L185 2wd smoking after warmup

finishguy · Feb 21, 2016

I have a L185 that I picked up in september of last year, It runs good but after it warms up it smokes it has 1400 hours on it. So I am thinking the rings might be worn out or valve guides. I changed the oil 2 times since I picked it up just to help clean the crap out of it. Any Ideas?

100 td · Feb 21, 2016

My thoughts! Work it and watch the oil level and see how much it uses over "X" hours then work out if it's worth pulling apart to fix, unless it's that bad you can't breath! Depends on how many hours per week/year you'll be putting on it and whether it still has enough grunt as it is to do the work you want it for.

finishguy · Feb 21, 2016

I used it to grade the driveway and it was puffing pretty good. It has good power and runs great.

Wagtail · Feb 22, 2016

What colour is the smoke and is it constant?

Kevinc2004 · Feb 22, 2016

It could be the injectors are worn..allowing too much fuel into the cylinders..

Baby Grand · Feb 22, 2016

Kevinc2004 said:
It could be the injectors are worn..allowing too much fuel into the cylinders..

^ ... running too rich ... could it also be a gunked up air filter not letting it breathe?

finishguy · Feb 22, 2016

When I bought the tractor first thing was to change the fluids and filters. I thought about the injectors and I wanted to get them tested but the place wants more to test them than new ones are on ebay. The smoke is a light bluish gray-white smoke. I thought the head gasket might be bad but there are no leaks, the radiator has no bubbles in it no coolant in the exhaust or oil.

I have been slowly fixing this tractor up. I rebuilt the steering box with a new sector shaft, steering shaft ,bearings seals.

Wagtail · Feb 23, 2016

finishguy said:
When I bought the tractor first thing was to change the fluids and filters. I thought about the injectors and I wanted to get them tested but the place wants more to test them than new ones are on ebay. The smoke is a light bluish gray-white smoke. I thought the head gasket might be bad but there are no leaks, the radiator has no bubbles in it no coolant in the exhaust or oil.

That colour of smoke could indicate a bit of water getting into the mix somehow, although you said that you changed the fuel filter.

Agvg · Feb 23, 2016

Work it hard, very hard for hour or two.
At 1400h it should be barely broken in if its had a minimum of maintenance.

finishguy · Feb 24, 2016

The tractor had been sitting around before I picked it up, would that make the rings stick? (I was reading that could happen) I could flush the engine or is that a NO NO?

dgraves49 · Feb 24, 2016

finishguy said:
The tractor had been sitting around before I picked it up, would that make the rings stick? (I was reading that could happen) I could flush the engine or is that a NO NO?

I would just use a quality oil and run it for a while. I have known people in the past that used the 5 minute oil flush added to their oil and ended up spinning their cam bearings.

finishguy · Feb 24, 2016

dgraves49 said:
I have known people in the past that used the 5 minute oil flush added to their oil and ended up spinning their cam bearings.

I surely dont want that to happen!

repete · Feb 24, 2016

The reply by Agvg above would be my recommendation as well. Be sure the thermostat is functioning correctly and make it work and get hot while the oil in the crankcase is fresh. Fully warm then a good workout.

kuboman · Feb 25, 2016

As said before work it hard and make sure it runs up to temperature, also give it a heavy dose of fuel conditioner. Make sure it has fresh clean diesel.

finishguy · Feb 25, 2016

Ok, I will drain the diesel that is in the tank, It was full when I bought it and I have not used it all it. I thought It did not have a thermostat? I will check again.

kuboman · Feb 25, 2016

You are right it uses a siphon system. So you are good that way. Work it hard.

repete · Feb 26, 2016

finishguy said:
Ok, I will drain the diesel that is in the tank, It was full when I bought it and I have not used it all it. I thought It did not have a thermostat? I will check again.

You may be correct on the thermostat. Make sure the screen for the radiator is clean and you have good air flow through the radiator before you work it hard.

finishguy · Feb 27, 2016

I drained the diesel out of the tractor today, The diesel was brown? and smelled like oil from the furnace. So I put a little clean diesel in it and dumped that. I put more clean diesel in it and ran it a little. I did not get any diesel conditioner today but I will go to napa tomorrow for some.

finishguy · Feb 28, 2016

I used the L185 today to just pickup driveway stone after raking, I noticed less smoke after 10 minutes or so. So could it be the crappy fuel I took out? The clean diesel was almost clear. I also put some Stanadyne diesel conditioner in the diesel.