New owner of L175...smokes terribly bad...

Russell King

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The guy i bought it from said he put new glow plugs in and they do look new and they do work. I don't know if it's stock or ever been overhauled, but that much smoke i would say not...
Might be a winter overhaul project...and i wondered about trying injectors...
I would search on “white diesel smoke “ with google and find articles like this

I wouldn’t spend much money on it until you check that the head is cracked or not. If cracked you might be able to see bubbles in the radiator just as you start it cold (remove radiator cap before you start it, I would recommend you move it out of the enclosed area before you do much more running of it.
 
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ruger1980

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L4310 w/La682, L225
Oct 25, 2020
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If you can find a local fuel injection shop to test them for a reasonable fee I would do that first. I am lucky I have a local guy who retired from a large fuel injection and component rebuilder in the Northeast. He now does a bunch of work for tractor pullers and such and only works on older fuel systems.

The smoke does look like unburnt fuel so either you have very poor injector spray which is actually not as critical on an IDI engine or low combustion/ignition temperatures.

That is also if no one has been dicking around and got the timing way off on the injection pump.
 
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lmichael

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Definitely start with compression test. They will be quite revealing. Though a hanging valve will definitely affect that as well as a worn engine.
 
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jollyrodger

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Kubota L175
Jun 9, 2025
14
10
3
Sterling ks
Going to harbor freight tomorrow to get compression test kit...
I do believe the previous owner picked it up cheap, tinkered with it and got it running...then sold it to me...not sure i made a good deal now.
Will see what happens...thanks for all the replies guys, helps a lot...
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Does it have blow by?
How does it start?
Does it look like the injection pump look like it's been removed?

Timing is set via shims (#19) under the injection pump.

1749607624277.png
 

jollyrodger

New member

Equipment
Kubota L175
Jun 9, 2025
14
10
3
Sterling ks
Does it have blow by?
How does it start?
Does it look like the injection pump look like it's been removed?

Timing is set via shims (#19) under the injection pump.

View attachment 156323
It has a little air coming out of blow by tube, but no smoke.
It fires up ok but dies a couple times, seem i have to go full throttle until it catches up with itself....like only running on 1 cylinder for several minutes then i can back throttle to about 800 rpms.
I cant tell if injection pump has been removed but it does seem like no power, but a 2 cylinder, i don't really know how the sound. Seems rough to me...
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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Sandpoint, ID
It has a little air coming out of blow by tube, but no smoke.
It fires up ok but dies a couple times, seem i have to go full throttle until it catches up with itself....like only running on 1 cylinder for several minutes then i can back throttle to about 800 rpms.
I cant tell if injection pump has been removed but it does seem like no power, but a 2 cylinder, i don't really know how the sound. Seems rough to me...
Do a compression test, then give us those numbers and we should be able to tell you where to go next.
 
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jollyrodger

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Kubota L175
Jun 9, 2025
14
10
3
Sterling ks
Well guys, I just had SI joint injections so haven't been able to check compression. Did buy the test kit. Started it to warm it up and thought i would see if i could get air out of injectors. When I did #1 it died. Started it back up and cracked #2...got some air out, ran a little better and smoke cleared up within a tolerable range to me. Drove it outside my shop and let it run for 30 minutes. Seems better, so for now I'm going to see how it will be. If not I'll do the compression test...will let you all know. But going on a trip so might be awile...thanks for all the help for now...
 
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jollyrodger

New member

Equipment
Kubota L175
Jun 9, 2025
14
10
3
Sterling ks
Ok guys, first I really appreciate all the help, replies and ideas...today I thought let's start this up, move it outside and see what adjustments I can do to help stop the smoking...
Well the guy I bought it from didn't check anything....but while it was running and not smoking too bad, I thought see if that compression release lever is all the way closed....No it Was Not...I loosened the cable clamp, moved it out a 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch...the exhaust sounded so much better, it idled way better, and no more smoke!!! I moved it back into the shop, it sat for a couple hours, I hit the starter and wham bam, idling perfectly...I am so happy...thanks to you guys with ideas, it's running great.
Thank you...
 
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