Easy fuel filter change method

Burt

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Equipment
L3700SU, box blade, 6 foot rhino blade, 1 bottom plow, 3 point receiver hitch.
Mar 24, 2012
337
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Goldendale, WA USA
L3700SU, L3800, L3400, L3200 Kubotas do not have a fuel shutoff. Some may but it is rare.

Here is an easy way to change the diesel fuel filter:

1. Locate the fuel line from the tank and remove it.
2. Put a 5/16" shoulder bolt in the opening of the fuel line to stop the leak.
3. Change your fuel filter using new o-rings (bought separately).
4. Fill the fuel filter with diesel.
5. Put the filter back on and back it off one full turn.
6. Start the engine, let some fuel flow over the filter housing.
7. Tighten the filter.

Let it run. If you did it right, there is no need to bleed the injectors. It will take off purring like it should.

Kubota left off a shutoff valve but this method works great and your tractor will thank you for it.

Burt
 

CaveCreekRay

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L3800 HST, KingKutter box scraper, KingKutter 66" rake, County Pride Subsoiler
Jul 11, 2014
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Cave Creek, AZ
Burt,

If you use a line clamp, you don't have to take off the fuel line. Once the line clamp is released after the filter is changed, the filter bowl fills up faster than it takes you to go get on and start it.

The dealer uses vice grips on the fuel line, set loosely...:eek:
 

Burt

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Equipment
L3700SU, box blade, 6 foot rhino blade, 1 bottom plow, 3 point receiver hitch.
Mar 24, 2012
337
1
0
Goldendale, WA USA
Burt,

If you use a line clamp, you don't have to take off the fuel line. Once the line clamp is released after the filter is changed, the filter bowl fills up faster than it takes you to go get on and start it.

The dealer uses vice grips on the fuel line, set loosely...:eek:
CCR,

I thought of using the vise grips and later thought maybe not. I am rural and if I busted or damaged a hose, I'd be in very deep yogurt to go get another one. For that reason, I didn't use the redneck shutoff valve.

Thanks for the reminder, others use that clamping method successfully though.

Burt
 

Daren Todd

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Massey Ferguson 1825E, Kubota Z121S, Box blade, Rotary Cutter
May 18, 2014
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Vilonia, Arkansas
I use a pair of channel locks on the ones at work. Just set the new filter in easy reach location. Loosen the old filter to where I can spin it off by hand. Crimp the line, remove the old filter, spin the new one on and release my grip on the channel locks. And then finish tightening the filter by hand. Takes all of thirty seconds to swap the filter. Just keep on old pail handy to drop the old filter in.
 

Eldubya

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Equipment
B7800FEL Bck hoe Box scraper Post auger Field rake
Apr 14, 2014
90
0
6
Quadra Island BC
I find it much easier to simply clamp lines with vise-grips, but if/when it's too thick, brittle, or flimsy, a golf tee usually works great. Always have a couple in my tool box.
 

Bluegill

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L3750DT Shuttle, L3800DT FEL both
Jan 11, 2012
1,560
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Success Missouri
If I read the manual right, you wait until the tank is less than half full and it
wont leak much when you change the filter. I just used vise grips on the fuel line...
 

CaveCreekRay

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L3800 HST, KingKutter box scraper, KingKutter 66" rake, County Pride Subsoiler
Jul 11, 2014
2,631
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Cave Creek, AZ
That is the tool I use. I watched Edd on Wheeler Dealer use them so much, I bought a set. Very handy items.
 

Bulldog

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M 9000 DTC, L 3000 DT
Mar 30, 2010
5,440
73
48
Rocky Face, Georgia
My tractor didn't have a shut off either. During the first filter change I ran the tank almost empty. While changing the filter I removed the line and drained the tank. After this I installed a inline shut off valve and solved this issue for good.
 
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Burt

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Equipment
L3700SU, box blade, 6 foot rhino blade, 1 bottom plow, 3 point receiver hitch.
Mar 24, 2012
337
1
0
Goldendale, WA USA
If I read the manual right, you wait until the tank is less than half full and it
wont leak much when you change the filter. I just used vise grips on the fuel line...
Bluegill,

You're right. That is what the manual says. Drain it when less than half full. However, I like to keep ours full no matter what because I know a partially full tank can encourage moisture. For that reason, I decided to do it the way I did.

