Another Kubota that won't start. Fuel filter?

[cs6000]

Here's the setup. I've had the tractor, an L3130 HST about 6 months, had no trouble at all. Today I started it up, let it warm a couple minutes (temp in upper 50's) then headed out. After traveling about 100 yards, it sputtered and died, and will not restart. Battery is cranking the starter just fine, it will cough some, but not start.

I had just added fuel a couple days ago, gauges all read fine, it is not showing any problems on the panel. It just sounds like it is not getting fuel. Don't know when or if the fuel filter has ever been changed. I can see fuel in about the bottom half of the filter. The fuel valve is open.
It is not due an oil change for quite awhile, air filter is OK.

Let me add one thing. When I bought diesel last time, there was a guy working on the pump, replacing the hoses. I was the first to use it with the new hose. Wondered if maybe something could have gone wrong there, something in the hose, debris, etc.

Have not yet researched how tough it is to change the fuel filter. Wanted to make sure there is nothing I am over looking. The manual also mentions bleeding the fuel system ocassionally, but you have to start the motor to do it.

 

[cs6000]

Sorry to answer my own questions, but I watched a video posted by a kubota service tech on changing fuel filters. He mentioned that all have gravity fed fuel systems, and showed how to fill the filters sediment bowl by turning on the fuel cock before tightening down the filter.

It struck me as funny that my sediment bowl was only half full of fuel. I went down, removed the sediment bowl and filter, neither looked dirty. I then loosely put the bowl back and opened the fuel cock. No fuel came out.

Now I'm thinking maybe there is an obstruction between the tank and filter/fuel cock. Any way to blow those out?

 

[tcartwri]

do you have the original and correct cap on the fuel tank. If you take the cap off, will the fuel flow...

 

[crashz]

You could take the cap off and try blowing the restriction back through the tank. Don't use compressed air though, I'd use something low pressure/volume like a bike pump. Otherwise you could have a diesel geiser. Also, remember if you loosen that restriction, it will flow without any shut off, so I'd do it inside a clean 5 gallon pail, with a way to clamp the hose shut.

First, can you see anything blocking the feed line by looking through the filler? Something may be blocking it that you may be able to access.

With no fuel flow, you know the probelm is either in the line or the tank, so its easy enough, but may require removing the tank to clean it.

 

[cs6000]

do you have the original and correct cap on the fuel tank. If you take the cap off, will the fuel flow...

It is the original cap, tried taking it off to see if that would help, nothing happened, or at least no fuel started to flow.

Have been reading some other posts about people having problems with some "fuel shutoff solenoid". Apparently this solenoid somehow starts and stops the flow of fuel electrically. Sounds complex. Maybe I misunderstood this video that described all Kubota fuel systems as gravity fed.

 

[284 International]

...my sediment bowl was only half full of fuel. I went down, removed the sediment bowl and filter... opened the fuel cock. No fuel came out...

I think you've isolated the problem already.

If fuel won't reach the filter, it isn't going to reach the pump. If the pump doesn't have fuel, the tractor won't run. Depending on how the machine is set up, you may have a length of hose that runs from the tank down to the fuel filter assembly. A piece of wire should be able to ream out the obstruction(s), but you would be wise, I think, to pull the tank off and clean all that gunk out, lest it cause you more problems later.

Like crashz said, the trouble is in the tank and/or the line, so start there. Then bleed the system with a new fuel filter installed. You should be ready to work after that. Good luck!

 

[cs6000]

Getting tired of hiking or driving back and forth to where the tractor is for today.
I've looked over the parts diagrams online to see if I can get an idea of how the fuel lines run, but they're pretty hard to make sense of.
Tomorrow I'll get back there and explore how tough removing tank etc will. Hopefully there is a way to drain it first without diesel running everywhere.

Do y'all know if this will be an operation involving alot of cussing?

 

[jimmysisson]

All the sediment bowls I'm used to need to be full before fuel flows through them. So you're headed right to look upstream.
Jim

 

[cs6000]

Just went back and had another look. The bowl is about half full now. Took off the filter and it drips out about 1 drop every 10 seconds.
Was surprised to see the fuel line comes out of the top of the tank. Is there a pump in there?

In my most lamebrained move, at some point when it died, I dropped the boxblade and front end bucket to the ground, out of habit. Now I cannot even tow it to the barn. What a move. Maybe I could fill the bowl up with fuel and at least get it started to fix that problem.

I appreciate all the quick and non-judgemental replies, really helps to keep the worries down.

 

[crazyal]

It not frozen water in your fuel line is it? If not then I would try to blow air back up the fuel line, maybe with a tire pump or something. Just be ready because if there is something blocking the line and you blow it out now fuel will flow down the line. Once you do that I would try to look in the fuel tank and see if I see anything that could have blocked it and try to remove it (otherwise it will block it again).