Hello, helping a friend with a Kubota 1.8l 3 cylinder no start. He drove the tractor and it started running rough now won't start. 2012 model with 297 hours. Will get serial and model tomorrow. Looking for tips on getting this started. Very low hours, wouldn't expect issues at this point. Drained the fuel. Refilled the tank. Opened side valve to bleed air up to the fuel pump. Could he possibly have gotten the fuel injection pump out of time? I am getting very little fuel up to the injector rails. I have taken all steel lines off the injectors and pump and laid them to the side. The flow of fuel from the injection pump when trying to start is maybe 2 inches on the first few revolutions but dies off. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.
Kubota 1.8L no start
- Thread starter thlift5
- Start date
I have removed the stop solenoid as well. Initially when i first put eyes on the tractor I did get it to run for about 10 seconds. No smoke or attempt to start since then.
New fuel filter has been installed. Just a little spray of ether bogs the motor down, doesn't want to spin. Have been staying away from it as a general practice.
Russell King
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Don’t use ether at all. You can damage the engine using it (may have already.?)
Get tractor model number posted for better specific help.
Are you getting a good fuel flow out of the tank and into the injection pump?
Is the air filter clean? Do you know if it has a automatic shutdown fuel cutoff solenoid (does it shut down when key is turned off)?
Where are you getting your fuel measurement that you mentioned?
Get tractor model number posted for better specific help.
Are you getting a good fuel flow out of the tank and into the injection pump?
Is the air filter clean? Do you know if it has a automatic shutdown fuel cutoff solenoid (does it shut down when key is turned off)?
Where are you getting your fuel measurement that you mentioned?
Hello, this is a L3800 model with the 1.8l 3 cylinder. Sprayed a shot of ether in well before we got running. Since it was running, hasn’t fired off. Will be checking fuel pressure with a gauge later this week and compression . Looking for any suggestions on this. The fuel pressure I have gotten out of the fuel injection pump with the lines has been very little after the 2 revolution. It starts off with a slight stream maybe 2 inch stream then it levels off. Is it possible the fittings were turned on the fuel injection pump when cracking the lines causing fuel injection timing issues? I’m thinking a fuel issue just need to know if there are any specifics to the kubota. Thanks
kubotasam
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if you noticed the engine speed slow down while spraying starting fluid to it, you've likely already damaged the engine.
The engine ran after the ether. Ran strong and then died. At this point, trying to find why I’m not getting the right amount of fuel.
Does anyone have the timing procedure for the fuel injection pump? Need to make sure it’s right
just because it started and ran doesn't mean damage wasn't done. I have seen it. I have seen them run years after then one day poof, it won't start or in some cases, it was running and working and all at once "with no warning" it self-destructs, rods hanging out or maybe just smoking--I've seen it both ways.
timing procedure is in the WSM.
timing procedure is in the WSM.
Russell King
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I think all Kubota diesel engines are timed with shims between the engine block and the injection pump so probably not the problem but if you want to verify it use the manual mentioned above
North Idaho Wolfman
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Your going to need to take a deep breath and throw the ether in the trash!
First to check if any damage was done, or if there is another issue, do a compression test, that will tell you a whole lot about what's going on with the engine.
Then as others have stated timing is done with shims under the pump so you didn't change timing.
Did you remove the locks on the injection pump delivery valves?
If you did and the delivery valves were removed, then you could have a pump issue and will need to have it professionally rebuilt.
First to check if any damage was done, or if there is another issue, do a compression test, that will tell you a whole lot about what's going on with the engine.
Then as others have stated timing is done with shims under the pump so you didn't change timing.
Did you remove the locks on the injection pump delivery valves?
If you did and the delivery valves were removed, then you could have a pump issue and will need to have it professionally rebuilt.
Lessee now.... your friend was driving his low-time diesel tractor and it started running rough and died and now won’t start .... You’re probably correct it is likely a fuel-problem. WAG: He (someone) mistakenly/absent-mindedly refueled it with gasoline....so it ran rough and died.
Ether/starting fluid is a real no-no on Kubotas and most other diesels (a few designs are (rare) equipped with starting-fluid-injection-systems.... but generally, Starting Fluid or Ether can destroy a diesel or a 2-stroke engine. Stay away from it.
Wolfman (doesn’t need me to say it) ....is correct, you should first run a compression-test. (Hopefully more than 350 psi and within about 10% of each other for most engines). Then the fuel system should be completely flushed, filters changed, re-filled with diesel, the system bled of air, might even have the injectors sent out for test/repair, and then see if it’ll start/run. Sure hope the pump wasn’t messed-with... otherwise you’re likely in for professional assistance.
Ether/starting fluid is a real no-no on Kubotas and most other diesels (a few designs are (rare) equipped with starting-fluid-injection-systems.... but generally, Starting Fluid or Ether can destroy a diesel or a 2-stroke engine. Stay away from it.
Wolfman (doesn’t need me to say it) ....is correct, you should first run a compression-test. (Hopefully more than 350 psi and within about 10% of each other for most engines). Then the fuel system should be completely flushed, filters changed, re-filled with diesel, the system bled of air, might even have the injectors sent out for test/repair, and then see if it’ll start/run. Sure hope the pump wasn’t messed-with... otherwise you’re likely in for professional assistance.
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re: The flow of fuel from the injection pump when trying to start is maybe 2 inches on the first few revolutions but dies off.
well it shouldn't 'die off'...
don't know the tractor/engine but I'd open the outlet of the filter and drain the entire tank into a bucket(or two). Once tank is drained,inspect inside to see if there's a 'blocker' in there. chunk of crud,plastic,etc. If possible fill tank and gravity drain. If there's an electric fuelpump , check to be sure it works . Could be as simple as a blown fuse.
Only K I have is the BX23S,2 filters,electric pump..runs GREAT since I pulled tank and removed chunk of plastic 'blockage' from it.
As for ether, my old Buda diesel needs 3 small squirts to start...been that way for 15 years I've had it, no problems.dozen cans of ether a year is a LOT cheaper than rebuilding the engine !
well it shouldn't 'die off'...
don't know the tractor/engine but I'd open the outlet of the filter and drain the entire tank into a bucket(or two). Once tank is drained,inspect inside to see if there's a 'blocker' in there. chunk of crud,plastic,etc. If possible fill tank and gravity drain. If there's an electric fuelpump , check to be sure it works . Could be as simple as a blown fuse.
Only K I have is the BX23S,2 filters,electric pump..runs GREAT since I pulled tank and removed chunk of plastic 'blockage' from it.
As for ether, my old Buda diesel needs 3 small squirts to start...been that way for 15 years I've had it, no problems.dozen cans of ether a year is a LOT cheaper than rebuilding the engine !
Greenjay... you probably don’t intend it to come across as it might for others.... but your “old Buda” is not someone’s Kubota .... who SPECIFICALY WARNS owners NOT TO USE ETHER.
Here’s A screen-shot of an Owner’s Manual. Ignore that warning at your own risk...but I think it’s not nice to tell folks otherwise:
Never heard of Buda...Learn something new everyday.
" Buda Engine was founded in 1881 by George Chalender in Buda, Illinois, to make equipment for railways. Later based in Harvey, Illinois, Buda from 1910 manufactured engines for industrial, truck, and marine applications."
whitetiger
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You have probably got a fuel restriction between the fuel tank and the mechanical lift pump or most likely, the lift pump has failed.