However, I am going to get some of those line clamps at HF fer sure.

All great advice from many. I would not have thought of the golf tees.

Maybe the K company will start putting shut offs on these tractors. It's strange that the shop manual seems to show a shutoff valve on top of the filter.

Anyway, It's done now and I have some good info for the future.

Thanks to all,

Burt
 

coachgeo

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L225 w/woods Few Mowers & Back Blade, D722 in Motorcycle (Triumph Tiger), LMTV
Nov 16, 2012
2,460
32
48
Southern OH
...

However, I am going to get some of those line clamps at HF fer sure....
IMHO it's a waste of time to stop there. Put a clamp on it. Do two slices of a hose, pop in an inline shut off valve where you cut a chunk of hose out and then your done with it.

Next filter change you wont be looking for where you put the damn fuel line clamps etc etc.
 

ShaunRH

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L3200
May 14, 2014
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Atascadero, CA
I have a self locking plier set that has jaws to act as a line clamp. Works great. Won't damage the lines and works up to garden hose size.

Installing your own shut off valve is nice but now you have to maintain a shut off valve.

I could've sworn I saw a shut off valve on my L3200... I'd want to have that as an emergency shut off anyway. That's how my D-17 shuts down normally, kill the fuel!
 

Bluegill

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Equipment
L3750DT Shuttle, L3800DT FEL both
Jan 11, 2012
1,560
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Success Missouri
Owned 4-5 tractors and the L3800 is the first not to have a fuel shut off valve.
 
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Bluegill

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Equipment
L3750DT Shuttle, L3800DT FEL both
Jan 11, 2012
1,560
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Success Missouri
I have a self locking plier set that has jaws to act as a line clamp. Works great. Won't damage the lines and works up to garden hose size.

Installing your own shut off valve is nice but now you have to maintain a shut off valve.

I could've sworn I saw a shut off valve on my L3200... I'd want to have that as an emergency shut off anyway. That's how my D-17 shuts down normally, kill the fuel!
What is involved in maintaining a shut off valve? :confused:
 

ShaunRH

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L3200
May 14, 2014
1,414
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Atascadero, CA
What is involved in maintaining a shut off valve? :confused:
I guess not much if it's a high quality, diesel rated valve, but if you buy an el-cheapo, it could mean replacing seals or the valve itself on a regular basis.

Having replaced several shut off valves in my life, I can tell you they can go bad.
 

Billdog350

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Equipment
Kubota L3710 HST,L2230A QT,forks,Takeuchi TB125, 60" Luck Now pto Snowblower
Jan 6, 2014
468
5
18
East Hampton, CT
Hey guys, a couple of comments on fuel filter changes, including the L3200.

1. Start your machine and run it for a while, get it fairly warmed up and ensure oil is properly circulated, shut it down normally.
2. Open rack to WOT-full throttle position.
3. Change fuel filter. On the L3200 I believe there is an automatic shut off built into the fuel filter housing, when you remove the filter it should shut off the fuel. If you spin it off pretty quickly, you shouldn't lose much fuel.
4. Install new filter, spin on the bowl somewhat slowly so you can see the air bubble out of the housing before you have the 0 ring contact the housing from the bowl, this bleeds out 95% of the air.
5. Start the machine and let the engine take off to high rpm. Since you already started it and warmed it up with step 1, it is all pre-lubed and there is no damage done to the motor. This is exactly how almost all commercial diesel generators start (even from a cold start) and have no adverse wear issues.
6. After approximately 30 seconds, bring rpm back down to 1/2 throttle and either start using the tractor or shut it off if you're done.

The high rpm start will allow your engine to build up some inertia from the initial start with the fuel that's in the injector pump, so if there was a little air bubble, it would cause the engine to stumble but it will usually recatch and keep running.

I have used this procedure on hundreds of Kubotas and never had to bleed an injector/injector pump.

I also do it on my B9200 and it works mint.
 
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