Loader Flipped my L48 Kubota

[ultrarunner]

Really hoping it works out... I know how I feel when my tractor is down and know how much better I feel when it is back in service.

 

[5030]

more info here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine_runaway

It states to put it in gear and let out the clutch. I had a friend with a Car 3406 and the ata filled with oil from a leaking turbo seal. Once the oil in the ata got high enough that the engine was able to start pulling it in, it ran away. He put it in gear and let out the clutch and blew the trans. The engine was making so much power on the oil, was no stopping it. Finally threw a rod through the block and that was that.

 

[5030]

more info here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel_engine_runaway

It states to put it in gear and let out the clutch. I had a friend with a Car 3406 and the ata filled with oil from a leaking turbo seal. Once the oil in the ata got high enough that the engine was able to start pulling it in, it ran away. He put it in gear and let out the clutch and blew the trans. The engine was making so much power on the oil, was no stopping it. Finally threw a rod through the block and that was that.

 

[Adiredneck]

My local machine shop won't be able to check or mill the head for at least ten days. So new head gasket comes tomorrow. I'm gone to put it in and keep my fingers crossed. Best scenario, save $200 on milling of head. Worst scenario, cost of milling and another $75 for second head gasket. I,ll keep everyone posted. And I don't think it was running on motor oil because it shut down after i killed the fuel.

Fingers crossed buddy. Any chance you have KTAC?

 

[MHarryE]

You right gated it, changed oil, etc., before starting it. It started right up but then began running rough, right? I suspect when it was on its side, running very rich, and possibly timing off since none of the engine controls except shutting off the fuel worked, your cylinder head pressures got high enough to stretch the head bolts. Is it possible some felt loose when you removed them? That is a massive amount of coolant yo get into the cylinders assuming you drained everything before removing the head. Have you made the rough check of turning the engine over and verifying all Pistons come to the same height relative to the head? (One or more not coming to the height of the highest would indicate a bent rod or even more serious damage. I'm hoping you get by with only your newly flattened head surface, a new head gasket and head bolts. Since these engines have no sleeves, there is really no way for coolant to get into the cylinders except through the head gasket, and exhaust coming out the radiator confirms that.

 

[rmk700]

Why is the dirt still evenly in the front bucket? Shouldn't it be piled up on the bottom side?

 

[MossRoad]

Could be frozen in there. Its winter somewhere (not here).

 

[skyhook]

When you drained the oil, how much was there and was there anti freeze in it. It does sound like it ran on it's own oil and overheated, to me. Can you remember how long it ran at full throttle. I hope for you its an easy fix, like head gasket...but I wouldn't bank on it.

 

[DrivewayMan]

Did check with straight edge, and it looked good. Found the 70 ft lbs on the net easy enough for the head bolts. But can't find pattern for tighten. Does any body know the pattern?

 

[lennyzx11]

Two stories related to me...

One the farmer grabbed a piece of scrap 2x6 and covered the intake... engine started to loose rpm and finally quit... he said it seemed like forever as the motor raced.

The second is actually quite brilliant and simple... on a construction site a diesel powered pump went into runaway mode... the foreman ran from the job shack with a CO2 fire extinguisher... gave the intake a shot and stopped the motor...

I have a couple of CO2 extinguishers... just would need the presence of mind to react in a split second.

Some equipment has runaway emergency stop like my brother's ancient Mercedes Diesel... it's under the hood and had actuated.

In ref to the CO2 extinguishers...
This is BRILLIANT! I was a mechanic in the army and a common task was setting up the pump and governor on diesels. It happened a lot. We kept a clipboard handy to shove over the air intake.
Buddy once tried to stuff a rag over it but it promptly sucked it in went through the turbo and spit it out like feathers flying from the exhaust pipe.

 

[rbargeron]

Did check with straight edge, and it looked good. Found the 70 ft lbs on the net easy enough for the head bolts. But can't find pattern for tighten. Does any body know the pattern?

See attachment from the L48 WSM -

 

[DrivewayMan]

It felt like thirty, but in real time it was probably 3 to 5 minutes

 

[DrivewayMan]

Thanks for that attachment

 

[Kubota 2350]

It felt like thirty, but in real time it was probably 3 to 5 minutes

That's a long time on a run away, good luck on a fix, and keep us posted on your progress.
Hopefully your insurance will cover the damage

 

[Soundguy]

That's a long time on a run away, good luck on a fix, and keep us posted on your progress.
Hopefully your insurance will cover the damage

extremely long time.. especially without a dry sump oil pump setup.

 

[bellweather]

It states to put it in gear and let out the clutch. I had a friend with a Car 3406 and the ata filled with oil from a leaking turbo seal. Once the oil in the ata got high enough that the engine was able to start pulling it in, it ran away. He put it in gear and let out the clutch and blew the trans. The engine was making so much power on the oil, was no stopping it. Finally threw a rod through the block and that was that.

it states, sometimes it is possible to shut off the engine by putting it in gear and letting out the clutch...

 

[Oldpath05]

Good luck on fixing your tractor, I guess what surprises me the most about this thread is that diesel tractor's may or may not shut off when tipped over. Back in 85 I tipped over a 540 JD skidder twice, cant remember if it shut off it self, or I shut it off, ether way it stopped, got it back on four wheels, waited half hour or so, started it up, smoke a little, then back to hauling wood.
Now I wonder if someone should tip over their L3400 tractor to see if the key will shut it off, so I'll know if I should get a fire extinguisher or not.

 

[ultrarunner]

If you go the first extinguisher route... I think I would avoid dry chemical... just thinking out-loud.

 

[Industrial Toys]

The extinguisher idea sounds good, but many machines have their air intake buried and usually you just give a CO2 extinguisher bursts. You may not be able to spray for long enough to get it to shut off. A chemical extinuisher is probably a really bad idea.

I am surprised that the engine got fuel, at full throttle from the fuel tank. Must have been quite full.

 

[Soundguy]

I'm think g it classically drank oil for a bit, at less while it could before it all ran to the side.

If it ran for 'minutes' run away.. I'd be looking at the bottom end as much as the top end.

One thing I'd do is get head on, fill cooling system, take pan off, then pressure test the cooling system, looking for leaks into the crankcase, out head in/exh ports, or external seam, and valve train.