I Still Hate My Tractor

[The Fred]

Aaron my Volvo never ran right until I did a V8 conversion on it LOL.

You guys gotta let up on me. You know you wanna see it happen.



Fred

 

[aczlan]

Aaron my Volvo never ran right until I did a V8 conversion on it LOL.
You guys gotta let up on me. You know you wanna see it happen.
View attachment 348887

LOL. Got a link to the build on it? I must say that my '97 V90 does well, but if I ever have more time and money than sense, it will get a TDI engine dropped into it to replace the straight 6 that currently occupies the engine bay...

Aaron Z

 

[Coyote machine]

This horse isn't sick, it's dead. Add a turbo to make it into a Zombie.
I suggest taking a big bag of money and burning it just for the thrill of it. I mean why not, it can be done, so why not be the first to say I did this...:confused2:

 

[TomSeller]

Aaron my Volvo never ran right until I did a V8 conversion on it LOL.
You guys gotta let up on me. You know you wanna see it happen.
Fred

I agree with Fred that members need to lighten up, he knows what he is doing is beyond the norm, but it is his tractor, his money and his decision. Most of us would not do the turbo, but I still am curious how it turns out for him. I think there are some fundamental things that need to be ferreted out that don't have anything to do with the turbo and the current performance. Hopefully Fred gets to the bottom of those as well in this process. I wish him luck.

 

[PHILIP8N]

28f here in Indiana. 4 inches of snow. Unheated pole barn. As usual, forgot to cycle glow plugs, L3940 fired right up! Used auto throttle, used full engine rpm range while clearing 300 foot plus long driveway. No vibration at any engine speed. Left BIG smile on my face, job well done. Man, I love my L3940. Just sayin'. Philip.

 

[ddb123]

Nineteen degrees F here in MO. Mine fired up juuust about instantly after letting the glow plugs do their thing. It usually turns over about twice and starts; this time I think it turned over four times.

I'm back to putting the throttle at about 1100-1200 rpms to start. I've been watching my car and it revs up immediately to about 2k, then settles down to 1500 rpm cold idle. I feel good about doing the same (percentage of redline-wise) on my tractor.

 

[Xfaxman]

22 degrees, 10 degree wind chill, 3 inches of snow on our half mile long driveway and I am staying inside! :laughing:

 

[Midniteoyl]

28f here in Indiana. 4 inches of snow. Unheated pole barn. As usual, forgot to cycle glow plugs, L3940 fired right up! Used auto throttle, used full engine rpm range while clearing 300 foot plus long driveway. Left BIG smile on my face, job well done. Man, I love my L3940. Just sayin'. Philip.

HAHA 'Bout time you got snow we didnt

Is friggin cold though...

 

[RaydaKub]

This V-2003 engine has no balance shaft unlike it's 2.2, 2.4 liter cousins. At full tilt it feels like the things coming undone. I can turn the radio up but that barely works.

I can drink beer with the best of you though guaranteed.

Fred, back on it this weekend.

Hard starting, smoke, lack of power, and vibration and noise. Yet other members are saying that it is a very smooth quick starting engine. Yet you still think turbo is the answer. I sincerely hope you get it done and your welds look great. But with 4 of those symptoms I fear you will end up just blowing it apart. The vibration should be telling you something. Something is wrong in there and the turbo is just going to stress it more.

 

[big bubba]

Aaron my Volvo never ran right until I did a V8 conversion on it LOL.

You guys gotta let up on me. You know you wanna see it happen.

View attachment 348887

Fred

way to go, b_ _ _ s to the wall

 

[The Fred]

way to go, b_ _ _ s to the wall

Hard to beat Chevy power in a 3200 lbs. car. Anywho the cranking compression is 400psi across the board. Manual says 520-580, 370 min. Hard to believe it is that low but still very even. Same gauge on TDI engines reads 380 psi and VW is 19-1 compression ratio. Not sure what the V-2003 is for ratio.

Having an awful time finding the timing window in the bell housing, looks like the loader frame covers it up. This should be fun.
I have a coat hanger in the glow plug hole and a degree wheel but just geeze I wonder if the timing ever gets checked with the engine installed.

