Kubota L4610--strong battery, no start--help!

[charlesmorgan]

hi.... cold weather seems to have stopped my wonderful machine--- glow plug goes on, but engine doesn't turn over-- probably a frozen safety switch (there are three: pto shift, clutch, and hst pedal), but it has been way to snowy (and the tractor is only under a tarp) to check it all out.
Do you more experienced folks think it is a safety switch (we tried jumping, etc., but not a single crank, as if there was a safety cut-out)?
If not, what else might it be? And if so, where do we find the switches, and what do we do once we find them?
And finally, can we just by-pass the switches by crossing the starter connections? Any other advice.
Thanks for any and all help. We can't plow out of our driveway until we get this thing fixed.
Merry Christmas. Charlie

 

[some zilch]

i would certainly say its a saftey switch

 

[dirtworksequip]

I'm not familar with your model tractor. Look for the one under the seat first. It should be the only wires there and will have a plastic plug that you need to unplug. Once you find the SAFTEY switch and unplug it. Now take a short piece of insulated wire with both ends cleaned. Form it into a U shape with the two wire ends the same distance apart as the wiring harness plug. Place one end of the wire into the wiring harness plug that went to the switch and the other end into the other side of the harness plug. The switch is now eliminated and the circuit completed with the wire in the harness.

Sincerely, Dirt

 

[charlesmorgan]

thanks guys... on this model, there's no seat switch.... just the 3 I mentioned. Too much safety, especially if you can't start the machine in freezing weather. And I'm not exactly sure where those three switches are... even the shop manual just gives vague locations.
What about just crossing the contacts on the starter to by-pass the safety devices... any problems doing that on a L series Kubota? thanks again. charlie

 

[john_bud]

There is also a mid-pto safety switch. I've knocked it with my pant leg before.

I would also try to move the hst peddle by hand and get it centered. The cold and ice cold be blocking it from returning.

 

[wushaw]

thanks guys... on this model, there's no seat switch.... just the 3 I mentioned. Too much safety, especially if you can't start the machine in freezing weather. And I'm not exactly sure where those three switches are... even the shop manual just gives vague locations.
What about just crossing the contacts on the starter to by-pass the safety devices... any problems doing that on a L series Kubota? thanks again. charlie

Yes you could do that just to see if it really will turn over to confirm it is a saftey switch.
Put her in neutral and jump away.

 

[charlesmorgan]

thanks for the advice and support.... now if only i could picture what those safety cut-offs look like and exactly (or approximately) where they are located... evidently, on calling Kubota, even the shop manual doesn't show that. charlie

 

[john_bud]

The manual lists possible problem causes of no starter spin as

battery
slow blow fuse
starter relay
pto switch
wire harness
main switch (key switch)


The PTO limit switch is shown in the book as being under the pto shift cover by your right hip. Take the cover off and it's right there. Section 9 page S-9.


I didn't find the clutch switch in the book, but I think it is under the dash on the pivot mechanism for the peddle towards the back. If not there look at the linkage. Simple switch plastic box with 2 wires.

jb

 

[J_J]

hi.... cold weather seems to have stopped my wonderful machine--- glow plug goes on, but engine doesn't turn over-- probably a frozen safety switch (there are three: pto shift, clutch, and hst pedal), but it has been way to snowy (and the tractor is only under a tarp) to check it all out.
Do you more experienced folks think it is a safety switch (we tried jumping, etc., but not a single crank, as if there was a safety cut-out)?
If not, what else might it be? And if so, where do we find the switches, and what do we do once we find them?
And finally, can we just by-pass the switches by crossing the starter connections? Any other advice.
Thanks for any and all help. We can't plow out of our driveway until we get this thing fixed.
Merry Christmas. Charlie

You can use one of those remote starter switches, but you want to be in the seat when you start it up, in case something starts to move when you don't want it to. You clip it to the battery B+, and the other to the start terminal on the starter, and just press the button. If the starter doesn't turn over, then the starter is probably bad. Check the battery cables and grounds.

 

[charlesmorgan]

thanks for all the help..... i'll check things out when i get back up to the camp and dig the tractor out by hand..... but i definitely want a remote starter switch since these safety switches seem to have a habit of freezing up in cold weather according to other kubota owners. merry christmas all, charlie