Harvey - Flood water - Kubota L2800

[RBD]

I will be returning today to see if the water has receded enough to begin cleanup after Harvey. When we evacuated, the water was up to the exhaust pipe on my Kubota. I think it may have risen 4-6" more. Is there anything special I should do before trying to start it? I really hope to be able to use it to haul spoiled food and pull out wet carpet. Thank you in advance.

RBD
Hardin County, Texas

 

[Texasmark]

I will be returning today to see if the water has receded enough to begin cleanup after Harvey. When we evacuated, the water was up to the exhaust pipe on my Kubota. I think it may have risen 4-6" more. Is there anything special I should do before trying to start it? I really hope to be able to use it to haul spoiled food and pull out wet carpet. Thank you in advance.

RBD
Hardin County, Texas

First thing is drain and replace all fluids and filters....engine oil, main sump, front axle, fuel. Wouldn't worry about coolant for the engine.

Get a hair dryer and disconnect all electrical plugs and dry them out including the key switch internally and the alternator and the starter.

Pull the injectors and the valve cover and oil everything up good with motor oil....the hand held pump oil can works great for this. Disconnect the fuel line at the inlet to the pump. Squirt oil in the cylinders.

Then a new battery and roll it over good letting fuel expel from the pump inlet line and cylinders lube up. Reconnect line to pump and reinstall injectors. Put the valve cover back when you feel it's appropriate.

Roll it over and bleed injectors and maybe fuel filter if no pressure to injectors. While you are doing that see if it will start. Don't run the starter too long. Put your hand on it and check for heat. If hot, let it cool down and then get back at it. May have to recharge battery a couple of times before you get there.

Once I get an engine running, I like to go back and crack the fuel line to each injector ensuring that I got all the air out and that the engine responds to the loss of fuel pressure on that cylinder.

Hope for the best. Pricy but oil is cheap. After you get it running for an hour or so, redo the oil and hydraulic filters and fluids in engine and main sumps and front axle.


Sorry for your loss. Grew up down there and seems like every spring we had minor floods S. of Houston.....streets flooded in the subdivisions so you couldn't get out. There was always the threat of a hurricane.....just if and when and how much. When I turned 18 I joined the AF and left, never to return except to visit family.

 

[teg]

Is it Hydro or gear??? ...gear is better for this... to be able to pull it to make sure water is not in the pistons. Really depends on how high the water got!!

I would not just change the oil for the sake of possible contamination.... Check the oil for milky color.

Your breather for the hydro-oil is under the seat. Not sure about the motor oil... make sure the water did not reach the air filter.

I would check oil several times for the next few hours for contamination....

 

[TractorGuy]

Call your insurance company to see what all is insured or covered. If the tractor is covered they would most likely total it.

If the tractor is on your nickle you will need to drain everything. Engine, hydraulic, and fuel. As mentioned make darn sure there is no water in cylinders when you turn it over. Dry all the electrical you can get to with a heat gun from a safe distance or hair dryer. Pull air filter and dry out.

The water should have settled to the bottom. If the budget is super tight you might get away with draining the water and topping up as needed. Big emphasis on "MIGHT".

 

[Thomas]

As other said...air compressor try blow out hard places.

 

[crazyal]

I would start with looking at the high water mark on the tractor. You should be able to see where the water reached and hopefully it's below some of the key parts like the air filter and the head. If the air filter got wet remove it and let it dry. I would replace it but getting a new one may take so time. Then drain the oil and look for water. Since you haven't started it the oil and water will not have mixed yet so it should be easy to see any water. If no water comes out you are in pretty good shape. If the water didn't look like it reached the head then before removing the injectors I would try to turn the engine over by hand with a socket. It will turn hard but not impossible. If you can't turn the engine by hand or if the water mark looks like it did reach the head then I would remove the injectors. If there's water in either the air filter or cylinders I would remove what ever air ducts you can and check for signs of water. After changing all the oils and you get it running again I would use it enough to get it up to temperature and then check the oil. If it looks anything other than what you would expect then I would change it again. Usually engine oil will turn a milky color when water mixes with it.

Stay safe and know we are thinking of you, wishing you well in this time of crisis.

 

[finn1]

I'd recommend calling your insurance agent before you do anything else.

The tractor is likely considered a total loss and this will be your best chance at getting a reasonable settlement.

Flushing, draining, and cleaning may get 90% of the contaminants out, but the remaining 10% will still be there for you to deal with in the future. Maybe next week, next month, or next year.

It may be a good time to start fresh, as you likely have other things to keep busy with.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

 

[RBD]

Thank you for all the replies. Just got back from my house, which is still an island, surrounded by trailers, vehicles and tractor. I had moved all as high as I could and water line was only up to the bottom third of back axle hub and middle or bottom of front axle hub of the tractor. I think tractor is ok. Going to let insurance company know and see what they want to do, like inspect it. Again, thank you to all. Please pray for many, many Southeast Texans who have lost all.

 

[teg]

The tractor is designed not to leak fluids... thus unlikely that high water will get into the tractor... unless it breaches air vents. Been deep in mud and no problems... Good luck and God bless...

 

[JRobyn]

Only up to wheel hubs, you SHOULD be fine. It would be fairly quick and no cost to do like CrazyAl says and put a socket and a pull-handle on the main crank pulley bolt to turn it over one full turn by hand just to be CERTAIN.

There are many praying for y'all, me among them.