L245DT - Glow Plug System Query

If the filament is broke on the indicator, then your not receiving full power when the knob is in the glow plug position. You can check it with a test light. Wire comes from the knob for start and glow plug. Goes thru the indicator, then to the glow plugs. If it's wired like mine, it also applies power when you turn the knob to the start position.

bailing wire, really. If you measured 25 amps I would say you are good. I tested mine and I had 9 volts at the first plug to battery negative. Then I turned it heat up and put my finger on it, yes I could feel them get hot. No I didn't burn by finger. You could have a short to the frame if you are drawing that much current. I suspect you are ok. Come on just burn one finger.

Replace the indicator. It isn't just an indicator, it's a resistor. If your baling wire doesn't have enough resistance, you could damage the wiring or cause the glow plugs to fail prematurely. Too much and it won't be warm enough. If they're like the plugs on my L1500, they're pretty long and may take a while to heat up on the outside end, although I haven't touched mine to see.

According to Tractor Data your L245DT has a Kubota DH1101 engine.

From Kubotabooks.com, the manual for a L245DT and its wiring diagram for your tractor, has the GP's wired in series not parallel.

In my experience, many tractors with series wired glow plugs have been messed with by someone not knowing about series wired and they wire the GP's in parallel which does not work.

Series wired GP's will have two electrical wires on each GP and the last GP will have one of its electrical wires going to a ground on the engine block.

This marked up collection of two wiring schemes for GP's might make the comparison easier to understand.


I suggest you take some pictures of your engine and its glow plugs if you are not making progress in solving your problem. Then if the GP's are wired wrong you can be helped to fix this issue. Your description of the current draw and voltage measurements makes me think the GP's have been wired wrong. You should not measure 12 volts at each GP.


This next selection of photos shows a GP set wired wrong. It also shows the last plug with the ground wire to the block was on the wrong terminal of the GP.





This shows the two electrical terminals on a series wired GP. You can easily miss the fact that its has two terminals with an insulator in between.



Dave M7040