Kubota B6100E normal operating temperature while mowing

[Hiltu]

My Kubota B6100E with an RC48-62F mower deck operated from a front electric clutch seems to put a large load on the tractor. When engaging the mower the engine bogs pretty hard. Within 10-15 minutes of mowing with some tight turns and short hills, the temp gauge is reading 225-230F. I notice drips of coolant coming from the overflow pipe as well. 5 minutes of idling without the mower engaged drops temps down to 215ish. This seems high to me. Looking for advice and what temp I should be seeing. Thanks

 

[85Hokie]

My Kubota B6100E with an RC48-62F mower deck operated from a front electric clutch seems to put a large load on the tractor. When engaging the mower the engine bogs pretty hard. Within 10-15 minutes of mowing with some tight turns and short hills, the temp gauge is reading 225-230F. I notice drips of coolant coming from the overflow pipe as well. 5 minutes of idling without the mower engaged drops temps down to 215ish. This seems high to me. Looking for advice and what temp I should be seeing. Thanks

You are a little too hot........210 ish would be the hottest I would want to be.

Here are a few steps :

1st - get an infrared temp gun - they are cheap now - less than $20
measure the top neck of the radiator as it is hot after mowing, also
measure the bottom neck ...tractor running......there should be 50-80 d
degree difference between top and bottom.


2nd - clean the radiator - blow/wash all the crud out of the radiator fins, get
it spotless clean.

After cleaning - repeat the test - see if any changes happened.

3rd - flush the radiator with a mild acid (vinegar at 50%) and get it hot,
empty, repeat, empty - flush with water several times. Repeat test
again - WITH STRAIGHT water (distilled is better)

report back all temps.

I hole in the head gasket will heat up the water/antifreeze quickly too.

 

[Hiltu]

Will do. Good excuse to replace both of the original cloth backed hoses as well. Hole in the head gasket will be obvious due to oil and coolant mixing correct?

 

[85Hokie]

Will do. Good excuse to replace both of the original cloth backed hoses as well. Hole in the head gasket will be obvious due to oil and coolant mixing correct?

sometimes......a pin hole will heat slowly - and over a bit OF TIME pressurize the system and not place oil in coolant.

i think/ hope your radiator needs a little TLC

 

[Hiltu]

pull the aluminum sheet with round holes that mounts in front. Found lots of old grass debris between the fins. Drained the coolant, bought distilled water and vinegar and went to harbor freight and got their infrared thermometer. After lunch ill start changing fluids, clean out the debris, mow and get temps.

 

[Hiltu]

While im here, ive used Redlines Water Wetter on my "race" car with good results while running heavy boost. Would Water Wetter benefit my Kubota?


UPDATE:
Ran tractor while mowing with distilled water (about 1/2 gallon) and Vinegar (1 gallon) for 15-20 minutes. Saw no more than 210F. This was after cleaning between the fins and NOT reinstalling the aluminum protective cover. Infrared temp at bottom of radiator were 138F and at the top were 199F. Highest temp on engine at the exhaust manifold was about 230F. For the mower deck, my belt read 137F, most pulleys read 140-150F and one of the idler pulleys at the middle was as high as 162F. I'm happy with the radiator results, but a bit worried about the mower deck. Can anyone confirm mower deck temp numbers?

 

[85Hokie]

While im here, ive used Redlines Water Wetter on my "race" car with good results while running heavy boost. Would Water Wetter benefit my Kubota?


UPDATE:
Ran tractor while mowing with distilled water (about 1/2 gallon) and Vinegar (1 gallon) for 15-20 minutes. Saw no more than 210F. This was after cleaning between the fins and NOT reinstalling the aluminum protective cover. Infrared temp at bottom of radiator were 138F and at the top were 199F. Highest temp on engine at the exhaust manifold was about 230F. For the mower deck, my belt read 137F, most pulleys read 140-150F and one of the idler pulleys at the middle was as high as 162F. I'm happy with the mower deck results, but a bit worried about the mower deck. Can anyone confirm mower deck temp numbers?

Have you greased the snot out of everything on the MMM? The main spindles take a hellva lot of grease!

When you replace you water/antifreeze....use 70-30.....water to antifreeze....
it will cool a little better than 50-50

 

[Hiltu]

I greased them well. One i greased so well that it stopped pushing out the grease and wouldn't spin. I put a pin in the zerk nipple and grease pushed back out. It was bizarre. Its spins freely now. The idler that got stupid hot has its own sealed bearing. Its weird because the bearing ID seems to large for the shaft its on as well. Can't find a diagram for the RC48-62F deck and the RC-48-G deck does not appear to have that idler on it.

 

[D2Cat]

Your B6100 should have a plastic whistle at the end of the overflow hose to give you a warning when you've got an engine running too warm. Just an extra precaution, even if you have temp gauge and infrared in your pocket.

 

[Hiltu]

D2Cat, replaced the overflow hose. The one on it was cut through in a spot but also didn't notice a whistle like device. Ill check again


FINAL UPDATE:
Running about 70/30 water/coolant with distilled water and Case/New Holland heavy duty coolant. Temperature gauge rised slower and got to about 220F and settled at 215F. Previously, i would shut down the mowing deck when temps got to 230F so I can't really say what the max temp was before. Not sure if this is still too high or not. The radiator was about 195-200F at top and 138-140F at bottom. The idler bearing was again 162F. All other mower deck temps were the same as well.