Hard Startup

[aeblank]

So I have a 2012 L3940. I've had it for a bit more than a year and a half.
It starts (hot, cold, whenever) after 2 "cranks" (assuming it's a complete revolution of the starter).

Suddenly, a few weeks ago, it would take 4 "cranks". This weekend it was even more (10 maybe, I dunno).
I get a big belch of white smoke. All subsequent starts are the normal 2 "cranks". It has to set a few hours to be harder to start again.

My fuel filter was replaced maybe 50 hours ago. Never had any fuel-station related issues.
My specific fuel is probably 2 or 3 months old, stored in a plastic can, inside. Again, not unusual or any past problems. As it gets colder, I've been wanting to use my supply up and get fresher stuff though.

I put some powerservice injector cleaner in. Haven't run much of it through yet, but I mixed it strong-ish in the tank.

I'm assuming one (or more?) of my injectors is weeping/leaking. Anybody agree?

Are my injectors clean-able? Should I just leave it and let the powerservice do its work?

Thanks.

 

[kcender]

Have you checked the glow plugs?

 

[aeblank]

Have you checked the glow plugs?

I haven't. I did think of that, so I tried cycling them twice on the first startup of the day. It made no difference.
I'm not sure if that's a valid "test", but that's what I did.

I can plug it in too, to see if it's time between starts or temperature at start. I believe it to be time related though.

 

[DK35vince]

Sounds more to me like a glow plug issue than injectors.
Bad glow plugs or not getting power to the glow plugs.

 

[aeblank]

Check resistance on them?
You know, after I *find* them.
Haven't had to before this.........

 

[aeblank]

Test of the night:
I plugged in my block heater for a few hours (4, I'm pretty sure).
It is 31F out, but not that bad in the garage. The glow plug light stayed on only very briefly.

Anyway, 100% normal 2 "cranks" to start.

Pretty definitive, if you ask me.

Can someone pass along the test procedure (resistances, I assume) of the glow plug(s)?
Once I find them, I'll make sure there is power going to them with a meter, of course.
Are there 4?

 

[aeblank]

Another Update........
Wife working late, so I snuck out and did a little troubleshooting.
I found the glow plugs, and hooked a meter to the supply (right at the first glow plug's ring terminal) and to ground.
Many GP cycling, and never any voltage reading. I'm about 90% confident in my setup (that I had good connection at the GP end).

Fuse or relay issue, I suppose.

I hear a very loud klank when cycling the key. I assumed it was the GP relay, but perhaps it's the fuel cutoff solenoid.

So anyway, now what?

 

[aeblank]

I'm talking to myself, but that's ok......

Based on the WSM (I bought it, lost it when my thumb drive crapped out, but luckily had the email with the download link, and it still worked).........
I'd guess that I have a relay issue. I've had the dash off to do auxiliary lighting and more recently, diverter wiring. My guess is that when I ran my diverter wiring up and over the dash (aux fuse block on left, diverter on right) I managed to pull a wire off the relay or loosen it such that vibration would take it out.

The wiring diagram (in the WSM) shows a glow plug fuse, but the operators manual doesn't list a glow plug fuse in the panel. So, I'm confused on that one. Can anyone clarify?

I won't have a chance to look at it until at least Thursday (curling two nights in a row!).

 

[The Fred]

Check that Kubota used the proper glow plug relay in the dash. On mine they did NOT and once I found the problem all is well.

Let me find the thread: Post #113

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/311706-i-still-hate-my-tractor-12.html


Regards and good luck fixing. It's a cheap fix.

Tractor running perfectly after 2nd year turbo and I beat it bad all Summer.

Remember I DO still hate my tractor!

Fred

 

[aeblank]

As I'm thinking back, this times out awfully well with my diverter install, which was in September(ish).
It wouldn't show very much (4 cranks vs 2 cranks) until cold (10+ cranks). I also know my wiring went up and over the dash, in that area.

Duly noted on the relay, though I don't think that's it. Had no problem for the first 1.75 years.
Glad to hear you still hate your tractor.

This one might be a free fix (or the cost of a relay, which is very near free) with the exception that I hurt a rib crawling around on it last night. DOH.
The glow plugs were surprisingly expensive at $28 each from Messicks. However, all this prompted me to re-check my oil change interval and I have more time than I thought. So anything I spent on this, i saved on oil/filter. Yeah, that's my story....