Flooded Kubota L4300DT
Tom
Join Date: Posts: 1 |
2006-03-31 126940
I have been seeing a lot of equipment coming out from the Hurricane Katrina flood. One piece I am looking at is a Kubota L4300DT, 2002 model. It was totally submerged for approx 24 hours and has not been touched since. What would someting like this be worth? Or would it even be worth messing with?
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Flooded Kubota L4300DT
Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York Pics |
2006-03-31 126944
Junk price. The time frame from the 24 hours under the water and nothing being done since ruins nearly all value of internal parts. ....
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Flooded Kubota L4300DT
Chief
Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 4297 Southwest MiddleTennessee Pics |
2006-03-31 126947
I agree with Art and maybe not even worth the junk price as you have no idea how much damage has been done internally. IF you can get one of these tractors at a good price (read 1/5 to 1/10 of its normal market value) really all you can do is to very thoroughly clean the machine up, drain ALL the oils, remove the injectors and HAND turn the engine over to expell the water and let it set in an enclosed garage or shop with 2 or 3 dehumidifiers going for about a week and then replace ALL the fluids and filters as well as the battery. See if it will start and hope for the best. Expect to encounter a nightmare with the electronics which will be a continuing problem as you use the machine. Not to mention the mold and coorosion problems that will be endless. Don't mean to sound so pessimistic........just want to give you some idea of what you may be getting into. Good luck! ....
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Flooded Kubota L4300DT
tbarnard
Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Virginia |
2006-03-31 126951
Thanks for the input. It does help. I might throw out a low ball price and see what happens. Thanks again. ....
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Flooded Kubota L4300DT
Peters
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 3034 Northern AL Pics |
2006-03-31 126952
Years ago we would recover engines from salt water. We immersed the engine in fresh water and then filled the engine with recycled oil to the top. After I while we would drain it down and start it. Run until warm. Drain and refill the engine. Run again and continue until all the water was removed.
After this time you would need to dismantle the engine, transmission and all the hydraulics completely. This is likely not possible as the cylinders are likely rusted to the sleeves. You can free up cylinders but this takes time and does not always work.
Like Art said I would not give beyond salvage price, for the components which can be salvaged, without a #%&$ load of work. ....
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Flooded Kubota L4300DT
kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina Pics |
2006-03-31 126958
Tom,
My father in law had a gas tractor submerged for about 2 to 3 hours once in fresh water. As soon we got it out we drained and flushed it. It never had time to rust enternally.
That tractor was a pain with water in the gas until he finally replaced the gas tank. Even though it was filled with gas and drained at least 2 if not 3 times.
I would say you can expect strange problems.
Take note, the auto insurance companies are suppose to be scrapping out those flood cars. I agree there is more to a car to be damaged by flooding than most tractors. But they are not suppose to be salvaging any thing. ....
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Flooded Kubota L4300DT
Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999 Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada Pics |
2006-03-31 126960
I had a machine rolled into water (by vandals) some years back.
It was very new, low hours, and was put in only fresh clean water.
After consulting with Kubota's techies, the insurance company wrote me a cheque for a new machine.
I was told Kubota (through the dealer) asked the insurance company for permission to cut a large hole in the block with a cutting torch before sending it for scrap to ensure it never rolled under it's own power again. Parts only.
I don't necessarily agree with that philosophy, but I can certainly understand it. I have flown an airplane that was submerged and restored, a tractor would be no different.
It sure would be a big job though, thousands of man-hours.
Best of luck. ....
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Flooded Kubota L4300DT
kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 5275 South Carolina Pics |
2006-03-31 126962
Tom,
A point here is the lenght of time it has been out of the water. The amount of rusting inside probably would amaze both you and me. I would think 24 hours would be sufficient time to allow water into the complete engine and hyd system. Are you sure no one tried to start it since then? If they have you may have bent and damaged parts. ....
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