motionclone
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L345DT with Lp mower, forks and grapple thumb, Bobcat 337 Midi Ex
Solution to Hard Starting When Cold
- Thread starter 200mph
- Start date
What a great write up! Electronics baffle me at the moment, but your explanations are very clear, and the pictures helped a ton. Thank you for doing this.
Thanks for letting me know you found it useful.
I do believe Kubota could have been more forthcoming about this issue if they were truly customer centric.
This is an amazing write-up and is the kind that will help users of this forum for a long time. I am absolutely dreadful with things of an electrical nature (I've a mech engr degree) and usually give up early in any electrical troubleshooting process.
I had the same problem with my L3940 and the tech said there was a tech bulletin on the issue or something along those lines.
Either way, thanks again!
I had the same problem with my L3940 and the tech said there was a tech bulletin on the issue or something along those lines.
Either way, thanks again!
For what it is worth, relay #2 (not Glow Plug Relay) was replaced with the 80 Amp relay to prevent any potential issues with the poor terminal fit on the power side of relay.
The relay socket is the same type used on the glow plug circuit utilizing the larger 3/8" tabs. Didn't want to have the same issue of poor limited current carrying ability on this circuit. I'm not exactly certain the name of this circuit, but it does prevent the tractor from starting.
The stock 40 amp relay with 1/4" tabs was very easy to remove from the socket and was pleased at the increased force required to insert the 80 amp relay with 3/8" tabs. Hopefully increased force will correlate to better electrical continuity.
For the record I left the glow plug as is. It is starting with ease in low temperatures and I didn't want to go through the hassle of disassembling the socket again to remove the paper clip shims.
Pictures provided for reference.
The relay socket is the same type used on the glow plug circuit utilizing the larger 3/8" tabs. Didn't want to have the same issue of poor limited current carrying ability on this circuit. I'm not exactly certain the name of this circuit, but it does prevent the tractor from starting.
The stock 40 amp relay with 1/4" tabs was very easy to remove from the socket and was pleased at the increased force required to insert the 80 amp relay with 3/8" tabs. Hopefully increased force will correlate to better electrical continuity.
For the record I left the glow plug as is. It is starting with ease in low temperatures and I didn't want to go through the hassle of disassembling the socket again to remove the paper clip shims.
Pictures provided for reference.
Attachments
At a minimum, I'd remove the relay to see if the mismatch terminal sizes exist. If so, try replacing the relay with one's with the larger 3/8" terminals.
If your tractor takes more than 2 revolutions of the engine before it starts when cold it's worth investigating. My tractor starts like a modern gas motor in that it fires within 1/2 to 1 revolution of the motor.
If you try it, please report back with what you find.
Kudos for your efforts. you followed the proper diagnostic procedures and did not do the too common 'throw money and parts'.
Sadly, may components are sized to barely get the job done and not sized to be robust and more than adequate. Pennies on the manufacturing side.
Good job!
Sadly, may components are sized to barely get the job done and not sized to be robust and more than adequate. Pennies on the manufacturing side.
Good job!
So when I pulled mine apart my male prongs for the Relay we're all 3/8 tabs. I changed it anyways I found one at Princess Auto for $4 and the tractor starting immediately. Thanks for the help on this it drove me nuts all winter. To think it was all for a $4 relay!
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Mcgoo,
Thanks for reporting back what you found!
If anyone's tractor takes more than a revolution of the motor to start after letting the glow plug cycle it's calculated time, I'd change the relay or at least investigate.
These glow plugs reach a very high temperature in seconds when supplied with a strong high amp circuit, resulting in very fast starts (minimal engine rotation).
Do you have the relay part number to share with others?
Thanks for reporting back what you found!
If anyone's tractor takes more than a revolution of the motor to start after letting the glow plug cycle it's calculated time, I'd change the relay or at least investigate.
These glow plugs reach a very high temperature in seconds when supplied with a strong high amp circuit, resulting in very fast starts (minimal engine rotation).
Do you have the relay part number to share with others?
Sounds like you've covered the fuel and glow plug issue.
What kind of oil are you using?
Assume since it's a cold weather problem you may have a slow turning engine which will be harder to start.
What kind of oil are you using?
Assume since it's a cold weather problem you may have a slow turning engine which will be harder to start.
Its not a final tier 4.
Its a interim tier 4 so it doesnt have a catalyst, particulate filter and doesnt do a regeneration.
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I ordered a pair of the relays and when I pulled the dash I discovered mine are different. I simple did some cleaning under there, unplugged some connections and re-installed them. My tractor is an L4240D, serial # 31241.
Here's a comparison of the two relays.
Here's a comparison of the two relays.
Attachments
I hope that relay never goes bad for you. It's one of the most expensive relays I've seen.
RELAY, GLOW - RELAY,GLOW
T1060-33710 $91.72 4 in stock 2
I'm thinking about calling Picker, and ask it they may have a cross over. The way it mounts into the socket is peculiar, an probably odd enough to cause the cost to soar.
Did a search and found these. I'm not sure what their amperage rating is. It says item out of stock, but someone somewhere has some!!!!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/E-T1060-33...Excavator-L3200-L2501-U35S-U45S-/123933563442
https://www.ebay.com/itm/E-T1060-33...Excavator-L3200-L2501-U35S-U45S-/123933563442
200mph. Great write up. I had my "immersion" in voltage and no start issues working on 6 volt Volkswagens. I could see a 3 volt drop in old bugs at the ignition coil and it wasn't enough to fire the coil. We would actually add a hard start relay. I have a non emission, 2009 B3200 and I had some intermittent starting issues with the starter. Went from the starter to the key switch and all safety switches cleaning and crimping the push on connectors for a tighter fit.
So, to simplify this matter... Would it be correct to say that (if corrosions at various terminals were not the issue).... that Kubota put a 40A relay where they***8217;d actually provided spade-connectors for an 80A relay...but simply cheaped-out by installing a 40A relay instead of the directly-interchangeable 80A relay?
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You got it. If they were a quality oriented company they would have been proactive in notifying the customer once they realized the error.