Kubota 6030DT dies after 5 minutes

[jardine121]

First of all, please excuse my ignorance, I am by no means a mechanic. Nor do I know a whole lot about tractors (yet). We have a Kubota 6030DT 58 horse built around 1990.

My wife plowed our driveway about a week ago and things were fine. 2 days ago, it got pretty cold (8f at night, 15f day), snowed some more, and the tractor started rough, she drove it a short distance (by our horse barn, maybe 100 yards) and turned it off to go do something else. She hopped back on and it then refused to start (it turned over slowly, but didn't even begin to fire). Upon my father-in-law's advice, we put some additive in the fuel, she put new diesel in as well (there was some summer diesel in there), I bled the lines, we put a battery charger on it (ran it out of juice trying to start it earlier). Then we put a small propane heater to warm up the block/fuel lines as we thought maybe the fuel had gelled up. After about 90 minutes of heating (we also plugged in the block heater) we went to start and it wouldn't start. (It was turning over faster though, so it appears the propane did help loosen the oil up.) I then sprayed some starter fluid in the air intake as she cranked the ignition, and it started right up. We disconnected the battery charger, let it idle, and 5 minutes later it died. She could not immediately start it back up - it turned over, and was trying to start, but just couldn't quite make it. I again sprayed some more starter in the intake, and it still wouldn't start. So I put the battery charger back on, switched to 100 amps, she cranked as I sprayed starter fluid and it started up again. Like the previous attempt, it seemed to run fine for 5 minutes then it just died. No sputtering or anything, just went from OK to dead. We did this 2 more times with the same results. The last 2 times she drove it around (not too far from our outlets), and it seemed to run just fine, the poof - dead in 5 minutes. There was seemingly a pattern with the battery charger in that it seemed to only start with that connected (even though it cranked over just fine without it) I wonder if perhaps the alternator isn't working properly? Any suggestions?

 

[jardine121]

I've been advised to change the fuel filters as the thought is it still isn't getting gas.

 

[Thomas]

Agree on fuel filter also completely drain old fuel out add fresh w/anti gel.

 

[Code54]

Yes - may have some water in the fuel. Drain and replace filter(s), drain the tank and lines. Replace with fresh fuel. Check your manual on how you need to prime the system with fuel before trying to start.

 

[CincyFlyer]

And also check that the fuel tank vent (in the cap, usually) isn't frozen over. You can simply leave the cap loose for a test.

 

[Code54]

And also check that the fuel tank vent (in the cap, usually) isn't frozen over. You can simply leave the cap loose for a test.

Good idea

 

[Phillip w]

Big 10-4 (agree) on changing fuel filter and putting in fresh fuel. If it is super cold, I've had to fan a few old diesels with ether until They really get going. You got to be really careful doing this, just a little wiff when she about to die. To much and you going to train wreck the engine. Another thing, some of these foreign tractors can't handle being popped off with either. Another thing, when you get her running, go have a cup of coffee and just let her sit there and run. Some diesel have a return line to the tank which helps keep fuel from gelling. ( Detroit diesels have a return line that helps them.) As a good rule of thumb, I never shut a diesel engine down when it is cold until i am all done with it. If I need to get off and do something, I will just let it run at a fast idle say about 1000-1200 rpms. Hope this helps.

 

[kthompson]

Not sure will work in that temp but WD-40 works good in warmer temps for starting a diesel or gas and is safer on the engine. You can keep giving it short sprays if need be to keep it running to help bleed it. It does not get that cold here but agree with all said above. At least remove the fuel filter and open the cut off valve and see if the fuel flows or not. Cold engine needs faster spinning to start than warmer temp but how about the glow plugs on that engine, does it have them. If so be sure you use them. Possible it has glow plugs and they are not working or not all of them. If so be sure you do not use them with ether, dangerous.

 

[CincyFlyer]

I am also assuming that you are using some anti-gel additive in the fuel; I sure am.

 

[jardine121]

And also check that the fuel tank vent (in the cap, usually) isn't frozen over. You can simply leave the cap loose for a test.

Will do, thanks.