Kubota bx1880 (16 Hp diesel) at 7,400 elevation

[dnewton3]

"Turbo it" spill off the lips and onto the shop floor so easily ...
In reality it's probably not worth the effort. And let's realize that not every BITOGer is a metal fabricator in their off hours, or has access to mig welders, etc ...

Here's a few things off the top of my head.
- first, need to source a turbo that would be the right size for the application; probably could pick one from another small diesel application
- Got to rework an exhaust manifold or hope that Kubota made a turbo model of that engine (which I don't think they did, so you're stuck with fabricating an exhaust tract), and then rework the muffler location
- Need to source an intercooler, and then find a place to mount it under that tiny hood (space packaging is at a premium; unlikely to happen)
- need the required piping to/from said intercooler
- need to "tune" the injector pump to the new found atmospheric bounty (this engine is old skool; IDI with prechamber... https://www.engine-specs.net/kubota/d722.html)


Simply put, it's probably more cost effective to buy a larger tractor if more power is required. By the time you spend money on a turbo, all the plumbing, intercooler and injection pump modifications ... well ... all you've got is a Frankenstein tractor that probably won't run as well as if you'd just got a larger one.

There are times when buying more pays back rather than trying to mod yourself into a bad position. IMO, this is one of those times.

 

[350Rocket]

If it has enough power for what your doing then who cares what the dealership says? I'm not sure why nothing could be done about the starting issue?

 

[oil pan 4]

"Turbo it" spill off the lips and onto the shop floor so easily ...
In reality it's probably not worth the effort. And let's realize that not every BITOGer is a metal fabricator in their off hours, or has access to mig welders, etc ...

Here's a few things off the top of my head.
- first, need to source a turbo that would be the right size for the application; probably could pick one from another small diesel application
- Got to rework an exhaust manifold or hope that Kubota made a turbo model of that engine (which I don't think they did, so you're stuck with fabricating an exhaust tract), and then rework the muffler location
- Need to source an intercooler, and then find a place to mount it under that tiny hood (space packaging is at a premium; unlikely to happen)
- need the required piping to/from said intercooler
- need to "tune" the injector pump to the new found atmospheric bounty (this engine is old skool; IDI with prechamber... https://www.engine-specs.net/kubota/d722.html)


Simply put, it's probably more cost effective to buy a larger tractor if more power is required. By the time you spend money on a turbo, all the plumbing, intercooler and injection pump modifications ... well ... all you've got is a Frankenstein tractor that probably won't run as well as if you'd just got a larger one.

There are times when buying more pays back rather than trying to mod yourself into a bad position. IMO, this is one of those times.

I did my first turbo without a welder. I bought a turbo flange off ebay and then made an exhaust manifold adaptor out of a piece of scrap that happened to be the right shape and thickness using a hand drill and hole saw.
Gave a guy $50 to weld it up, that was like 2006 and it's still going. Had an exhaust shop make an exhaust for $300, it was a truck not a tractor.
Everything else is just plumbing did all the fresh air piping with out a welder, just used "turbo kit" pieces and silicone elbows.
It's much easier if you can weld.
I did absolutely zero injector pump modifications or adjustments.
You don't have to use an intercooler but I recommend it. I just looked on ebay and found one about the right shape and size. For my tractor I ended up putting an intercooler for a Toyota MR2 on my little Kubota, it's exceptional overkill as the Kubota is 722cc less than 20hp and the MR2 is 2L and around 200hp.
I don't use a muffler and it's absolutely quieter than when it was non turbo with a muffler. The tight space requirements for the tractor likely will require welding the fresh air pipes especially if you run an intercooler. If Kubota made a turbo version of your tractor then it would be easy.

 

[Redhawk454]

Serious question, how would you guys go about turbocharging such a tiny diesel? I’ve seen those little turbos that can fit in The palm of your hand.

 

[D60]

Serious question, how would you guys go about turbocharging such a tiny diesel? I’ve seen those little turbos that can fit in The palm of your hand.

Dude honestly I don't know and was 50% joking but also ASSumed it has been done. I figured guys on TBN or similar have done it, but I've NEVER looked into it.

I can't even find time to convert mine to a quik-tach bucket system, so something like a turbo conversion would take a decade!

Now I have a leaking FEL hose and I can't even find time to get a new one made up.

If you try this, please post up!!

 

[oil pan 4]

Serious question, how would you guys go about turbocharging such a tiny diesel? I’ve seen those little turbos that can fit in The palm of your hand.

Find a turbo from a similar application and make it fit.
Hopefully there is a turboed version of your tractor or a turbo version of that motor and you can just order most of the parts or at least the major parts.
I used a rh31 series turbo because I knew Kubota and others used that series turbo on a 900cc diesel in a few different applications and figured 900cc is close enough to 722cc.

 

[cptbarkey]

Have @oil pan 4 fab one up. You aren’t too far away. I enjoy NM remote roads myself.

