Karamkanic, Thanks for the advice. Since I posted last, I tried what someone told me was a good test for the glow plugs. That is, while they are removed, hook them up to a twelve volt source, and observe the heating element. All three got cherry red in just a few seconds. True, they saw more voltage than they normally see due to the combined voltage drop of the three resisters in parallel. But I can't imagine at this point that they are bad.
I like John Miller's advice about having the injectors serviced. In reading the service manuel though, it is appearent that myself, the average Joe is not capable of this. I wonder if I can remove them and bring them to a Kubota service center. This might expain also explain the excessive amount of black and dark gey smoke when under load and even while idleling. But as you mention there is also the issue of "probably excessive blow-by". Is one of the next tests a compression test, and how is this done on a diesal engine? Will this only rule out ring wear issues? What about removing the head and getting a new guides, seals and a valve job? Then again, the fire and pot of coffee sounds much easier.
Thanks, John
I like John Miller's advice about having the injectors serviced. In reading the service manuel though, it is appearent that myself, the average Joe is not capable of this. I wonder if I can remove them and bring them to a Kubota service center. This might expain also explain the excessive amount of black and dark gey smoke when under load and even while idleling. But as you mention there is also the issue of "probably excessive blow-by". Is one of the next tests a compression test, and how is this done on a diesal engine? Will this only rule out ring wear issues? What about removing the head and getting a new guides, seals and a valve job? Then again, the fire and pot of coffee sounds much easier.
Thanks, John