L2550 - Hard starting at all temps

ruger1980

Active member

Equipment
L4310 w/La682, L225
Oct 25, 2020
426
149
43
CNY

ruger1980

Active member

Equipment
L4310 w/La682, L225
Oct 25, 2020
426
149
43
CNY

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
12,020
5,208
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
slow spinning, maybe due to LOW battery voltage and current capability.

8.5 volts on glowplugs gets about 50 amps to them ( 8.5 / .16) ,may not be getting hot enough ?

I'd expect 10 volts on the GPs and that'd get 20 amps PER GP.. (so 60 amps just to heat them..)
I wonder what the OM/WSM says as to 'specs' ?
 
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Stinger23

Member

Equipment
L2550 w/LA400 Loader
Jan 9, 2025
36
3
8
Basehor KS
12.6v or higher is considered fully charged and that's right where mine is so it shouldn't be low battery voltage, though it could be low voltage at the starter due to a bad connection somewhere. That's what I'll test next time I'm near the tractor.
 

ruger1980

Active member

Equipment
L4310 w/La682, L225
Oct 25, 2020
426
149
43
CNY
One more question, does it start better if the throttle is at full fuel? If so there could be an issue with the start spring in the governor assembly.
 

Stinger23

Member

Equipment
L2550 w/LA400 Loader
Jan 9, 2025
36
3
8
Basehor KS
One more question, does it start better if the throttle is at full fuel? If so there could be an issue with the start spring in the governor assembly.
It starts better with some throttle for sure. I don't honestly think it would ever start if the throttle was at idle, even in the summer. I give it about a 30% throttle for it to start in the summer. In the winter I've only started it three or four times so I've not figured out what works best yet, but I've certainly given it a lot of throttle to get it to start, not necessarily full throttle.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

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L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
31,035
7,003
113
Sandpoint, ID
Address the glow plug circuit before you even bother with the compression.
Which by the sound of it cranking is not an issue.

Contrary to @ruger1980 statement, This Kubota engine requires the glow plugs to work properly for it to fire when cold.
The glow plug circuit works in preheat and while cranking.
I don't have to preheat my glow plugs unless it's in the 20's but if I do, it certainly starts faster.

The chances of a start spring being damaged is really rare, but could happen.
You will have to pull the stop cover and the throttle cover in order to inspect it.
If you go down that path let me know and I'll explain better.
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
12,020
5,208
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
12.6v or higher is considered fully charged and that's right where mine is so it shouldn't be low battery voltage, though it could be low voltage at the starter due to a bad connection somewhere. That's what I'll test next time I'm near the tractor.
in post #60....
G2 Black/White: 0, 0, 8.4, 7.7

G2 is only 8.4 volts NOT 12.6. BTW 12.6 would usually be at 'room temperature of 70*F'.....

I'm assuming 8.4 is glow plug voltage, but there will be IIR drop between switch and actual glow plugs.

What's rating for the battery ( CCA ) ,age and 'state of charge' ?

Even at 8.4 volts, the 3 glowplugs draw 50 amps out of the battery, so doing that for any length of time , the battery 'terminal' voltage goes down and then stuff that needs 12 volts doesn't get 12 and won't operate properly. It's a vicious downward spiral.

FWIW I needed a second BIG battery on my forklift JUST for the air intake heater( glow plug on steroids ).Without it, starter turned slower after 30 seconds of preheat vs no preheat.

I'd like to see a solid 10 volts at the glow plugs after 30 seconds of preheat'. The experts will know what's 'acceptable'.
 

ruger1980

Active member

Equipment
L4310 w/La682, L225
Oct 25, 2020
426
149
43
CNY
Address the glow plug circuit before you even bother with the compression.
Which by the sound of it cranking is not an issue.

Contrary to @ruger1980 statement, This Kubota engine requires the glow plugs to work properly for it to fire when cold.
The glow plug circuit works in preheat and while cranking.
I don't have to preheat my glow plugs unless it's in the 20's but if I do, it certainly starts faster.

The chances of a start spring being damaged is really rare, but could happen.
You will have to pull the stop cover and the throttle cover in order to inspect it.
If you go down that path let me know and I'll explain better.
I am not making claims I am just reiterating what Kubota says about their own engines. The snip I added is right from the WSM and the OP manual says to key on and directly start with no mention of preheat. And I do understand that the glow plugs heat during crank but that is limited unless you have a long crank.
 

GreensvilleJay

Well-known member

Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
Apr 2, 2019
12,020
5,208
113
Greensville,Ontario,Canada
Use of 'preheat' is generally based on how friggin cold the engine is.
I KNOW my BX23S starts 'better' (faster, easier, smoother) when it's given 5 seconds of 'preheat' any day of the year Winter,Spring,Summer or Fall. It 'costs' me nothing,so I do it every time...it starts easily, every time.

Yes, I know not all diesels were created equal but since this one has manual preheat, I'd preheat based on temperature (cold =10 seconds, colder 20 seconds,real cold =30 seconds) or whatever the manual suggests.
I'll still harp about the low volts on the GPs though. With low power to them, they won't generate the heat they should according to the book....heck say they should have 10 volts, only getting 8, that's a 20 % LOSS in heat they SHOULD be getting. On a warm sunny day maybe not a big deal, but where I am ,cold Canada it IS a big deal.

Another post says 2 different style GPs.... wonder if they're internally different ? Maybe the installed ones produce less heat (BTUs) than the required ones ? Hmm, anyone ever see 'charts' for GPs like they have for spark plugs ??
 

Stinger23

Member

Equipment
L2550 w/LA400 Loader
Jan 9, 2025
36
3
8
Basehor KS
Battery is 810 CCA, 930 CA, 9/22 date. It holds a charge for a long time just sitting so it seems to be in good shape and I've had it on a trickle charger the whole time it's been in the shop since I keep cranking and preheating it during these tests and such. So it should be at least north of 80% charge.

11.63v at the starter when cranking with battery at 12.89v. Fired up immediately twice in a row, can't explain that as I've cranked it probably about 60 seconds during these tests and this is the first time it's started. It did sound like it was getting close to starting when I cranked it for the video I posted this morning though.
 
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