Starting Problem 1998 LK3054

[cmsmithx]

I have a 98 LK3054. I have just replaced the head gasket due to oil in the water/water in the oil. Prior to this I had some starting problems and am now having similar problem.

It will act like it wants to start, and help the starter but not actually start. If you let it sit a bit, it may start and run for 15-30 seconds, but not respond to the throttle at all.

I drained and added fresh fuel, bled the system, even cracked the nuts to the fuel injectors and ensured fuel was coming out there.

Prior to this I had 1 or 2 instances of "runaway speed" but after killing it (bog it in high gear), it would restart and run and respond to throttle.

Is my injector pump bad? What do these cost new or rebuilt?

 

[cmsmithx]

Update: this morning it first did the start for 30 seconds and then die (no throttle response), then a start and runaway mode (had to bog it and pull decompression to kill it). Is there anything other than the lift pump that can cause this? I planned to go get a new fuel filter today. needed anyway, but don't think that's my problem...

Anyone know of a shop in the Austin area (I'm far NW) that can rebuild the injector pump and test my injectors? Closest Kioti dealer is 1.5 hours away.

 

[Coyote machine]

Whoa buddy,
Seems you've got a few problems; one step at a time. You might need a new/rebuilt pump, but first you need to get your engine issue straightened out.
You say you replaced the head gasket because of water/oil contamination. And you say the problem is now reoccurring? Did you do anything to the head or block to make sure they are not warped?
There are some places in the states who could possibly rebuild or exchange your injection pump but if it were me I'd first check with a Kioti dealer and see what a replacement pump/rebuilt pump would cost as a baseline. Some dealers like Michigan Iron and Equipment and Wallace, (former Kioti, now Bobcat dealer), can get you relevant info on a pump.
Your runaway description sounds like a governor of some sort- possibly on the injection pump, but if it were me I wouldn't spend $ on a pump until I knew what needed to be done to get my engine working properly, otherwise you may be throwing good money after bad.
Post back as many details about how the current problems came about, including how many hours on engine, maintenance routine, etc.

 

[cmsmithx]

I think my 2 issues are unrelated. Bad coincidence, but likely unrelated

Engine has 820 hours. 1/2 of that was previous owner in the first 2 years of it's life. Tractor was used hard those 2 years.

Tractor has had some light smoke when starting and under stress since I've had it. This eventually progressed to spitting black oily stuff from the exhaust under heavy use. Finally started getting oil in the water and water in the oil. Dealer who I purchased the head gasket from (drop ship) said likely I have been burning some antifreeze for a while, and the head gasket finally opened up some more. There's some pitting on the cylinder head of the forward cylinder, and this is where the gasket seemed to be leaking. I think all is well with the new gasket, but I may not know for sure until I get it running properly again.

Independent of that is the fuel problem. The hard starting is similar to when I've run it out of fuel and had to bleed the system, but that always quickly corrects, and didn't result in the runaway problem. My next step is the fuel filter, which is about all I can do until dealers are open on Monday.

I think when it is starting for a short time, it's just burning residual fuel dripping from the injectors, but I'm not getting enough pressure to fire the injectors. Pump is producing fuel at the injectors, but it doesn't seem to be making it into the cylinders as it should.

I do have a dealer close by that is a branch of the dealer I bought it from, but this location has never sold Kioti (they do sell Bobcat though). I'll call them Monday when open.

Obviously I'd like to troubleshoot as much as possible on my own. I don't want to put a bunch more money into it. I really want to get it back in shape and trade up to a bigger tractor...

 

[Coyote machine]

Antifreeze is an etch-ant when introduced into the engine. The pitting on front cylinder/ piston head would be an indication of that issue. You may have ring or cylinder damage on that cylinder/cylinder wall which could be causing hard start issues due to blowby, loss of compression on that cylinder, etc. The new head gasket won't do any good unless the block, cylinder head and all underlying parts are sound and meet specs.
Fuel issues come after the above is fixed, otherwise you will be continually going in circles, and your $ will be wasted. If you get the engine up to spec you must then follow through on the fuel issue or you could do further damage to the engine, even if you repair it back to proper spec. Too little or too much fuel and possible excess fuel leaking past the rings could kill the engine permanently.

 

[PoorMansCat]

sounds like an injection pump issue... hence the run away condition and start but only idle condition...
Not sure of what type of fuel system it has, but it almost sounds like a sticking fuel rack..
You might call one of the reputable diesel injection pump shops in San Antonio..

 

[cmsmithx]

It is a Bosch K type mini pump. Looks like from the workshop manual I can pull the injection pump cover and see if the control rack is sticking...not sure what to do if it is though...

 

[PoorMansCat]

does it have removable injection pumps? if so, you may need to remove them to get them freed up....
One of the best things to use is plain old WD-40 bought in gallon form and put into a squirt bottle...

 

[cmsmithx]

Pulled the injection pump cover (also has the stop lever on it). Stop fork inside was stuck, which was why it wouldn't start. I manually moved it forward and it fires right up, but with runaway speed. Next to pull apart the governer and possibly injection pump to see what is sticking. Some corrosion in there, so the water/antifreeze that got in the oil may have corroded things up causing the sticking. At least in the runaway mode I was able to move it in the barn, so I'm not working in direct 100 degree sunlight...

 

[cmsmithx]

Well, that was the problem. That fork (which moved the fuel control rack) was sticking, probably due to the contaminated oil. Sprayed with WD40 and worked back and forth until it moved freely to all extents. Tractor fires right up now, and responds to throttle. Confirmed that area is getting a good coating of fresh oil when running. Wouldn't say it's 100%, it wants to die if you accelerate and release the throttle quickly (but starts right back up, and idles fine if you get there slow).

Now to get some run time on it and make sure the head gasket fixed the other problem...