L3540 cold starting

[Chilly807]

Mine was an option, installed as RFB describes.

Sean

 

[vrmnthntr]

I dropped my tractor off at the dealer. They said the relay to the glow plug wasn't sending power to them.

 

[The Fred]

Glad it's fixed this seems more common. I have heard of the connections getting loose. Maybe someone could post a picture of the main relay (not the control unit) for us.

Might be a good idea to check these connections in the Fall or during an oil service.

Regards, Fred

 

[murphy1244]

Also check your manual as I believe you should be starting at 1/4 throttle or better.

 

[vrmnthntr]

Also check your manual as I believe you should be starting at 1/4 throttle or better.

Will do.

I am definitely glad it was a easy fix.

 

[wmonroe]

I dropped my tractor off at the dealer. They said the relay to the glow plug wasn't sending power to them.

That's great you got the problem taken care of. Let us know when you get a couple cold starts if all is well.

 

[vrmnthntr]

That's great you got the problem taken care of. Let us know when you get a couple cold starts if all is well.

I plan on doing another video when it gets cold again. Right now it has warmed back up and may be another week until it gets below freezing again.

 

[Kubotafan]

This is my fourth winter with my L3540 and I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. I have never used the block heater (it was an option I had installed when I bought it) but have never had any problem starting it. My first Kubota was a new B7500 that I bought in 2002, and then a 2005 B3030 I bought in 2007. I never had any problem starting any of them in winter weather. If it is really cold I will preheat the glow plugs twice before I try starting it. This fall the B3030 seamed a little slow cranking so I bought a new battery for it, but the original was about eight years old. I do snow plowing so have to depend on them starting in adverse weather. When I bought the first one in 2002 I asked about a block heater and they told me I wouldn't need one. They said if the tractor wouldn't start in cold weather, there was something wrong with the tractor.

 

[kuboman]

A good example why taking what a dealer says as gospel is not the best advice.:thumbdown:

 

[Chilly807]

They told me the same thing at Nova, and it's true, I doubt it would fail to start in the temps we get. I use it to be easier on the engine and for shorter warm up time.

Sean

 

[Kubotafan]

A good example why taking what a dealer says as gospel is not the best advice.:thumbdown:

I am not saying there may not be benefits to having a block heater, but in over 10 years of experience starting various Kubota tractors in all sorts of winter weather a block heater wasn't needed to get the tractors started. I have found my dealer and service manager to be very helpful, and feel I can put trust in what they tell me. When I bought the L3540 I had a block heater put on it and also my B3030, but neither one has been used. It was mainly for my own piece of mind in knowing it was there to use if I thought it might be needed.

 

[Kubotafan]

They told me the same thing at Nova, and it's true, I doubt it would fail to start in the temps we get. I use it to be easier on the engine and for shorter warm up time.

Sean

Nova International is my dealer, too (Aylesford location). I could tell you a personal experience with Hants Equipment in Windsor that would make me very slow to do business with them. Green Diamond in Middleton has also treated me good (I have a Z710A zero turn bought from them).

 

[kuboman]

I am not saying there may not be benefits to having a block heater, but in over 10 years of experience starting various Kubota tractors in all sorts of winter weather a block heater wasn't needed to get the tractors started. I have found my dealer and service manager to be very helpful, and feel I can put trust in what they tell me. When I bought the L3540 I had a block heater put on it and also my B3030, but neither one has been used. It was mainly for my own piece of mind in knowing it was there to use if I thought it might be needed.

Just because it will start does not mean it is the best for your machine. We get temps here that I guarantee your diesel would not start. I just make a habit of plugging in when it gets below freezing.

 

[Kubotafan]

Just because it will start does not mean it is the best for your machine. We get temps here that I guarantee your diesel would not start. I just make a habit of plugging in when it gets below freezing.

Where in Canada are you?

I agree that having the engine oil and antifreeze warmer when starting is helpful for the long term use of the tractor. The point was that it should start without using a block heater. When I hear of Kubota tractors not starting when temperatures are close to freezing, I figure there is something wrong. It may be fuel gelling or glow plugs not heating, or some other problem.

In cold weather I always let my hydraulics warm up before I start using the tractor.

 

[kuboman]

Where in Canada are you?

I agree that having the engine oil and antifreeze warmer when starting is helpful for the long term use of the tractor. The point was that it should start without using a block heater. When I hear of Kubota tractors not starting when temperatures are close to freezing, I figure there is something wrong. It may be fuel gelling or glow plugs not heating, or some other problem.

In cold weather I always let my hydraulics warm up before I start using the tractor.

Alberta, And yes my Kubotas start just fine at freezing its just I see no need to, and often the temp will go from freezing to minus 30 in the space of a few hours which makes starting problematic so I just plug it in and then I have no concerns of it not starting.

 

[skyhook]

Might be a glow plug issue... or just reluctant in cold weather. I'd like to see cranking speed a tad higher, but I kept expecting it to fire, so it's not obviously slow. I think an hour with a block heater would have done the trick. Throttle position should make no difference, the governor is calling for max fuel on start-up anyway. Once it fires, advancing the throttle will give smoother running however.

Sean

I disagree, before shutting down my machine, I set the RPM's at around 1200.
That way, I know there's no big shock to it on start-up.
Cycle the plugs 3 and sometimes 5 cycles before starting, we have very cold temps here.
The main problem I see with these tractors is,
the alternator is not putting out enough amps, (40 amps is way too low if you ask me).
We start these machines in cold temp, ( battery is already at it's weakest point)
then, turn the heat on, turn the lights on etc,,, and expect these little 40 alts to work
their wonders on an already weak battery. It just doesn't have enough time to bring
it back up to specs, especially if your only out on your machine for 20 minutes.
Try this test next time, hook up a "volt" meter ( I have one tapped into my wiring),
Rev up your machine to about 1200 rpm's and check the voltage output,
You'll most likely see 13, maybe 14 volts if your lucky.
Now let it return to idle and check the voltage, you'll be surprised on how low it is.