casting that needed to be punched out to make the hole big enough for the new bolt. He even showed a picture of it.

I'm just not very sure that I have such a bushing. I bought the kit yesterday at my dealer for $165 and called the service department this morning when I discovered the hole problem and the tech there told me it needed to be drilled out.

So all you guys who did this conversion on a BX series machine sound off! Did you find a bushing or drill out the hole? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

If you punched out a bushing what did you use and how did you gain access?

If you drilled it out.... same question!

The instructions are horrible and never mention either this pitfall or the fact that when you remove to old top bracket the tractor leaks antifreeze until you get the bottom bolt snugged back up. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif This should be about an hours work but for the crummy directions and this hole size issue.

 

[Charliebrn]

It wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't a bushing in yours, but as you can see in the pics I posted, there was one in mine. It was pretty obvious there was a bushing in it if you looked close, I just used the largest punch I had on the shoulder of the bushing and it tapped right out, just was a little snug is all.
If you don't have a bushing in there, instead of drilling the mount out, how about a longer bolt of the same length of the new larger bolt, but the same diameter of the old? You'd have to pick up a bushing for the alternator so it fit properly on the smaller diameter bolt, but it would prevent you from drilling out the mount, which could get messy. Just an idea.

I didn't get the antifreeze leaking out of the thermostat housing either, makes me wonder how much these engines differ from each other.

Let us know what you decided on, and if you think of it, add that to my original project posting in case someone else decides to install this kit. The kit itself is great, but sounds like someone dropped the ball on making sure that all variances were covered. Probably the same joker that put together those pitiful instructions.....

Good luck!

Scott

 

[Junkman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( .................I didn't get the antifreeze leaking out of the thermostat housing either, makes me wonder how much these engines differ from each other.

Let us know what you decided on, and if you think of it, add that to my original project posting in case someone else decides to install this kit. The kit itself is great, but sounds like someone dropped the ball on making sure that all variances were covered. Probably the same joker that put together those pitiful instructions.....

Good luck!

Scott )</font>

I don't understand this discrepancy since both of you have BX2200 tractors. Did Kubota make an engine change during production? I have the BX 22, but have been waiting til the 50 hour service before I make the alternator change over. I wonder if I am going to run into the same problem?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[RichT]

I have a BX22 and installed the alternator upgrade kit to support additional flood lighting. There was a bushing in the alternator mount. It just fell out when I tugged on it. I followed charlebrn's instructions and they were very helpful. As you noted, the included instructions are virtually worthless.

 

[rbarker]

Well, I steel wooled the whole area and there is definately no bushing. There is also no room for getting a drill in there so I am about to take the starter out. I thought about using a smaller bolt and adding bushings but I'm pretty sure they changed bolt sizes for a reason... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I'll keep you posted!

 

[rbarker]

[quote
I don't understand this discrepancy since both of you have BX2200 tractors. Did Kubota make an engine change during production? I have the BX 22, but have been waiting til the 50 hour service before I make the alternator change over. I wonder if I am going to run into the same problem?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif )</font>

Junkman,

I think that my tractor which I purchased in March of 2003 had been sitting around on the lot for a while. I don't know how to tell what the manufacture date of the tractor is but I suspect that it was a 2002 model. As for the anitfreeze... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

I would recommend just popping out the pivot bolt on the dymo and checking to see whether you have a bushing or not. If not, I now have a bit that you can use to drill out the hole. I had to take the starter out and then there was room for a drill to fit. Of course the bit in the drill made the whole thing too long to fit in the area available. Luckily my Father is a retired machinist and came over to help. He cut the bit down to just long enough and "backed it off" a bit so that it wouldn't chatter and bind going through aluminum. Once he did that it went throught slick as snot with just a touch of deisel as a cutting lubricant. The bit is junk for any other purpose, though! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Two more little gems of advice for this conversion:

Remove the FEL for easier access. I wish I had.

Don't tighten the new bracket you install for the top bolt completely because once the pivot bolt is in you may need to move the top bracket a bit to get the hole in the alternator to line up.

Also, As Charliebrn said, you must get the belt on prior to installing the alternator bolts. Two sets of hands is certainly helpful.

It is all done now and seems to be working fine. I'll post some pictures later.

 

[Junkman]

I opened the box that my High Output alternator came in and found that they had left the directions out of the box. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif Guess that they figured that the directions were so poor, that you are better off without them. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif I will be installing it this week if the weather stays warm and following the instructions on the TBN post. What forum is it located in??? thanks

 

[tomnky]

Paul it seems to me The serial Number is the key to the date or at least year of the manufacture.At least that is what I recall reading somewhere

Maybe Art White could elaborate on it?

Here is a link on engines if it is a help for the curiousity: Engine Serial numbers

 

[art]

Sorry boys but had to get my sled out of the garage today. I know the new models have a different engine, I imagine that there might have been a few BX2200's that came out with the 2230 engines! I know I saw some of the new petals on old models.

 

[rbarker]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Paul it seems to me The serial Number is the key to the date or at least year of the manufacture.At least that is what I recall reading somewhere

Maybe Art White could elaborate on it?

Here is a link on engines if it is a help for the curiousity: Engine Serial numbers )</font>

Outstanding! This is exactly what I have been looking for. My engine was built in November of 2001 according to this. That would tend to indicate a 2002 model year tractor.