L3000DT turns over, won't start

Dirk Lately · Nov 15, 2009

Hopefully someone can help me. I hadn't run my L3000DT for around 3 months until yesterday. Started right up no problem, and ran great for several hours. I turned it off and on maybe six times without issues.

When I went to put it away, it wouldn't start. Turns over like a champ but won't start.

I'm useless with engines but the manual said to bleed the fuel line so I did that. I also removed the air filter, thinking maybe it wasn't getting air. No change.

After some web searching, I figure the next step is to drain the fuel out and replace the fuel filter...is that right? Someone also suggested cleaning the injectors. I've got no idea how to do any of that.

Any advice or how-to info would be appreciated. Please help! Thank you!

dillo99 · Nov 15, 2009

this might sound really stupid but if it has a kill switch, is it in the right position? I have left my kill switch out before only to forget about it later. i would check all those kinds of easy and obvious things first.

Chilly807 · Nov 15, 2009

Does it have a pull cable for shutdown, or by turning the switch off you kill the engine? (not familiar with L3000)

The cable could be sticking, or the fuse for the fuel shutoff could be blown. Most injection pumps today require power to the shutoff before they will start, so if the fuse goes, no power = no start.

Check for a wire going to the injection pump. If there is one, it should probably have power there (12 V DC) with the ignition key turned on (you don't have to be cranking the engine to check for power). At the very least, there should be some change in voltage when moving the key from "off" to "run" position.

If there is power there, it's possible the solenoid in the pump is toast, which is bad news.

Silly *** question, there IS lots of fuel in the tank, right? Fuel gauges have been known to go bad before.

Chilly

repete · Nov 15, 2009

Does anything come out the exhaust when cranking?

Remember when you are trouble shooting this **NEVER** use starting fluid.

Shimon · Nov 15, 2009

As "repete" said above...if you have white smoke coming out of the exhaust while cranking then you are getting fuel and you most likely have a "heat of compression" issue...which means glowplugs (if you have them).

If no white smoke then no fuel.

Start there.

Dirk Lately · Nov 16, 2009

Thanks for all the advice so far.

dillo99: I don't think the L3000DT has an operator presence kill switch. And if there were, wouldn't it disable the starter, rather than the fuel flow?

Chilly807: it's got a pull cable. Oh man, do you think I could have been stupid enough to forget to push it in? If that's it I'm going to punch myself in the face.

I'll find and check the fuel shutoff fuse.

And yes, there's gas in it!

repete/Shimon: I do not see smoke. At least, I don't remember any.

Thanks again! More to come when I get a chance to test (hopefully tonight).

REM7600 · Nov 16, 2009

When you say gas in it, you mean diesel right? I have seen people put gas in by accident and the will run a little but usually rough. If you have diesel in it and not gas check the fuel solenoid and make sure the plunger moves whwn you turn on the key, you can usually here it click.

good luck

Dirk Lately · Nov 16, 2009

REM7600 said:
When you say gas in it, you mean diesel right? I have seen people put gas in by accident and the will run a little but usually rough. If you have diesel in it and not gas check the fuel solenoid and make sure the plunger moves whwn you turn on the key, you can usually here it click.

good luck

Yeah, I meant diesel. Sorry I wasn't clear. I need to stop using "gas" as a synonym for "fuel".

NH-Rob · Nov 16, 2009

If you have a pull type shut off I would not think you would have a electric shut off as well. I would confirm that the cable is all the way in and if it is try cracking open an injector or two and see if fuel is squirting out while cranking the strarter. If you are getting fuel at injectors then I would look at the glow plugs if it has them.
Rob

Shimon · Nov 16, 2009

If you have no white smoke at the exhaust while cranking then you are not getting fuel to the injectors. So, either there is clog somewhere in the fuel lines or filter, or the run solenoid in the injection pump is not working. No smoke, no fuel. Simple.