G1800-S Need Help!

   / G1800-S Need Help! #1  

bozzchem

New member
Joined
Aug 14, 2010
Messages
20
Tractor
Kubota G1800-S
I was running the G1800-S last week and it overheated. I waited a bit for it to cool, it started right back up and I drove it back to the shed.

I went out to use it again and it will not start. Once the glow plug is warmed and I engage the key to the start position, there is no noise indicating it even plans to start.

I put the battery on a charger overnight and the battery is fully charged.

Based on the wiring schematics, I pulled the fusible link (Red wire with fusible link attached) to the starter and verified it is still good via an ohmmeter.

I pulled the BW wire from the starter and measured roughly 11 volts when the key switch was engaged to start. (It is a fairly new key switch since the original was replaced about a year ago.) Why it didn't read the full 12.7V that my Fluke is showing directly at the starter and the battery? Don't know.

One other issue that bothered me can be seen in the attached pic. It seems the teeth of the starter aren't directly engaged with the teeth of the flywheel. Maybe that's normal but maybe it's not? What frustrates me is the fact that I rode it up to its resting place with no issues and now it refuses to start. I can't imagine what has changed since then.

Any help troubleshooting this lack of starting of my G1800-S will be GREATLY appreciated since I have 4 acres of shin high grass that will probably be knee high very shortly.

Thanks in advance,
Pete
 

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   / G1800-S Need Help! #2  
What you are looking at in your photo is the gear that is engaged by the bendix in the starter. When the starter is energized the gear moves out and engages the flywheel. Your photo looks completely normal to me.

Hotwire starting of your engine is very easy. You just need a wire to jump from the large battery cable lead on the starter to the starter solenoid. That's the other smaller terminal. I am convinced that the ignition switch and electrical box down by the engine drop a lot of voltage. If you don't have a perfect battery, it may not have enough voltage to get the starter solenoid to engage. I've installed a direct start button on my G1800 and don't use the key for starting anymore. Mine would start sometimes and not at other times, so I took care of the problem.
 
   / G1800-S Need Help!
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Believe it or not, it started up and I was able to mow for a bit.

Now the issue is the overheating. It's starting as expected but within 5 minutes of mowing it beeps indicating that it's over heating.

Do I need a new water pump?

I've got a LOT of acreage to mow so need to figure out why it's overheating ASAP.

Thanks all!

Pete
 
   / G1800-S Need Help! #4  
Believe it or not, it started up and I was able to mow for a bit.

Now the issue is the overheating. It's starting as expected but within 5 minutes of mowing it beeps indicating that it's over heating.

Pete, you got lucky on the starting. It would seem that yours has become intermittent just like mine did. If it doesn't start, a quick hotwire start will work as I explained above.

Kubotafan has made a good point about cleaning the screen. Also, check your fan and check that nothing is blocking the outer screen below the steering wheel where all intake air flows. Also, you can pull the radiator cap before starting (only when the engine is cool) and then watch to see if the coolant is churning up as the engine heats up and the thermostat opens. If you are not getting good coolant flow, it could be a bad thermostat or your fanbelt could be loose. This might account for the alternator not charging your battery enough as well. If the fanbelt is slipping, the water pump, fan speed, and alternator output could all be affected. That could be the reason you are experiencing both overheating and electrical problems.
 
   / G1800-S Need Help!
  • Thread Starter
#5  
When was the last time you checked the rad screen? I had one time when mine overheated enough to set off the warning alarm. I checked the rad screen and it had become plugged up with grass, etc. I cleaned the screen and used my blower to blow all the grass from around the rad and it has always worked well since. I have kept a closer eye on the temp gauge since, and any time it starts climbing above its normal opperating range I clean it out again.

You nailed it!! I cleaned out the screen and the radiator itself. I have to hide my head in shame for how awful they looked. :ashamed:

I get the tractorbynet dumba$$ award for not looking at the obvious! You get the major :thumbsup: for giving me the kick towards what I should have looked at prior to whining about needing a new water pump.

Once all items associated with the radiator were cleaned and the G1800-S was started back up, I was worried the temp gauge wasn't working because the engine was staying so COOL while I was mowing!

LOL, I'm the one taking a break! I overheated while mowing so will get back at it once the sun drops a bit. If my Kubota could speak, it would be calling ME the wuss since it's now raring to go!

Thanks to all who have posted.

Pete
 
   / G1800-S Need Help!
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Pete, you got lucky on the starting. It would seem that yours has become intermittent just like mine did. If it doesn't start, a quick hotwire start will work as I explained above.

I'm definitely going to look into your hotwire fix. It's been starting well now but in the past I found I had to open the hatch and press in the engine stop solenoid to get it to stop. Either way, I'd prefer something that just lets me start it and stop it since apparently the new key switch may not be doing the job.

Thanks again!
Pete
 
   / G1800-S Need Help! #7  
Best thing to do is wire up a start relay. The voltage drop across the safety switches is alot more on older machine due to wear and corrosion etc.
 
   / G1800-S Need Help!
  • Thread Starter
#8  
What you are looking at in your photo is the gear that is engaged by the bendix in the starter. When the starter is energized the gear moves out and engages the flywheel. Your photo looks completely normal to me.

Hotwire starting of your engine is very easy. You just need a wire to jump from the large battery cable lead on the starter to the starter solenoid. That's the other smaller terminal. I am convinced that the ignition switch and electrical box down by the engine drop a lot of voltage. If you don't have a perfect battery, it may not have enough voltage to get the starter solenoid to engage. I've installed a direct start button on my G1800 and don't use the key for starting anymore. Mine would start sometimes and not at other times, so I took care of the problem.

Looks like it's back to trouble getting it started. Could you provide me with the details of how you wired yours? What type of relay, if necessary, and what type of starter button/switch you used?

Thanks,
Pete
 
   / G1800-S Need Help! #9  
Look at this link for a NAPA auto parts part number of a momentary contact switch and an electrical schematic showing how I wired it. Also, this link shows a picture of the switch installed.
 
   / G1800-S Need Help!
  • Thread Starter
#10  
Have you been using your tractor or has it been sitting over winter? Sometimes if I haven't used my G1800's for awhile the starter will not work. I have a jumper wire to by pass all the relays and safety switches. I remove the wire from the solenoid wire terminal and plug in my jumper wire and touch it on the positive terminal on the starter to get it started. Once it runs a little while it will work off the key again. I figure there must be a relay or something that sticks after sitting for a while and that by jump starting it, it must free it up. Perhaps someone else has more knowledge about what is happening, but the main thing for me is knowing that I can get it going this way.

I had been using it quite a bit and then came out one day and it wouldn't start. It's been doing great for a while and then all of a sudden...dead. The battery is brand new and I went ahead and charged it anyway just to make sure it was at maximum capacity.

Could you elaborate on how you get it to start with your wiring changes? I'm not sure what you mean by "removing the wire from the solenoid wire terminal and plug in my jumper wire and touch it to the positive terminal on the starter".

I know where the positive terminal on the starter is but am not sure of which wire you remove from the solenoid and am not sure where the solenoid is either. I've never hotwired anything so am a complete newb but have seen batteries explode and don't want to see that again in my lifetime.

A schematic would be great if you have one. Pictures are worth 1000 words!!
 
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