TCFAKE613:
Thanks for your reply. Was hoping to get some suggestions from some of the more informed tractor people on this form. ;that had experienced something similar on their Kubota. Guess that's not to be. However, here is where I stand, I talked to the head mechanic at the dealership Sat and let him listen to the initial firing and then shutdown of the engine over the phone. He sounds sure that it is in the wiring circuit that controls the stop solenoid. He says it could also be in a fuse, but I don' see how that could be. I also suspect the key switch.
However I learned yesterday that the problem seems to lessen when the outside air tempture is higher. It was in the 60's here yeaterday and it only failed to start a couple of times. Everytime I shut it off I leave the FEL bucket raised and resting on a prop in case I have to winch it up on a trailer.Have you had any more problems with yours along these lines? I WILL resolve the problem one way or another and will keep you informed of what I find. I'm kinda bummed out about having a new tactor with only 5 hours and having about 6 months wear on the starter and related components just trying to keep it running.
I would think it is a fuel issue. if it was a switch or electrical it would most likely be more consistent (as in not start ever).
It could be air getting into the fuel system. I would check between the filter and the injectors for a loose connection.
Every thing electrical on these is a fuel issue. If it cranks, that's the last part of the running system that depends directly on electric. I'm with the mechanic. The reason the motor sputters to a stop when the PTO is engaged and you get off the seat is because the only way a safety switch will kill the engine is by stopping the fuel with the shutoff solenoid. When you shut off the key, it has to kill the fuel to shut off the engine. After you crank the engine, you could take all electrical components off the engine, and it would run until it ran out of fuel.
So, in cold weather, are you wearing a coat? not to harp on what I said earlier, but if it is a simple issue it would be better not to have to take it in. I like to work in carpenter jeans, and the hammer loop hooks the PTO lever sometimes. Again, the symptoms appeared as you describe, and it threw me for a bit. It is hard to think of a part of the fuel system that might be temperature sensitive... How old is your fuel?
Should I be able to see the plunger move when the engine dies?