L3800 50 hour service

boblibido · Jul 1, 2013

I just got my tractor back from the dealership after my 50 hour service. I ran it about 5 minutes to load it up on the trailer, drove it home about 90 minutes, and then bushhogged for 12 minutes.

Then it stopped. Uh oh. It restarted fine, but then sputtered and stopped again. Restarted it. Ran about 20 seconds and it sputtered out again.

Of course by the time I got home the dealership had been closed for hours.

Anyone ever hear of this happening?
Any ideas?

I cannot even get the tractor back to the shop since it will not run long enough to get back up the ramp to get on my trailer.

Any help would be great.

JOHNTHOMAS · Jul 2, 2013

Sputtering and stopping sounds like a fuel issue. Safety switches issues are just stop and won't restart. Changing oil, oil filter and transmission filter(s) would have no effect on the running.
How much did the dealer charge you to do that first 50 hour service?

boblibido · Jul 2, 2013

I was thinking it was a fuel issue but cannot find the source. I was wondering if it was a bad fuel filter.

Just the parts alone was over $180 and that doesn't include the 3 hour round trip.

LD1 · Jul 2, 2013

Did they change the fuel filter by chance??

I agree, sounds like a fuel issue. IIRC, the manual describes how to bleed the system. I dont know because I have never had to do mine. But might be worth a shot.

Bluegill2 · Jul 2, 2013

I don't think the fuel filter is part of the 50 hr? Look at the fuel filter bowl and see if it's full, etc. If air got into the system, it might just need bleeding (purge air from system).

k0ua · Jul 2, 2013

I would be on the phone with them asking about the fuel filter, and whether they changed it.. The bleed procedure on your Kubota is extremely easy. There is a knob/valve up above the Injection pump area, that you open up, crank and when it starts let it run for 30 seconds with this knob/valve open and then close the knob/valve. Maybe this is the problem. but I doubt it. As the tractor ran for 12 minuets. I am thinking the fuel filter is installed incorrectly, or a piece of something is blocking fuel delivery.

James K0UA

turfgrass · Jul 2, 2013

Do not forget to check the safety switch under the seat. It will start but not move very far before cutting off.

Jelf · Jul 2, 2013

I have an L35 with a similar problem.
Check the fuel shutoff valve by the fuel filter.
Is that valve closed?

boblibido · Jul 7, 2013

Sorry for the late reply, but it is incredible that you were able to diagnose this and they had a problem figuring it out. It was the valve above the fuel filter. They finally took care of it and my little tractor us running like a Champ again!

Thank you everyone for the help.