Fred

 

[Coyote machine]

Sounds like maybe timing didn't get checked on yours? If your comp tester is giving you accurate results, and the engine shows even but close to low end of acceptable range, aren't these reasons to get the timing spec verified to within range, before you do any mods? You may find if the timing is off spec correcting it could solve many of the issues you're experiencing with your tractor? No?

 

[The Fred]

aren't these reasons to get the timing spec verified to within range, before you do any mods?

Yes. That's my tomorrow job.

Fred

 

[PHILIP8N]

Compression ratio for the V2003 is 22.8:1. I also have injection pump timing specification in my V series industrial engine manual. Philip.

 

[The Fred]

I just hit the "thanks" button but there isn't one on this forum. Also will do leakdown test tomorrow, I have always felt it is more accurate than compression check. Who knows, Snap-On compression gauge could be off by 100 pounds.

Thanks, Fred

 

[Coyote machine]

Yes, but less likely since the numbers are even across the board. I suspect timing issue may present itself because even with lower range of compression readings timing being off could/ would likely cause more symptoms like those you report....
What parameters are Kubota using for their comp specs? Cold engine, operating temp engine, etc.?

 

[milkman636]

Aaron my Volvo never ran right until I did a V8 conversion on it LOL.

You guys gotta let up on me. You know you wanna see it happen.

View attachment 348887

Fred

You're right Fred, I was half expecting to see photos of a turbo being dry fit into place this weekend. Sounds like a wise move to double check all the basics before completing the mods.

 

[sd455dan]

way to go, b_ _ _ s to the wall

Hard to beat Chevy power in a 3200 lbs. car. Anywho the cranking compression is 400psi across the board. Manual says 520-580, 370 min. Hard to believe it is that low but still very even. Same gauge on TDI engines reads 380 psi and VW is 19-1 compression ratio. Not sure what the V-2003 is for ratio.

Having an awful time finding the timing window in the bell housing, looks like the loader frame covers it up. This should be fun.
I have a coat hanger in the glow plug hole and a degree wheel but just geeze I wonder if the timing ever gets checked with the engine installed.

Fred

Well Fred if (timing) is affecting cranking compression, it would likely be an incorrectly timed (phased) CAMSHAFT with respect to the crankshaft... which would need to be verified first .. Then the injection timing can be done after crank/cam timing-but injection timing has NO affect on cranking compression.

This engine has how many hours? I recently checked the compression on a 1989 ford F250 7.3 with over 200,000 miles (395-410psi.) and these #s were inline with what you just measured, on this new?? Kubota if both our gauges are accurate something seems wrong... especially if the Kubotas engine has a 22.8 to 1 compression ratio
Looks like you are on the right track...

 

[94BULLITT]

Shop manual for the 5740 (turbocharged) shows NO piston cooling jets either. So where are they? Nobody has been able to show me that any Kubota has them. None of the parts pix show piston cooling jets on any of their engines.

Dealer dyno proved this machine and showed me it was within 5% of advertised. I have not checked timing, another good point. The dealer simply gave me all the hoopla that this machine is what it is, an unbroken, working properly unit. It's mine now, I'll deal with it.

Fred

Tore things apart this morning at 5AM. Pulled the fuel tank and A/C bracket, valve cover. Glow plugs ohm fine (0.6 each) and I will do a baseline compression check and timing, valve adj. check before I put it back together. Gonna be a challenge to fit this all and make it look nice and still be able to remove it without remorse if it doesn't work. I see the 5740 has an external EGR to keep NOX down. I think the turbo makes combustion hotter formulating much more NOX. Thanks for the photo, much help.

This Kubota engine is very basic and timeless unlike this new stuff coming down the line.

View attachment 348617

Why are you checking this stuff if it made within 5% of its advertised power? There is nothing wrong with it.

 

[buickanddeere]

Took me a wile to get used to running a tractor at high throttle. After dealing with cars and trucks running 200 RPM under redline does not feel right. I do better now but still only rap it up when necessary.

Pto rpm is 2400rpm on my tractor iirc . For blowing snow the throttle is pinned to the bottom and the tach makes 2800rpm.