Need help - left hood open, rain...

SamandLinda

New member

Equipment
Kubota B3030tractor
Jun 8, 2021
5
0
1
Upper Peninsula, MI
Left the tractor hood open (mowed the grass and cleaned the screens, left hood open to let tractor cool down, forgot to close the hood) and rain got in. When tried to start, small amount of white smoke came from under the front hood (on top, in front of the instrument panel). on instrument panel when trying to start tractor, 2-3 lights appeared, disappeared sporadically, then tractor started but third light on instrument panel stayed on. Could not turn tractor off, had to disconnect from battery. Opened hood and the wires under the instrument panel were melted. 1) does rain hurt the wiring? 2) where we live, there is only 1 Kubota repair shop (40 mi away- $$$ to get it transported to it) - are there any wiring diagrams for this model (B2150) tractor so we can try to fix the wiring?
 

RCW

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imnukensc

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BX2380
Sep 10, 2015
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No, rain doesn't hurt the wiring, but it can get into electrical components that then short out and melt the wiring and damage other electrical components.
 

GreensvilleJay

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Rain DOES hurt wiring ! The water will 'wick'(travel) beside the individual wires in a cable(say 7 strands = 6 gaps). corrodes the copper, then the 'fun' begins. Unless the wire at the crimp is soldered, water WILL go into the wire...
I'd get a fan close to it and start blowing LOTS of air to dry out the poor lil beastie.....keeping battery disconnected of course. At least a day(24hrs), more if humid, move fan around ,2-3 places to get dry air everywhere. Once water gets into stranded wire, you really need to replace 100% of it. water 'wicks' it's way down ,beside the conductors, turns copper into copper oxide(green color), then more bad things happen. Yes, it could take a few days,weeks or months BUT it will happen.
You can try patching the wiring, go at least 4-6" from any exposed end,use butt splice, heat shrink and patience. Hopefully water did NOT get into instrument panel. if it did, remove, use blowdryer(warm NOT hot).leaving ondash of closed car to 'bake' the moisture out will help.
 

Henro

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B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
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Disconnecting the battery shut the engine off?

Odd, as a diesel doesn't require electricity to keep running....
On my BX2200 the run coil of the fuel cut off solenoid must be energized for the engine to keep running...perhaps her BX has the same setup...
 

Henro

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B2910, BX2200, KX41-2V mini Ex.
May 24, 2019
5,116
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North of Pittsburgh PA
Rain DOES hurt wiring ! The water will 'wick'(travel) beside the individual wires in a cable(say 7 strands = 6 gaps). corrodes the copper, then the 'fun' begins. Unless the wire at the crimp is soldered, water WILL go into the wire...
I'd get a fan close to it and start blowing LOTS of air to dry out the poor lil beastie.....keeping battery disconnected of course. At least a day(24hrs), more if humid, move fan around ,2-3 places to get dry air everywhere. Once water gets into stranded wire, you really need to replace 100% of it. water 'wicks' it's way down ,beside the conductors, turns copper into copper oxide(green color), then more bad things happen. Yes, it could take a few days,weeks or months BUT it will happen.
You can try patching the wiring, go at least 4-6" from any exposed end,use butt splice, heat shrink and patience. Hopefully water did NOT get into instrument panel. if it did, remove, use blowdryer(warm NOT hot).leaving ondash of closed car to 'bake' the moisture out will help.
BUT...these things do not happen overnight after one rain storm...
 
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RCW

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BX2360, FEL, MMM, BX2750D snowblower. 1953 Minneapolis Moline ZAU
Apr 28, 2013
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Chenango County, NY
On my BX2200 the run coil of the fuel cut off solenoid must be energized for the engine to keep running...perhaps her BX has the same setup...
Very true - - I wasn't thinking of a stop solenoid requiring voltage.
 

GeoHorn

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WD40 sprayed on terminals and junctions can help dry-out the wiring harness.
Quit leaving your hood open in some mis-guided belief it’s good for helping cool down your engine.
It isn’t. If the heat from a recently-run/non-running engine were harmful then the heat from running it should be even-worse.
(The greater hazard is the heat/cool/heat/cool CYCLE in a humid environment such as outdoors. The engine internals condense water on inside surfaces every time it cools down outdoors.)
 
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GreensvilleJay

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BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
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Greensville,Ontario,Canada
re: BUT...these things do not happen overnight after one rain storm...
what happens ,is over time, the wire will corrode from the inside out , and all manner of 'weird' issues can happen. A lot depends on the current going through the wires and what they're for. Faulty temperature and fuel levels can happen. problems with the CANbus interface, etc. These don't happen 'overnight',but will occour. One reason to inspect very,very carefully any 'salvaged' car that's been underwater or in a hurricane.....
 

JenniferKubotaM62

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M62 TLB, Bobcat HD Grapple, Bobcat Auger, Skeleton Bucket, Forks, WB Ripper
Nov 14, 2019
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www.jenniferbond.com
Rain DOES hurt wiring ! The water will 'wick'(travel) beside the individual wires in a cable(say 7 strands = 6 gaps). corrodes the copper, then the 'fun' begins. Unless the wire at the crimp is soldered, water WILL go into the wire...
Absolutely agree..... have been a licensed ham since 1986 and also did a stint as a heavy duty mechanic (in British Columbia, wet roads, salt etc) and my pet peeve was newbies who'd test electrical systems by using a pinpoint probe and clipping to ground then piercing the wire to test, we knew damn well that in 6 months time post winter salt covered roads we'd come back and find the entire wire had corroded out due to their stupidity....

Jen
KB6JEN/VE7OTH

1623431266214.png
 

JenniferKubotaM62

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M62 TLB, Bobcat HD Grapple, Bobcat Auger, Skeleton Bucket, Forks, WB Ripper
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WD40 sprayed on terminals and junctions can help dry-out the wiring harness.
Yup, a lot of people have no idea that the WD in WD40 stands for Water Displacement. ;)


Jen
 

SamandLinda

New member

Equipment
Kubota B3030tractor
Jun 8, 2021
5
0
1
Upper Peninsula, MI
Thanks to all replies to this.

Am still investigating. The timeframe for leaving the hood open was 1 night - there was a rainstorm but I don't believe it was heavy nor windy. Anyway - one suspicion: last Sept took it into to certified Kubota dealer (only one within 100 miles of us) and they had to replace the starter switch....(at that time the tractor wouldn't start, nor were there any lights, that's why we had it towed to the Kubota dealer to get fixed - battery was good).... By phone now, they say that there is a 6 mo warranty on that switch.... that's why we're trying to fix this ourselves. I did find a Kubota starter switch to purchase online but don't know what to call the wiring piece that connects to the starter switch (to purchase that - that is where the melting occurred, right at the connection there, the connector of the starter switch to ???). Any help on a part number for that wiring?? Thank you all again for your help.