Suddenly wont start?

[hutch4472]

Have had some "dead on" diagnostics and many great suggestions given on this site before so am hoping for such great knowlegable help again. Have a 02 L35 with 1600ish hours out at my wood lot (friends place about 3 miles from home). Been using it to skid logs to a place I can get my truck. Ran fine for a couple hours then shut it off, then would not start. When I turn the key on I get nothing, not a single light on the dash like would be normal. The battery and battery connections are real good, very clean. Checked fuse box under dash and found one blown but when replaced nothing changed. Any help or suggestion greatly appreciated. Otherwise I will be hauling tools out to the field and taking a WAG at repairs. Gotta get wood home to heat the family. Thanks in advance for your time.

Hutch

 

[JD 4520]

Eliminate as much as you can and list out what you have eliminated. Battery, fuel, power to the starter, etc, etc. then we can help narrow the field.

 

[KennyV]

You will find a Large master fuse Near the starter... it can be bad even if it looks okay... check it with a volt meter... KennyV

 

[LD1]

Sounds like you are not getting power TO the keyswitch. From the keyswitch, power branches off to various things depending on key setting. IE: glow plugs, starter, and dash lights. All of these are seperate wires off the back of the keyswitch. If NONE of them are working, It is unlikely that they ALL failed. So I'd start tracing the wire that supplys power TO the key.

I am not familiar with your particular model, but a VOM is a must, and a wiring diagram is very helpful. If there is a master fuse as kennyv suggests, that is a good place to start.

And its good advise to ALWAYS check fuses with a ohm meter. Even the small automotive type. Cause I have seen severaltimes where a fuse looked good, and the element was clearly intact, but was still open.

 

[LD1]

I did find this, and it may help you out http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/kubota-owning-operating/145088-l35-wiring-diagram-needed.html

It does appear that the fuse kennyv refrenced is a 40A slow-blow fuse. And it is what delivers power TO the keyswitch as I mentioned.

That would definatally be a good place to start. See if you are getting 12v AFTER that fuse. And if you ARE, see if you are getting 12v on THAT wire where it hooks to the back of the key switch.

If the fuse is open, that is the issue
If the fuse is good and you are getting 12v OUT of it, but nothing at the key, then there is an open somewhere on that wire
IF that wire is good and you are getting 12v to the back of the key, but nothing out of the key to the various functions, the key switch is likely bad.

 

[hutch4472]

JD 4520, Kennyv, and LD1, thanks a bunch for the help so far....So to back up a bit the tractor did a couple weird electrical things it never has before before this no start thing started yesterday. Once the glow plug light on the dash never came on before starting (which it always has), once the glow plug light came on while the tractor was running (never did that before), and when I shut it down the last time before the no start problem happened it just kinda sounded "wierd" when it shut down (like I was thinking that was different!). Ok so went out to the field where the tractor is today. Soon as I got there I turned the key on, it made some clicking/electrical noises from under the dash (it did not do that yesterday when the problem started) but still no lights on the dash at all and didnt even try to start when I turn the key completely to the right. I cleaned battey terminals, and cleaned ground strap that goes from battery to frame. Put back together and the tractor started normal....excellent I think....then shut off and started right up normal again.....I rejoiced for a few and poped a beer open then....no start again, no lights at all on dash, no clicking noise from under dash like before, nothing at all.......like the battery is completely disconnected. Battery voltage is 12.8v.........ANY additional suggestions welcomed.

Once again thanks again for your time......

Hutch

 

[LD1]

Okay, with intermittent problems, it most likely isnt the fuse mentioned earlier. And most likely a bad connection somewhere. Just got to start tracing it out and following the wiring and find out where you are loosing the voltage. And for starters, you NEED a VOM. And if you dont have one, GET ONE. A cheapy $10 unit from HF or parts store will work just fine.

Id start with the power wire on the back of the keyswitch. See if you get 12v. If not, start tracing back to the battery. If you are, move forward and follow the circuits. It could be something stupid like a safety switch or something.

 

[JD 4520]

Do you have any safety switches on the seat like mine and many of them have? If so check that out. Also since you had some luck with the last procedure, do it again and see if you can clean your connects a bit better including the grounding connection. You're on the right tract.

 

[Egon]

Any chance it could be the switch itself?.

 

[JD 4520]

Any chance it could be the switch itself?.

Yes, definitely could be.