Melting hood update

[bouvier]

I'm on my third hood. This time they added a lower sheet metal shroud below the original one. .... and a new hood. Both of my headlamps were blown out which may support the idea that it's a place where hear collects. Prior to this replacement there was a heavy coating of carbon collected under the hood and along the vent path. The inside of the tail pipe was not coated, so the theory was that it was from the melting black grill. The new hood has a larger opening and shows no sign of melting (after about 10 hours) but I noticed a light coating of soot. My guess is that this deposit is from exhaust gas, that still passes under the hood. FYI... no apparent oil consumption increase and all intake vents appear clean. I do run the machine at full RPM and plan to reduce that by a notch or two to see if this changes things.

Bouvier

 

[JSharp]

I never saw any "carbon" under the hood of mine, just the normal dirt that I blow out after every use.

I've run my 2554 about 10 hours since they installed the longer heatshield and the new hood. No problems so far. I have about 19 months and another 75 hours left on the warranty. I'm sure I'll know before it runs out if the fix was successful...

 

[JTKub]

I know we've kicked this around before, but adding more heat shields seems like a bandaid patch IMO. There's still way too much heat being held in a small area. CC needs to address the exhaust system. This is not a hood issue, it's an exhaust system problem. Most plastic hooded LT/GT's have the exhaust system below the frame. IMO, that's what CC needs to do. Either that or put a big cylinder style muffler along the side. Down low under the frame is tough on the 2K series because of the guide pulleys for the deck drive being in the way. How about a cool Yanmar or Kubota style exhaust stack? That would be sweet and vastly eliminate the under-hood heat problem. Cool marketing tool too. Gives them a 'big tractor' look.

Joel

 

[Fordlords]

Nope, they won't put on any type of external exhaust system. That's because junior will burn his hand, and dad will throw a multi-million dollar lawsuit at them. Those Cubs need a larger muffler as evidenced by the shut down popping- the exhaust system runs too hot and faces downward. But with the narrow, tapering hood there isn't room under there to put a bigger muffler. In order to get things to work right with te narrow hood line, they need an exhaust system like that used on the Kubota G series.

-Fordlords-

 

[micman32]

I know we've kicked this around before, but adding more heat shields seems like a bandaid patch IMO. There's still way too much heat being held in a small area. CC needs to address the exhaust system. This is not a hood issue, it's an exhaust system problem. Most plastic hooded LT/GT's have the exhaust system below the frame. IMO, that's what CC needs to do. Either that or put a big cylinder style muffler along the side. Down low under the frame is tough on the 2K series because of the guide pulleys for the deck drive being in the way. How about a cool Yanmar or Kubota style exhaust stack? That would be sweet and vastly eliminate the under-hood heat problem. Cool marketing tool too. Gives them a 'big tractor' look.

Joel

I tend to agree with you Joel. The muffler on the newer Cubs needs to be moved.

Michael

 

[JTKub]

Now that you mention it, I've seen the exhaust system on the Kohler equipped G-series Kubotas and it doesn't look all that different than the new CC 2K series setup. IIRC, same outlet position and a very similar heat-shield 'box' around the whole thing. It would be nice to have a side/side comparison for reference.

Joel

 

[JTKub]

Nope, they won't put on any type of external exhaust system. That's because junior will burn his hand, and dad will throw a multi-million dollar lawsuit at them...

I'm sure that's a consideration, but off hand, I know of one current model gasoline powered GT with an external exhaust, so it certainly can be done. The Toro/WH GT315-8: Toro - Homeowner Lawn & Garden Tractors

Joel

 

[JSharp]

Now that you mention it, I've seen the exhaust system on the Kohler equipped G-series Kubotas and it doesn't look all that different than the new CC 2K series setup. IIRC, same outlet position and a very similar heat-shield 'box' around the whole thing. It would be nice to have a side/side comparison for reference.

Joel

It appears to be a Kohler supplied standard muffler on the Cub, possibly with a modified exit point. That might explain its similarity to the part on the Kubota.

I'm sure that's a usable muffler in free air. Not so good under a low sloping hood...

 

[JTKub]

It appears to be a Kohler supplied standard muffler on the Cub, possibly with a modified exit point. That might explain its similarity to the part on the kubota...

That's what I'm thinking JS. It possible the LT/GT manufacturers want to cut cost by having the engine + exh shipped as one unit. Prior years, the exhaust had to be sourced and installed by whoever assembled the tractor.

Joel