L3540 cold starting

[lawn_king]

My 3540 starts right up even in deep cold! Still on factory battery from april 2008!

 

[Chilly807]

There's no guarantee the battery has any "depth". By that I mean cranking capacity. The voltage is only the beginning, how much it drops under load is the question. I'd take it to be tested somewhere a load can be applied to it, it's really a better test of how it performs.

Are all the glow plugs working, getting voltage? At 40 degrees it should fire right up, spin pretty good if the plugs are working. This morning I started my L3400 at about 45 degrees (heated garage) and forgot to use the glow plugs. It started, but wasn't happy about it, slower cranking and more smoke on initial flash. With the plugs in use for about 5 seconds, it's running on the first or second piston up, no difference from 60 degree weather.

Sean

 

[MHarryE]

Your tractor doesn't sound far from my L5740. Before it started getting really cold (20 degrees or colder in the morning) it stayed out in the unheated machine shed. I have Super UDT2 (less hydro load at low temps than standard UDT) and 5W-40 synthetic engine oil. Engine fired okay but ran rough and smoked a lot for 20 - 30 seconds before smoothing out. Now for the winter it has moved inside our heated garage so starts at are around 50 - 55 degrees. Still a bit rough at start and somewhat smokey. It has a little over 500 hours on it in the 2 years since I got it - starting hasn't changed a bit. Also tried a few other 40 series on the dealer's lot at their customer appreciation day last March and they started similar to mine. Haven't tried a new Grand L 60 series but all of our direct injection tractors are better cold starters.

 

[wmonroe]

I still think it is a timing issue that causes the rough starts. If I remember right the sticker on my valve cover lists the timing at 8* btdc, I would like to see what a pre egr engine lists the timing at (a 5030 or whatever model is the same as the 5240 & 5740). I know that the 12 valve cummins trucks had their timing stock at 13-14* btdc and it was very common to bump them to 16-17* btdc. I do know with the cummins if you went to 18-20* they were harder to start in the cold but ran better with other fueling modifications. Bumping my timing up a little is on my to do list, just need to find the time.

 

[Chilly807]

My L3400 is about 17-18* btdc if I remember correctly, V1803 engine I believe. Non-egr, no dpf. Starts well in the cold, one brief puff of grey smoke and that's it, runs smoothly from the get-go.

Sean

 

[wmonroe]

My L3400 is about 17-18* btdc if I remember correctly, V1803 engine I believe. Non-egr, no dpf. Starts well in the cold, one brief puff of grey smoke and that's it, runs smoothly from the get-go. Sean

Thanks for the numbers. I need to get a service manual to see how the injection timing is adjusted on this engine.

 

[Chilly807]

Unless they've changed the way they build engines, the pump is shimmed where it meets the block. Remove shims to advance timing, add them to ******. There's a thread here somewhere about checking and adjusting timing on a Kubota. I'm used to working on much bigger stuff, but a workshop manual would definitely help. If I get a chance I'll check my manual, different engine, but the procedure is probably similar.

Sean

 

[vrmnthntr]

I started the tractor yesterday. It was 50 degrees in the garage. It turned over fine unlike when its 10 degrees cooler. I can hear the glow plug relay clicking. I'm going to have the battery load tested today to rule that out.

After the tractor is started it runs fine.

 

[buickanddeere]

Just plug in the block heater in cold weather.

 

[Chilly807]

For the curious among us.. maybe we should "start" a cold start video thread.. just a thought. I've heard the 5740's are notorious for smoke and rough running at first, as well as some of the smaller Kubotas, like BXs and Bs.

Sean