Kubota M5950DT Hard Starting

[baydog1]

Hello. I Have a Kubota M5950DT just bought. It's in pretty good condition but won't run. It does have little over 3,000 hours. Sounds like a lot of hours to me. Does anyone know of or have a M5950DT that is still running with over 3,000 hours? The engine won't try to start even when I hit it with starting fluid. Engine doesn't kick back on start fluid. Does that mean low or not enough compression? Getting some fuel to injectors not a lot but some. Took the valve cover off to be sure all the valves are opening, closing and have clearance, all looked good. Under valve cover is clean. Am I wasting time and money on this tractor or should it still have some life at 3,000 hours?
Thanks

 

[Workerbee]

Starting fluid is surely not going to help your cause.

 

[baydog1]

Starting fluid is surely not going to help your cause.

What would you recommend?

 

[Russell King]

3000 hours is just getting started into midlife on a tractor.

 

[BAP]

Starting fluid could have now ruined your engine. Starting fluid in Kubota engines will do nasty things like bend rods and break piston ring lands.

 

[Workerbee]

What would you recommend?

I was just referring to the practise of using starting fluid. It can cause damage to your engine. Some say it’s not maybe, its a certainty.
I’d recommend testing your glow plugs with an ohm test on each (1 ohm to ground) then testing for voltage (12v) at each. If those are good, do a compression test.

 

[Russell King]

Start with an obtaining a diesel compression test set. You will need to have the correct fitting to connect to the glow plugs.

While you are testing the compression you will need to remove the glow plugs so you can verify they are working correctly while you have them out. Measure resistance from top electrical connector to the threaded area (point they get grounded with) and see if it is around 1.0 ohm or whatever the manual says is correct.

Is it smoking at all when you try to start it? What color is the smoke if there is any?

You can also remove the injectors and the lines between the pump and injectors. Rig one line up so the injector can be attached and spray out into space. DO NOT get eyes or bare skin near the injector, wear safety glasses and leather gloves. Bleed the air out of the injector line at the injector and tighten up the nut then hold a cardboard piece under the tip of the injector (hold it two or three inches away from the spray tip (keep your thumb back away from the area by using a large cardboard section). See how the injectors are spraying onto the cardboard. Take a picture or video showing the spray pattern. Repeat until you have tested all the injectors. Ask for expert advice by posting pictures if you have no idea what to look for.

Since you don’t say much about smoke I am assuming that the compression is low.

 

[baydog1]

3000 hours is just getting started into midlife on a tractor.

Thanks. Not sure what's going on or what to check next. I pulled the valve cover and the valves are opening and closing like they should. Going to pull with another tractor to see if that will wake her up.

 

[baydog1]

I was just referring to the practise of using starting fluid. It can cause damage to your engine. Some say it’s not maybe, its a certainty.
I’d recommend testing your glow plugs with an ohm test on each (1 ohm to ground) then testing for voltage (12v) at each. If those are good, do a compression test.

Thanks I will check glow plugs today.

 

[baydog1]

Start with an obtaining a diesel compression test set. You will need to have the correct fitting to connect to the glow plugs.

While you are testing the compression you will need to remove the glow plugs so you can verify they are working correctly while you have them out. Measure resistance from top electrical connector to the threaded area (point they get grounded with) and see if it is around 1.0 ohm or whatever the manual says is correct.

Is it smoking at all when you try to start it? What color is the smoke if there is any?

You can also remove the injectors and the lines between the pump and injectors. Rig one line up so the injector can be attached and spray out into space. DO NOT get eyes or bare skin near the injector, wear safety glasses and leather gloves. Bleed the air out of the injector line at the injector and tighten up the nut then hold a cardboard piece under the tip of the injector (hold it two or three inches away from the spray tip (keep your thumb back away from the area by using a large cardboard section). See how the injectors are spraying onto the cardboard. Take a picture or video showing the spray pattern. Repeat until you have tested all the injectors. Ask for expert advice by posting pictures if you have no idea what to look for.

Since you don’t say much about smoke I am assuming that the compression is low.

Not seeing much smoke when cranking but not sure engine is cranking fast enough. I am gonna ask my buddy to pull me with his tractor and will let you know what kind of smoke I see. If the compression is low do you think a top end rebuild would help?
Thanks

 

[baydog1]

Thanks I will check glow plugs today.

Glow plugs are working. Thanks