B3030 turns over, but will not start. Help? :)

ainsley · Feb 21, 2015

HI all!

I have a 2008 B3030 and this winter it decided to not start. The glow plug light indicator lights when the key is turned. I cleaned the fuel filter and put it back in; the globe filled up will fuel just fine. The work shop manual says to properly bleed the fuel lines after cleaning the filter to start and run the tractor for 30 second...but I cannot do that. The fuel stop solenoid engages when the key is turned on ( I can hear the click when the connector is attached and I turn the key, and when I remove the connector there is no click, so I think the relay is working properly). There is little smoke that comes out as it turns over, and what does emit is not black. I am suspect of inappropriate fuel delivery since all other items appear to be working properly. What is left? The injector pump or the injectors (which is probably out of this girl's skill set)? A compression leak? Clogged fuel lines beyond the fuel filter?

Any ideas or help is appreciated.

-Ainsley

HEC · Feb 21, 2015

First off welcome to the forum , I am sure one of the pros, which I am not will jump in and give you some advice . This post will put you back on top of the forum page which may help someone see it more quickly . Good Luck

JerryK · Feb 21, 2015

Usually the fuel stop solenoid opens up and allows fuel flow when 12v is applied. So, that much is good. ANY AIR/ice/bad fuel/water/crud in the fuel lines will keep it from starting. I am amazed how hard it is to get my Cummins to start even after I ' think ' that I have done a good job bleeding lines and running the fuel pump ' thinking ' I ran it long enough. Once any air gets into some diesels, you have to crack open one or two injector supply lines at the injector, and crank her until at least a couple of the cyls start to fire. Then usually the rest will pick up and you are good to go. So, anytime you play with the fuel system, you can have lots of fun. Make sure you have good fresh fuel going to the injector pump, try cracking open one or two of the longest lines coming from that pump at it's injector... and crank her some. Wait five minutes or so and let the starter cool down, then try it again. Good luck, Jerry

xtruckerbob · Feb 21, 2015

Welcome, The first thing I would check is to make sure the fuel pump is strong, check just in front of the pump even (if you hear it it may not be pumping). If it is next I would bleed the the fuel lines. Loosen the nut on the pump and roll the engine over till fuel comes (If it starts leave it running while you tighten the nut) out then tighten back down.

ainsley · Feb 21, 2015

Thank you so much, guys.

JerryK: I will try opening the line at the injector and give it a crank and let you know.

truckerbob: Which nut are you referring to on the pump? I can post a picture of mine so you can point me to it, if I need to.

-Ainsley

xtruckerbob · Feb 21, 2015

I will take a pic of mine and posted in a few minutes.

xtruckerbob · Feb 21, 2015

Hold the larger outer nut and loosen the bolt in center. It should not be overly tight. You may be able to check your fuel pump here when it is loose.

ainsley · Feb 21, 2015

Is that what you are referring to?

xtruckerbob · Feb 21, 2015

Yes, just loosen it a bit crank the engine fuel should come out, if it cranks leave the engine running while you tighten it. Fuel may also come out when you turn on the key if so tighten before you off the key. All we are doing is purging the air out of the system.
Good luck.

ainsley · Feb 22, 2015

Well, yesterday I went out to look at the injector pump and the lines going to the injectors so I could perform some of the tests you guys mentioned. I tried starting it and it just turned over without firing. So, I was looking at the nut truckerbob was saying to loosen and I moved the rod for the throttle to make sure i could get it out of the way to get a ratchet on it. I moved it back and forth several times. My son and I also filled the tank since we were done cleaning the filter (the manual says not to do it unless there is less than half a tank). So, we had a full tank now and I moved the throttle rod several times and then after about ten seconds of turning the key to turn it over, it fired. We got so excited and immediately got it out of the barn and took off the front loader and the bush hog and put it in the garage, which is an easier place to work on it. Backed it in, shut it off and waited a minute and it would not turn back on. Same thing. Just turned over and over, not firing. So, this afternoon we went over to do the tests HEC and truckerbob mentioned, but it started within 10 seconds of turning it over. So, we left it run for about 15 minutes. Came back and shut it off. Waited a couple mins. It started back up right away. So, what the heck is/was going on? I am glad it started, but fear the next time I need to move snow, it will do the same thing and I would like to address the issue (If I can uncover it) now BEFORE I actually need it and it fails to start for me again.

Any ideas, guys?

-Ainsley

HEC · Feb 22, 2015

Sounds like you may have released all the air out of the system , filling the tank probably helped some too . I would try too start it up a couple more times to make sure you are good to go for that next storm . You did well young lady

JerryK · Feb 22, 2015

You could have had bad fuel... It is a good idea to only buy your fuel from well used diesel stations and keep your tank as full as possible to keep the moisture in the air part of the tank from condensing... Could have been air, could have been bad diesel... your guess is as good as mine. Somedays it's just Karma, or not holding your mouth right ...

PS: Some diesels need to be cranked at a certain RPM or above to fire.... so starter and battery sometimes come into play...

skyhook · Feb 23, 2015

Give it half throttle when starting it and slowly bring the throttle down after it starts.

ainsley · Feb 23, 2015

Thanks, guys!
I will keep checking it over the next couple days and report back.
I really appreciate he help/advice.

-Ainsley

RaydaKub · Feb 23, 2015

JerryK said:
PS: Some diesels need to be cranked at a certain RPM or above to fire.... so starter and battery sometimes come into play...

Uhhh, they all do.

Some may need a few more rpm's than others.

ainsley · Feb 25, 2015

Well, tried to start it last night to no avail. The battery ran down quickly which leads me to think that perhaps it is not giving the juice that the starter needs to turn it over fast enough (like JerryK & RaydaKb said). When it started over the weekend I had put the charger on the battery because we ran it down trying to start it. So, now I am thinking that it may be the culprit. Going to have the battery tested and/or replaced today. Will report back!

-Ainsley :smiley_aafz:

JerryK · Feb 25, 2015

ainsley said:
Well, tried to start it last night to no avail. The battery ran down quickly which leads me to think that perhaps it is not giving the juice that the starter needs to turn it over fast enough (like JerryK & RaydaKb said). When it started over the weekend I had put the charger on the battery because we ran it down trying to start it. So, now I am thinking that it may be the culprit. Going to have the battery tested and/or replaced today. Will report back!

-Ainsley :smiley_aafz:

Hang in there Chief.... life will be better, soon..... soon.......

David Devuono · Feb 25, 2015

The initial post does not mention if you ran the tractor low or out of fuel. Best to have more than one tractor. I have four at this time and can usually get one started to boost another lol.

xtruckerbob · Feb 26, 2015

Since I am not there it is hard to give advice, but if the starter is not spinning fast enough to start and the battery is fully charged you may want to pull the starter and check the bushens. You can also take your starter to any of the big box parts stores and they will check it for free. or

Let me say up front that I am not a fan of starter fluid at all ..... period!!!! but since it is so cold a quick snort of starter fluid sprayed in the breather as you try to start the engine, may be your answer. Lots of heavy equipment as well as big truck have a provision for starter fluid from the factory. Being a diesel mechanic in the Army for 20 years in the winter it was not uncommon to have to spray an engine to get it started when it was close to freezing. IF YOU DO DECIDE TO SPRAY IT WITH STARTER FLUID A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY. TOO MUCH CAN AND WILL HARM YOUR ENGINE. if I was going to spray my Kubota I would use only a 1 second spray. Good luck.

AStanton · Feb 26, 2015

My Kubota manual warns against using any kind of starter fluid. You can blow up the engine: then it will never start. Call a mechanic before you even think about starter fluid.