Loader Flipped my L48 Kubota

DrivewayMan · Feb 3, 2016

Flipped my L48. Motor did just the opposite of what I thought it would. Instead of shutting off, it went full throttle red line and blow huge black cloud. Throttle back, no help. Killed ignition, no help. Finally shut off fuel supply and shut down motor. Never occurred to me in my full blown panic to lower stabilizer to up right. Duh!

Up righted, let sit, drained and filled oil, and started. Runs a little rough, got hot quick, and blows exhaust out radiator. Filled radiator, tried to crank over, and Hydra-locked right up with out even a full crank. Pulled the head and all four cylinders had liquid in them. No cracks or holes in block or head. Head gasket has no obvious signs of failure but I'm hoping that's what it is. Never got to do compression test because once it hydra-locked, i wanted to get head off to get that liquid out.

Why did it red line like that? Throttle system is fine with no linkage breakage. Is there any where else the water could come from other than head gasket or cracks? she seemed to fill up and hydra-lock really quick. And has any body else had this problem.

Thanks in advance for any help.

DrivewayMan · Feb 3, 2016

Liquid in my block

.

jeff9366 · Feb 3, 2016

What is the background to your L48 toppling to its side?

Soundguy · Feb 3, 2016

remember.. diesels are fuel driven air pumps.

if it has air and fuel.. it runs.

you didn't shut air off, and it has an engine filled with oil

oil is fuel....

i wish you good luck.. but.. if you get out with only head work I'd go buy a lottery ticket...

5030 · Feb 3, 2016

+1. You have other issues besides a head gasket.

groundcover · Feb 3, 2016

She was running on motor oil , a run away diesel. Some scary videos on Utube . Had a diesel genset do that when the oil was over filled, plenty exciting!
A little late but if the injectors were pulled out prior to cranking it may have cleared the liquid in the top of the pistons. Good luck !

Luke'sScreenName · Feb 3, 2016

Im no expert but search 'run away' diesel.

Rustyiron · Feb 3, 2016

Hey, welcome to TBN, too bad it was "under these circumstances"
I hope your repairs are cheap and soon. When the smoke has cleared, let us know how this happened on flat ground, and yes chit happens, real fast. No judgement on the "incedent" from me.

lakeside · Feb 3, 2016

Diesels will run away till they either run out of fuel, air or destroy themselves. They will even suck up engine oil to keep running and the only was to stop a runaway is to choke off the air to the engine. Easy to say here, but maybe not so easy when you have a runaway on your hands.

Placing a strong obstruction across the air intake sealing off the air should stop a runaway. A rag won't likely work but it can't do any harm. Years ago, I was watching an instructor show some students how to rebuild a diesel engine. He had a clip board who's only use was to seal off the air intake before an engine ran away. The problem we have is

A: realizing the engine is actually running away;

B: finding a suitable air block; and

C: having the intestinal fortitude to open the hood on a roaring engine.

I suggest anyone working on a diesel engine have a air blocker nearby. Sorry that won't likely help someone like the OP here who flipped his tractor.

Industrial Toys · Feb 3, 2016

I flipped my little Steiner last summer. Yes, it's a very stressfull experience. Despite getting the thing shut off quite quickly, it was amazing how disorienting it is, just finding the key.

Hope repairs and downtime arn't too expensive.

My Kubota loader actually has the key operated fuel solenoid, plus an old school, emergency pull to shut off knob which is kind of nice to know.

dodge man · Feb 3, 2016

I hate to pile on, but there is a real good chance you bent a rod in your engine. Best not to start an engine that has been on its side without pulling either the glow plugs and/or injectors to eject any fluid that was in the tops of the cylinders. If your lucky all you did was lift the head which allowed coolant in. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

ultrarunner · Feb 3, 2016

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.

Soundguy · Feb 3, 2016

groundcover said:
She was running on motor oil , a run away diesel. Some scary videos on Utube . Had a diesel genset do that when the oil was over filled, plenty exciting!
A little late but if the injectors were pulled out prior to cranking it may have cleared the liquid in the top of the pistons. Good luck !

pulling injectors wouldn't have fixed water in the crankcase...

there is a problem other than the runaway.

rbargeron · Feb 3, 2016

I'm wondering if something snagged or blocked the throttle linkage as the machine went up on its side, speeding it up. The fact that closing the fuel valve eventually shut it down might mean it wasn't a classic runaway running on just crankcase oil. Running up on it's side the oil pump would lose pressure. The pistons would still be tossing oil around in there and there would be low load - so it might survive a while. The head could get hot if the water pump stopped circulating on its side?? I'm grabbing straws here. With VERY good luck there's a chance surfacing the head and a new gasket will fix it. Hoping for the best. Dick B

groundcover · Feb 3, 2016

I was thinking the water and other damage came after the righting and start up.

LiveRoll · Feb 3, 2016

Due to my work in the oilfields, it is mandatory to have a manual air shut off installed onto any and all diesel engines that have the potential to be working in an atmosphere of anywhere gas vapours can be discharged, to specifically shut engine down by blocking any and all incoming air or vapours. They are installed in-line, generally between air filter and intake on tractor and are cable actuated. they aren't cheap, but perhaps they do pay for themselves when required in situations.

Cheers

Roger

DrivewayMan · Feb 3, 2016

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.

orangeandgreen · Feb 3, 2016

Get a straight edge and check the deck and the head. Try to slip a feeler gauge under the straight edge at various locations to get an idea of how out of flat if any.