New owner questions G1800

[Roger Fowler]

Never had anything to do with a Kubota before, so just trying to understand it better:

1) When it starts I get a puff of black smoke. I suspect this is normal for a diesel? (Temperatures are in the 70's or 80's here now.)

2) My understanding is that the glow plug light is on a timer and doesn't know if the glow plugs are actually heating or working. Is this correct?

Thanks in advance,
Roger

 

[lmichael]

Puff of smoke is normal. Depending on temp it could be black or more grayish. IDK if a glow plug(s) fail if the indicator will light up or not.

 

[Bee-Positive]

Hey Roger, welcome aboard!!!

1) When it starts I get a puff of black smoke.
Yup, year round, hot cold, in-between.

2) My understanding is that the glow plug light is on a timer.
Others on here may know better - and if I'm blowing diesel smoke up your skirt - but here's my guess. According to the owners manual you turn the key to the pre-heat position and the light comes on. The light goes off when the pre-heat is complete. Then you can start the LT. So it's probably a sensor (bi-metal strip or thermistor like in your kitchen oven) that is closed when cold and opens when it gets hot (so yes it would know if your plugs are working). Not a timer (i.e. electrical timer).

If you're having issues with the glow plug light or glow plugs themselves there are older posts on OTT discussing this in-depth.

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Hi Roger,

a bit of smoke when starting is normal I'd say. If it's whiteish you may check the glow plugs. See here: Check glow plugs It's for a G1900 but the G1800 is very similar.

And the preglow light is only an electronic timer controlled by the combination box at the left side of the engine. It lights for 5 seconds or 10 seconds when very cold. The pre glow voltage to the plugs is from your start switch only.

 

[Roger Fowler]

Thank you all. Very helpful.

Roger

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Do you have an operator and workshop manual?

 

[Roger Fowler]

Operator manual and parts catalog. Haven't sprung for a workshop manual yet.
Roger

 

[Hugo Habicht]

Operator manual and parts catalog. Haven't sprung for a workshop manual yet.
Roger

Check the little envelope, top right on web page.

 

[RBsingl]

I have owned a Deere 955 compact utility tractor since ordering it in 1995 and bought my Kubota F2690 for mowing duties in 2023. One thing I noticed immediately about the Kubota is it is far more cold natured than the Deere (Yanmar supplied) diesel engine. Except in very cold winter, I don't worry about waiting for the preheat cycle with the Deere but even in warm spring weather the Kubota likes a few seconds of preheat before it will start easily.

I get a brief puff of smoke at initial start from the Kubota (1.1L 3 cylinder) and Deere (1.4L Yanmar) which is normal for a diesel. The 3.3L Mitsu turbo-diesel in my standby generator does the same and the only diesel I currently own that doesn't puff a bit of smoke at startup is my 2018 GMC Sierra Denali which unfortunately has a complete emissions system that means no smoke but a lot more complications Sometimes I really miss my 2006 GMC which had the last of the non-DEF/DPF equipped engines.

Rodger