B3030 HSDC Wont Start

BizDoc · Oct 8, 2011

finished mowing last week pulled into the usual spot, shut it off, nothing out of the ordinary. Got in it today, nothing! It acts like the PTO gear is engaged, but I fussed with that back and forth watching the safety leaver go in and out, checked the seat, unplugged the seat, held the seat button by hand. Nothing. All I get is the sound of a solenoid click when I turn the key to the first stop, when turning to start, nothing. I have lights, turn signals, fan (for the air), wiper works, so it's not battery. Starter??

crbr · Oct 8, 2011

BizDoc said:
finished mowing last week pulled into the usual spot, shut it off, nothing out of the ordinary. Got in it today, nothing! It acts like the PTO gear is engaged, but I fussed with that back and forth watching the safety leaver go in and out, checked the seat, unplugged the seat, held the seat button by hand. Nothing. All I get is the sound of a solenoid click when I turn the key to the first stop, when turning to start, nothing. I have lights, turn signals, fan (for the air), wiper works, so it's not battery. Starter??

And age old issue. Tons of threads and posts on a possible culprit. Rock your hydrostatic pedal so it will find the neutral position on the safety switch that is attached to the pedal. Patience. Sometimes it takes a few motions to find the sweet spot.

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BizDoc · Oct 8, 2011

Someone said I should try to jump it, so I did that, to no avail. Tried moving the hydrostatic pedal back and forth, no help. Someone else said to check the fuses. Seems like a good guess. Looked in the manual, but can't find anything about fuses. Anyone know where the fuse box is?

srs · Oct 8, 2011

BizDoc said:
Anyone know where the fuse box is?

Engine compartment, lower right side toward the rear of engine, black plastic box. One time I received a call on my cell when cutting the grass and turned the key to shut the engine off to hear. When I went to restart the tractor nothing happened. I still had the PTO engaged for the mower. Moved the lever to the off position and it started right away, of course you said you checked that. Good luck!

BizDoc · Oct 8, 2011

Thank you, found it. Unfortunately that wasn't it, the box had fuses for things like radio, lights and such. All fuses in this box were good. The guy that originally told me about the fuses has a Massey and said he found a second fuse box as he was pulling it up onto a trailer. I don't suppose anyone knows of an second fuse box on the kubota's?

Probably one of the 5 safety switches. Knew I shouldn't have listened to my friend, I was going to buy green, but NOOOOOOO had to listen to a friend.

rpraymond · Oct 9, 2011

If it was fine when you parked it then most likely there's a lever or pedal that's not in neutral. Be patient and look at all the possible culprits. It could happen to any color tractor what with all the safety switches.
Good luck.

BizDoc · Oct 9, 2011

Shorted the seat switch, not it. moved the hydrostat extensively, moved the PTO lever extensively, nothing. Thought I'd try shorting the starter, it did kick the starter, but it just spun and didn't engage the engine to start. At this point I'd just like to get it started so I can lift the bucket, which is down over the lip of the macadam driveway, so when they pull it up on the flat bed it doesn't destroy the driveway.

kuboman · Oct 9, 2011

If you are getting a click at the starter then it is not a safety switch. Likely is the solenoid on the starter.:thumbsup:

nspec · Oct 9, 2011

On the cabbed 3030, the first fuse at the top of the left bank of fuses is the Operator Presence Control circuit. On the right bank, the third fuse down is the Key Stop. Double check those two. My dealer gave me a spare key stop fuse when my tractor was delivered. Haven't needed it, but he said if it ever didn't start, check that first.

hayden · Oct 9, 2011

What about the high/low gear shift lever? Does that need to be in neutral to start?

Gator6x4 · Oct 9, 2011

I know you said you checked the PTO switch, but does the unit have a mid mount PTO also? Sometimes the right foot will press the mid mount PTO down and engage it.

BizDoc · Oct 9, 2011

I have a mid mount PTO, but it is controlled by the lever, which will not push or pull now since the engine is not running.

Unit starts in either high, low or N. I've tried all, to no avail.

hayden · Oct 10, 2011

Sounds like you need to start going through things with a volt meter or test light.

Just to clarify, I think you said you hear a click when you turn the key to the ON position, but nothing when you turn further to the START position?

One of the first things I'd check is whether there is power at the starter, both on the main wire, and also at the solenoid control when the key is in the start position. That will tell you if power is making it to the starter and solenoid. If it is, then you found your problem, or at least narrowed it to the starter or solenoid.

From there I'd check the safety switches one at a time. Do you have a wiring diagram? I'm guessing the 3030 uses and ECU like my 5730, in which one wire on each sensor is power, and the other goes to the ECU. I'd check to be sure power is present at each switch, and that it energizes the lead to the ECO when the switch is closed. I know you tried shorting each switch, but did you check to see if there was power to each one?

Kubota 2007 · Oct 10, 2011

If I read your last few post correctly, you said you jumped the starter out, I guessing you removed the small wire on the solenoid and jumped power from the large wire at the rear of the starter to where you removed that small wire, engine should turn over, if not your problem is with the starter or possible dead/shorted battery.Check for power at the larger terminal at the rear of the starter, you should have battery voltage(12.5volts dc) also check battery voltage, you may just have dirty battery terminals, it's that time of year.

BizDoc · Oct 10, 2011

Thanks all. I didn't jump the starter correctly, kubota 2007. I have never done it before, and it's obvious I did it incorrectly, dealer was going over how to correctly do it on th phone. I gave up, the dealer is coming tomorrow to try and jump the starter to then see if there is a switch that is stuck somewhere, and at least get the bucket and MMM up off the ground to get it on a roll back if necessary. We're hoping it's a switch that just needs to be moved when the tractor is on so it can reset its self. If not they'll take it back to the shop and go over everything. I'll post back when I get the results.

nhman · Oct 10, 2011

My b2910 would not start this weekend. It was the hst safety switch. The switch is a plunger that depresses a safety switch. The switch is in a bracket. The switch is held into the bracket by two ring bolts. If the bolts work loose the switch moves out of position to be depressed by the plunger activated by the hst pedal. This has happened several times on both a b7500 and 2910 I have owned. There was a thread that gave pictures so I could find the switch to tighten it up

BizDoc · Oct 11, 2011

I did see that when I was following every moving part I could find to a switch. Mine seemed tight, I fussed with it a while, but couldn't find anything loose, but could still be the problem.

Bad news is they apparently couldn't fix it on site because it was gone when I got home. Ouch, that's getting pricey.

BizDoc · Oct 17, 2011

Got news today of what it is. The PTO switch, which is under the seat and floor board was melted due to transmission heat. Service dept. said it was in a place where I could not get to it because of the cab. He feels it is defective engineering due to being plastic and it's placement so close to the transmission. He is hoping Kubota has seen this before and will just replace the part, but he has no way of knowing until the part comes in. The transmission gets plenty hot after mowing for 3 to 5 straight hours at a time. Even if the part is covered by Kubota, the labor is going to be a killer.

I like the cab it has it's obvious advantages, but this is the second time that the cab has created an issue that creates service problems. First one was a replacement of the hydraulic line due a pin hole, cab had to come off, now the switch, caused the seat and floor to come off. Cab has it's pluses and minuses. But then, ask me how I like the cab when it's blowing snow at 15 degrees in January.

johnk · Oct 17, 2011

I am glad they found the problem and hopefully Kubota will make it right. If it is an engineering error maybe they'll pick up the labor also if the dealer has any persuasion. Keep us informed...Good Luck.