Warranty issue dispute with Kubota - Advice anyone

[Chewwy]

The sign of a REAL idiot is the person that has the engine get so hot, it quits running, and he looks for a temp gauge to tell him something is wrong!!

So, you keep installing gauges and staring at them! lol

SR

 

[mcfarmall]

Manufacturers could put a level switch in the upper radiator tank and monitor it in conjunction with the typical water jacket temperature sensor, or they could put a few RTD sensors in the block near each cylinder....but at what cost?

 

[Jstpssng]

A lot of high tech suggestions here. Everytime that you add another mechanical or electronic device, you are adding something else to eventually go wrong. A simpler, nearly fool proof method is to check the fluid levels before starting up. I'm not as faithful as I probably should be, but do admit that it's my **-up when things go south.

 

[hawkeye08]

I would like an oil temp sensor on my tractor. It has a dipstick to check level and a pressure gauge (or idiot light). I am guessing that the oil temp went high when it was running with no coolant.

 

[RickB]

A lot of high tech suggestions here. Everytime that you add another mechanical or electronic device, you are adding something else to eventually go wrong. A simpler, nearly fool proof method is to check the fluid levels before starting up. I'm not as faithful as I probably should be, but do admit that it's my **-up when things go south.

Not to mention there are tons of buyers out there that would walk away from a deal and buy a different brand over a $50 difference. We are discussing an economy model here, not a full featured Grand L model.

 

[fried1765]

Absolutely!!!! That instinct has saved me a LOT of money over the years. I am OCD sensitive to the feel and sounds of any machine I am running. Surprisingly, my wife is even more sensitive to it than I. She may struggle to describe to me what she feels or hears but when I investigate I find something wrong.

"instinct" has saved my LIFE!
30,000 hours in airplanes!

 

[Smokeydog]

Being a trained observer, I simply didn’t have enough information about the how the crack happen and comments by the OP to offer a worthwhile opinion as to warranty and/or operator error.
As an engineer I see room for improvement in monitoring the engine operation functions.
As a lifelong multigenerational part time farmer I need equipment to work hard and last.
Our small garden mule was a great worker and instructor if something was wrong. Great incentive to pay attention.
The Tractor already has some annoying features that tries to keep both of us safe. Doesn’t need to be complex. I have had cooling system leaks before and fixed them before toasting an engine. If there was a novel way improving the tractors monitoring systems I would be agreeable to a solution.

 

[ovrszd]

The sign of a REAL idiot is the person that has the engine get so hot, it quits running, and he looks for a temp gauge to tell him something is wrong!!

So, you keep installing gauges and staring at them! lol

SR

I agree.

In most cases, regarding a hot engine, a loud alarm would be the best defense. If I'm busy I rarely look at the gauge and might not see a small red light.

 

[Jstpssng]

I agree.

In most cases, regarding a hot engine, a loud alarm would be the best defense. If I'm busy I rarely look at the gauge and might not see a small red light.

Funny, my old 1984 Kubota had just that although it never went off after I got the worn out radiator neck replaced. Instead of an overflow bottle it had a whistle at the end of the hose, just like a tea kettle.

Of course just like the idiot lights there needed to be coolant for it to work.

 

[4570Man]

Not to mention there are tons of buyers out there that would walk away from a deal and buy a different brand over a $50 difference. We are discussing an economy model here, not a full featured Grand L model.

Exactly. I’ve already mentioned that in this thread already. And this thread actually is a pretty good testament for Kubota. The poor thing was ran without coolant for who knows how long and got so hot it seized multiple times before it finally gave up.