Frustrating Kubota Starter Problems

[virvis]

After testing the voltage across the poles of the battery, I found the new battery wasn't at full charge. Put it on a charge for half hour and everything is back to working. Thanks everyone for all your input!

 

[Threepoint]

After testing the voltage across the poles of the battery, I found the new battery wasn't at full charge. Put it on a charge for half hour and everything is back to working. Thanks everyone for all your input!

Hope that solves the problem for you. But, if it reappears, still keep in mind that there may be a bad spot on the starter armature. Depending on where it stops rotating after the solenoid/bendix disengages, it can cause the unpredictable start issues you describe the next time you crank up. Can drive you nuts, especially when adding a bit more charge to the battery, or jump starting, gets things going. My Kubota GF1800 front deck mower had this problem years ago and it took two or three trips to the dealer for their service deptartment (a very good one) to finally find the problem.

 

[virvis]

I'll definitely start at the starter if it happens again. I'm thinking that would be the logical place for failure given that all other components are currently working as expected. Only thing I did do was possibly burn out the fuel shut off selenoid or fuse that operates it. Tractor won't turn off with key but that looks relatively simple to address.

thanks again.

 

[virvis]

Problem is back. Ordered a new starter. Will update after new starter is installed.

 

[arkydog]

i have a b3200 and was having a similar problem. turned out to be under the tractor at the forward/reverser pedal. there was a slide contraption the would activate the safety switches so you couldn't start it with the pedal in forward or reverse. ended up being the slider thing needed grease so it would slide better. was hanging up so it would be in gear even though the pedal showed to be in the middle or neutral position. good luck. rob

 

[virvis]

Thanks Rob. I'll check and see if my L4200 has the same mechanism. If it does, I'll grease it up. New starter should be here later this week and will probably get it in this weekend. Need to get it fixed, snow will be here soon.

 

[JimWalch]

snow will be here soon.

BITE YOUR TOUNG!

 

[virvis]

New starter is installed and the problem seems to be completely gone. Ordered the starter from All States Ag Parts. Have never used them before but their price was substantially lower than Kubota dealer. Anyone have good or bad experience with this company?

 

[newbury]

New starter is installed and the problem seems to be completely gone. Ordered the starter from All States Ag Parts. Have never used them before but their price was substantially lower than Kubota dealer. Anyone have good or bad experience with this company?

How did it work out?
Kubota quotes $382 for a starter for my M4700, Ag parts wants $85. Big difference.

 

[cegreen]

Thank you! And thanks to everyone else who contributed to this thread.

Like many others, I've wasted unbelievable amounts of time, energy, money, and frustration trying to troubleshoot this same issue with my Kubota BX2200. Yesterday, I tried the relay fix and bingo! it worked. What a relief!

Still, it makes me furious that the execs at tractor companies like JD and Kubota know all about this, but they refuse to spend another $4 for a relay while they're producing a tractor that sells for $13K or more. They'd rather sit back and wait for us poor schlubs to throw-in the towel and go to the local dealer, who will charge us hundreds and hundreds of dollars for unnecessary parts and repairs that don't solve the issue. What a bunch of greedy, cynical SOBs!