Just bought a Kubota L5450

[Robb Kiker]

Couldn't find any soybean oil. I wondered if any other oil would as well. I will try to find soybean oil this weekend.

The blowby begins with the startup and continues.
haven't notice any oil in the mix. It comes out the breather pipe.

It "may" be less when the engine is throttled up. Seems to have the most when at idle.

Don't really see any other symptoms of engine problems except the excessive blowby. However, at idle it will just about run you off the tractor!

Otherwise the machine seems sound: transmission shifts smoothly, hydraulics work well with no leaks. If I can fix this one issue without major expense, then I can see where this will be a great machine. I like the solid feel of the controls and machine in general,

One more bit of information, the tires are dry rotted and the paint, etc., make it look like the tractor has sat for a long while. More likely the rings have closed up if it has not been used in a long time?

Thanks
Robb

 

[rbargeron]

A compression test would tell you whether the problem is in one cylinder or in all five. Partially stuck sluggish rings are a possibility - especially if it comes and goes.

To reduce the smoke-in-your-face aspect, I'd try a temporary PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) setup. Install a tight-fitting pipe nipple in the intake tube (in the flexible hose near its connection to the intake manifold) and connect the breather pipe there. By bringing the blow-by back in downstream of the air filter any suspended fuel or oil droplets will get recycled without fouling the air filter. Running this way may eventually sludge up the intake path - but hopefully if there are stuck rings they will free up running veggie oil. If there's too much blow-by for the engine to run, then you could just run a vent tube up beside the exhaust stack to route the blow-by up and away. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Robb Kiker]

Ran the tractor some more today. No blowby on startup!! Idled for about 5 minutes then blowby started again. Ran it for about 30 minutes to work more vegetable oil thru the system.

I will let you know as changes occur or solutions present themselves....

Thanks Again
Robb Kiker

 

[Robb Kiker]

This is the promised update.

I have run the tractor for 5+ hours on pure corn, canola, and soybean oil with no change in the blowby.

I am concerned the engine is history.

In this thought process, I have started looking replacements. I found a dealer with several F2803s he purchased from a bankrupt trucking company. The engines have between 600 and 1000 hrs per unit. They were used as power units for reefer trailers. He will take $2500.00. My concern is that the engines are rated at 47HP.

I have noted F2803s listed as F2803DI; F2803EA; F2803LEA, etc. The engine in my L5450 is listed as a F2803DI rated at 59HP.

Does anyone know if these series are just the difference in the fuel systems? If I buy the lesser rated engine, can I bring it up to 59HP with installation of my fuel injection system?

Being somewhat familiar with Cat and Detroit engines, many times the internal parts are the same, the power rating is just the type and size of injection systems. Does this apply to Kubota tractor engines?

Thanks for all the help
Robb Kiker

 

[rbargeron]

I'm guessing the DI means direct injection - and to swap your injection system may mean swapping the head. If you are going to do that much wrenching, it might be less work to fix the engine you have. Maybe it needs liners, pistons, rings, etc. Might be good to price out a bottom rebuild before investing in an engine that isn't a close match ?

 

[Robb Kiker]

Hi fellas,

Thought I would give you an update. Going to have to rebuild the engine. Here is something interesting...... Kubota only sells the "std" overhaul kit, therefore, I assumed it would be a sleeve engine. However, there are no cylinder liners... It will have to be line bored with liners made to order so I can use the std kit. Gonna be expensive but like someone here said, i will have a new engine in a great tractor.

Regards
Robb

 

[Sumner Sapough]

Hi fellas,

Thought I would give you an update. Going to have to rebuild the engine. Here is something interesting...... Kubota only sells the "std" overhaul kit, therefore, I assumed it would be a sleeve engine. However, there are no cylinder liners... It will have to be line bored with liners made to order so I can use the std kit. Gonna be expensive but like someone here said, i will have a new engine in a great tractor.

Regards
Robb

And after the several years from the most recent post this tractor has been rebuilt, works hard and continues to do what is asked of it no matter the situation. Impressed me so much that I, a John Deere man, has considered an Orange Machine myself. Best regards to you Mr. Robb and all your tractor endeavors.