Sad moment on 3010

[centell]

I don't know what happen. It will be three weeks tuesday that I bought 3010 with fel, rotary shredder, finishing mover, box blade. It had just turn 51 hrs service time, when I saw a blue smoke come out of exhaust and looked at the temp. guage, it had pegged all way and could not have went any higher. I did shut engine off right away. Looked at radiator grill for restrictions but could not fine any. I did not hear any detonation from engine, or see any boiling or steaming. Waited twenty minutes, turn switch on, it was three quarters hot. Waited another twenty minutes temp was normal with switch on. Twenty minutes later I started engine it sound ok. I then checked cooling system, could not see any coolant. Put water hose to it, and it leak almost as fast as I added water to it. I checked ground I had covered but did not see any coolant on ground.
But anyway I was clearing trees, brush, with FEL and using back rotary shredder on & off. I had already done tougher work then what I was doing at time. I do know knocking trees with FEL is pretty tought work.
But anyway I was told it has a three year warranty no matter what goes wrong, but hard headed me decided to pulled radiator which there where water leak seems to come from. Pulled the two side panels off, top panel, frt grill and battery. Added more water to radiator, nothing leaks in frt or back of radiator. It all seems to come underneath radiator which I can't see or pinpoint at the present moment. Try taking one out with a FEL on it. But anyway I did not have enough tools to remove the radiator.This all happen at my camp. On a two week vacation from job. Had to leave camp to come and get my tools to finish taking radiator off tomorrow. This all happened late Sunday afternoon. Back home now to pick up more tools and leaving in morning to complete job a one hr. drive one way. If my mistake I pay. I did not see anything that might have went through radiator, but will find out more tomorrow. If factory defect, I will asked them to pay labor and time ,warranty might be voided being I am doing work myself. I don't know but I have to get this mean machine rolling again. I have six pieces of property that I am try to maintain or recliam to chicken trees & brush & weeds. I still love her although she let me down. By the way I forgot to mention her name. I name the new 3010 Clothile. By the way I still don't have not figured out how to pulled the radiator but will find out tomorrow & let you all know. What a vacation. Any help or advice is appreciated.
James

 

[Egon]

I had a somewhat similar experience about a month ago. Pushed some bush piles and got off the tractor to pull out a branch that had got wedged between some hydraulic lines. Noticed coolant leaking on ground and immediately drove tractor several hundred yards to bottom of hill where the trailer was and shut it off. Only drove it as coolant was still leaking. There were visions of $$$$ bills and new rad floating through my mind. When looking a little futher found that the drain cock had been slightly opened by a branch.

Closed it and went to the camper for nerve tonic. Much nerve tonic.

Next morning when all was cool I filled it with water. Started it and found all was well.

Egon

 

[RoyJackson]

"It had just turn 51 hrs service time, when I saw a blue smoke come out of exhaust and looked at the temp. guage, it had pegged all way and could not have went any higher."

Do NOT shut the engine down immediately when this happens!!!

Reduce the RPM to a high idle instead. When you shut down immediately, the engine becomes a heat sink for the coolant that is no longer flowing through the coolant passages.

I expect your manual should address this. It is specified in my JD 670 manual.

 

[frank_f15]

JAMES: 1st of all be sure to read ROYJACKSONS post! sound advice. then i understand your wanting to get to the root of you problem, but perhaps u may have been better off letting the dealer look at it?sometimes dealers will tell u they can't fix it under warrenty cause u mess with it. hope it all works out ok, let us know what the problem was.

 

[cmsedore]

I've often wondered about this advice in the manual. It makes sense to me if there is still coolant present in the system. If there is not (as would be the case with a leak), it seems to me that leaving it running is worse for it than shutting it down.

In cars, it can sometimes be deceiving because some temperature sending units actually require coolant to be present to read accurately--no coolant can mean that the gauge reads lower than it should.

-Chris

 

[centell]

I want to thank each and everyone of you for your reponse. This morning early, I did get rest of my mm tools to finish removing the radiator and took the one hr. drive to camp. Since I am an automotive ASE certified technician and automotive instructor at a community college for last 23 years I felt I knew what I was doing and my dealership people who I have been dealing with since the 60,s were going to take my word for it. But anyway I got it there at 2:30 this afternoon. I showed them that the radiator was cracked in the lower plastice tank left around the lower plastic dowel that sits in an insulated rubber mount on left side sitting in drivers seat. Their first impression was, it was hit, i had ran into something. I then invited mechanic, salesman, parts man and person in charge of waranty to come and look at tractor at camp, forty minute drive from their place to see if i had hit anything. Mention to them, tractor not damaged, no scratches. They took my word for it. I also reminded them the first ten hrs. on tractor the battery hold down had never been installed, tighten down and the two studs had went through the screen grill. When this first happened I removed complete grill and brought it to them and told them what happened. At that time they order frt grill but have not received it yet. I mentioned to them that all my problems I believe stems from a loose battery bouncing around which was on them. When I mentioned this, they agreeded to make the radiator good and reminded me the grill had been ordered. They mentioned three weeks for delivery. I said no way. I want next day air delivery. You pay radiator, I will pay freight. I am in the last few days of vacation, try to reclaim my property to brush, chicken trees. Trying to make new driveway at camp. I also ask if myself doing work would void warranty, I was told no way it would be voided. My only worry now is hoping engine not hurt. I was also told when I purchase tractor I had three yr. warranty no matter what happens. Don't know! Would not like to hire $180.00 an hr. lawyer. But if it happens it happens. Twenty grans, tractor, implements is too rich for my blood. I want the service. TALK LATER. Hope I have not bored anyone. Thanks for any kind of advice.
James

 

[KJN128]

centell got your email address will sende you some information about mine, I do travel that way alot , would luv to stop and have coffee and chat about tractors, I luv mine I just purchased 5 acres and have been doing some bushhogging and clearing, fixing to order a tooth bar and bucket forks for the bucket,,


talk to you later

 

[upgw]

Chris, Amen to that second piece. Had a '72 340 Dodge Demon, temp gauge wouldn't move, we drove round and round, figured it was the thermostat. No heat either, when we stopped, smoke was coming out of the engine between the heads and the block and all along the intake!!! Turns out, it popped out a 'freeze plug' and instantly lost all coolant, and temp sensor went to zero... amazingly, we didn't destroy the motor. I wish my BX2200 had an oil pressure guage and an oil temp guage...

- Patrick W.

 

[centell]

Yes you are right, by the time these idiot lights come on usually the harm is about done. It is always best to have guages if you can put mine to checking them once in a while. This was my problem, i had not looked at guages in a while which i usually do when i am doing heavy work. Tomorrow i receive new radiator,and will install it myself which is alright with the dealer. I hope and pray engine is not damaged. When i noticed guage needle pegged all the way in red. Shut it down immediately. No steaming, boiling, and engine did not detonate. Fluid recovery bottle still full of coolant. I keep my fingers crossed engine not hurt. I will find out tomorrow when i fire her up.
James