 

[D60]

Have @oil pan 4 fab one up. You aren’t too far away. I enjoy NM remote roads myself.

He mentioned Denver area, so he ain't that close to NM. I'm ~15 miles N of the NM line

The Denver area has gotta have plenty of resources, even for custom-anything I'd think.

 

[KrisZ]

Forget the turbo, it’s a fools errand, may as well get another tractor and sell this one, it will cost less.

But you could look into bigger injectors for it. That would certainly help.

Edit:
This guy mentions fuel adjustment screw on the injection pump. That would be my first choice.
There is also timing adjustment on these.

 

[IndyIan]

Just run it at max rpms, which is probably not much above pto rpm anyways. I suppose you maybe able to tweak something to get another 100rpm or so? See if you can find a hp and torque curve for your tractor to see if running it a bit faster will help much? I run my tractor 100-200 rpm over pto speed with the brush hog just to get a better cut. I will be 80+ years old by the time I get 4000+ hrs on it so I'm not too worried about extra wear.
Also your tractor may be running lean at WO which is lowering hp, getting it at stoich at WO could add a couple hp.
Finally there is propane injection which could add a couple hp too, but that might be a DIY project for an engine this small?

 

[Rand]

Just run it. if its not strong enough sell it and buy a turbo'd model. = best answer.

Those tractors last forever. the whole "suffocating it" line was to sell you a new one.

 

[oil pan 4]

Forget the turbo, it’s a fools errand, may as well get another tractor and sell this one, it will cost less.

But you could look into bigger injectors for it. That would certainly help.

Edit:
This guy mentions fuel adjustment screw on the injection pump. That would be my first choice.
There is also timing adjustment on these.

Too much fuel and it's just rolling coal, wasting fuel, making excessive EGTs.

 

[oil pan 4]

Just run it at max rpms, which is probably not much above pto rpm anyways. I suppose you maybe able to tweak something to get another 100rpm or so? See if you can find a hp and torque curve for your tractor to see if running it a bit faster will help much? I run my tractor 100-200 rpm over pto speed with the brush hog just to get a better cut. I will be 80+ years old by the time I get 4000+ hrs on it so I'm not too worried about extra wear.
Also your tractor may be running lean at WO which is lowering hp, getting it at stoich at WO could add a couple hp.
Finally there is propane injection which could add a couple hp too, but that might be a DIY project for an engine this small?

I tried propane. Water methanol is where it's at if you want more power.

 

[wheelman1991]

In regards to forced induction, check out the YouTube channel robot cantina. He has a series of videos with a three cylinder Kubota with a turbo swapped into a Saturn s series, and supercharged in a Honda insight.

 

[ElectroMechanoMan]

If your tractor does whatever you need to the way it is, run it! It will be over fueled a bit but won’t hurt it. Adding a turbo is possible but I would want someone who really knows what to do add it and tune it. Your best bet if it’s causing issues is to get a tractor that is capable of doing the work you need it for.

 

[Redhawk454]

Will the lean air mixture causes rod knock?

 

[ElectroMechanoMan]

Usually not. It would smoke a bit, and possibly dilute the oil if severe. You’d need to know the altitude to really know how much it would be lean.

 

[dlundblad]

If it no longer suits your needs, I’d unfortunately sell it and get what does. You could turbo it, but there goes your warranty. I’m assuming drivetrain 5-7 years from new?

 

[97prizm]

I own a 2023 Kubota bx1880 that I bought last year in Iowa that I used on our farm that’s at ~800 elevation. I moved back to Colorado and I recently brought my bx1880 back to Colorado in the mountains at 7,400’ elevation.

I noticed it takes a few more seconds to start as if it’s in the negatives with I block heater. I thought the battery was worn from the months of sitting out in Iowa over the winter or mayhaps the starter was just a pos. I went to the local Kubota dealer in Denver and they said it’s very underpowered for that elevation and that they don’t even carry the 1880 in Colorado because of the altitude issue. They also said that my Kubota will experience a significant horsepower loss at 16 hp at 7,400 elevation. They also said that tractor should rly be at 30 hp in the mountains. They told to either run at at Wide open throttle or get a tractor that has More hp as no adjustment can be made since its fuel injected. They also said that in the long term it could increase wear over time at that elevation.

Anyway once my bx1880 is on I don’t notice hp loss or anything but that’s just loader work and I haven’t put the mower on.

Is there anything that can be done to accommodate the engine to higher altitude? Is increased wear a thing with these tiny naturally aspirated displacement diesels at 7,400 elevation?

You supposedly lose 3-4 hp per 1,000 ft gain in elevation then add what pilots call "hot and high" or the issue with Density altitude. Now I'm not too familiar with Kubota electronics or schematics but for many years the only difference between several tractors was a wiring jumper. Is it intercooled/aftercooled? That's an option and upgrading the turbo and wastegate.

 

[97prizm]

I live at 5,050 ft in altitude and on a 90 degree Fahrenheit day the air density is Similar to 7,200 ft.