Hello new to this site I have an L285 tractor I noticed smoke coming from some type of block on my fire wall when I use my glow plugs changed plugs problem still there so what is device called thanks Chris
Kubota l285
- Thread starter Chris f
- Start date
rbargeron
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L5450, L48, L3250, L345 never enough attachments
Hi - welcome to OTT - Kubota calls the fire wall a shutter plate. It has a fuse box with 4 fuses,
a voltage regulator, and a main fuse (40 amp). The main fuse holder gets corroded
and may start smoking. If it can't be sanded clean it can be replaced with one like this.
The glow plugs get power from the main fuse.
See attached wiring diagram for L345, a similar tractor. Dick B
a voltage regulator, and a main fuse (40 amp). The main fuse holder gets corroded
and may start smoking. If it can't be sanded clean it can be replaced with one like this.
The glow plugs get power from the main fuse.
See attached wiring diagram for L345, a similar tractor. Dick B
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I don't know your tractor so keep that in mind as you read my comments.
Some early generation Kubota's used series wired glow plugs. Some of these used a heavy resistor in addition to the dash indicator mentioned by D2cat. In the ones I know, I this resistor was located inside a metal box in front of the battery. The resistor would get very hot and the metal enclosure was to prevent something from touching it and catching fire
One forum member rebuilt his shorting out resistor using ceramic washers.
The guts looked like this:
If you post some photos of your glow plug wiring, more relevant comments can be made.
Dave
Some early generation Kubota's used series wired glow plugs. Some of these used a heavy resistor in addition to the dash indicator mentioned by D2cat. In the ones I know, I this resistor was located inside a metal box in front of the battery. The resistor would get very hot and the metal enclosure was to prevent something from touching it and catching fire
One forum member rebuilt his shorting out resistor using ceramic washers.
The guts looked like this:
If you post some photos of your glow plug wiring, more relevant comments can be made.
Dave
rbargeron
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L5450, L48, L3250, L345 never enough attachments
Chris, just to be sure, is the "fire wall" you mention the plate mounted behind the engine?
It would help everyone if you could post a picture of the area that's smoking. Dick B
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shootem604
Member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L245DT with Kubota (Arps Model 22) FEL and Kubota B/L4520B (Woods 650) BH
My glow plug indicator hasn't worked since I bought the tractor, but the plugs still work. But on previous tractors I've driven, stuff like sawdust or leaves would sometimes end up inside the indicator and smoulder.
Chris
Although this info is not relevant to your current problem, you might enjoy reading the University of Nebraska performance test of a Kubota L285
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2569&context=tractormuseumlit
Dave
Although this info is not relevant to your current problem, you might enjoy reading the University of Nebraska performance test of a Kubota L285
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2569&context=tractormuseumlit
Dave
Since no one is eagerly jumping in, I will give you my long shot.....
We need more pictures. Of the smoking device up close, the entire both sides of the engine and of all the wiring, a more overall picture of what you posted.
My wild guess is that you have a home made fusible link as I have identified on your photo below.
Don't know what a fusible link is! Here is NAPA's explaaation:
A fusible link acts much like a fuse, only it***8217;s designed to handle a different type of potentially hazardous scenario. These links are actually strands of wire wrapped in a fireproof covering, and are thinner than the wiring harnesses they***8217;re connected to. They are placed in-line between delicate harnesses and large sources of electrical current in your car***8212;between the battery and alternator, for example. These links must transmit high-voltage electricity, but also protect the rest of the electrical system from dangerous spikes that could cause a fire. If there***8217;s a surge, the link actually melts, as its resistance to heat is lower than that of the circuits it***8217;s protecting. This cuts off power while protecting the engine bay from a conflagration, thanks to its fireproof wrapping.
As I study the small insulated wire (my red arrow), it appears to be a solid strand of wire like used in a home.
On any type of car,. truck, tractor, boat, the wiring is stranded not solid. Many strands of small wire wrapped together and then insulated. The stranded wire is better able to withstand the flexing and bending any vehicle imposes. The solid wire, once installed in your home, never moves.
If I am correct and the wire is indeed solid, the fusible link was likely replaced by a previous owner when the original one blew.
You can buy fusible link wire on Amazon. However, you need to do some studying first to determine what size you need. Google is a great resource for this.
Don't just go and put in the proper fusible link as it will likely just blow. We need to fully understand and confirm the wiring of your Glow Plugs and the GP indicator.
This is why more photos are necessary.
I did find a WSM (Workshop Manual on the site below. Unfortunately, the wiring diagram image is very poor.
If you do not have a WSM, this one would be good for you to have.
https://www.manualslib.com/download/1101745/Kubota-L185.html
This week I will see if my very friendly dealer can give me a better WSM.
POST the request photos please.
On Kubota's a bit newer than yours the fusible link looks like this:
Dave
We need more pictures. Of the smoking device up close, the entire both sides of the engine and of all the wiring, a more overall picture of what you posted.
My wild guess is that you have a home made fusible link as I have identified on your photo below.
Don't know what a fusible link is! Here is NAPA's explaaation:
A fusible link acts much like a fuse, only it***8217;s designed to handle a different type of potentially hazardous scenario. These links are actually strands of wire wrapped in a fireproof covering, and are thinner than the wiring harnesses they***8217;re connected to. They are placed in-line between delicate harnesses and large sources of electrical current in your car***8212;between the battery and alternator, for example. These links must transmit high-voltage electricity, but also protect the rest of the electrical system from dangerous spikes that could cause a fire. If there***8217;s a surge, the link actually melts, as its resistance to heat is lower than that of the circuits it***8217;s protecting. This cuts off power while protecting the engine bay from a conflagration, thanks to its fireproof wrapping.
As I study the small insulated wire (my red arrow), it appears to be a solid strand of wire like used in a home.
On any type of car,. truck, tractor, boat, the wiring is stranded not solid. Many strands of small wire wrapped together and then insulated. The stranded wire is better able to withstand the flexing and bending any vehicle imposes. The solid wire, once installed in your home, never moves.
If I am correct and the wire is indeed solid, the fusible link was likely replaced by a previous owner when the original one blew.
You can buy fusible link wire on Amazon. However, you need to do some studying first to determine what size you need. Google is a great resource for this.
Don't just go and put in the proper fusible link as it will likely just blow. We need to fully understand and confirm the wiring of your Glow Plugs and the GP indicator.
This is why more photos are necessary.
I did find a WSM (Workshop Manual on the site below. Unfortunately, the wiring diagram image is very poor.
If you do not have a WSM, this one would be good for you to have.
https://www.manualslib.com/download/1101745/Kubota-L185.html
This week I will see if my very friendly dealer can give me a better WSM.
POST the request photos please.
On Kubota's a bit newer than yours the fusible link looks like this:
Dave
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rbargeron
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L5450, L48, L3250, L345 never enough attachments
Nice to hear my guess was reasonable.
There is still the issue of why the current draw for the GP's is high enough to smoke the insulation on the homemade fuse/link.
Dave
My friendly Kubota dealer checked his WSM database and found no WSM for a L285. He thinks too old.
We found the part with the house wire. It is labelled a fuse holder in the Kubota parts system.. No longer available.
Dave
We found the part with the house wire. It is labelled a fuse holder in the Kubota parts system.. No longer available.
Dave
Chris
You need to continue to investigate why the fuse/fusible link blew in the first place.
Incorrect wiring may not allow the glow plugs to work properly and you might just blow a proper fuse again.
That is why I suggested more pictures
Dave