LA302 cold start

Erz16

New member

Equipment
Kubota B7500 tractor
Dec 23, 2022
16
1
3
Missouri
First time owner of a Kubota tractor. Single digit temps and trouble starting. Turn glow plugs on and can get it to start, but cuts out. is it way too cold?
 

DustyRusty

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2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,295
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North East CT
Your fuel is gelling. Put some Power Service 911 (red bottle) into the fuel to break up the paraffin globules in the oil. Then once you have it running at a high idle for 15 minutes. Going forward, use the Power Service in the white bottle all the time. I don't measure it, just give it a splash when fueling the tractor. Haven't had a fuel gelling problem since I started using the Power Service white in my tractor fuel.
 

Erz16

New member

Equipment
Kubota B7500 tractor
Dec 23, 2022
16
1
3
Missouri
Read directions on bottle for how much 911? Will gelling go away as temps rise? So the gelling is causing the engine to not get fuel?
 

DustyRusty

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2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,295
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North East CT
Read directions on bottle for how much 911? Will gelling go away as temps rise? So the gelling is causing the engine to not get fuel?
Gelling is like having clogged arteries. It will get better when the temperatures rise. Have you ever made bacon and left the pan on the stove? As the bacon fat cools, it goes from a liquid to a solid. Apply some heat, and it goes back to being a liquid. Presently your lines are clogged with the paraffin wax that is inherent in all diesel fuels made from oil that comes out of the ground. The 911 will break down the wax in the oil and keep the wax molecules from joining together. Read the directions on the package. It is against the rules of OTT to advise to use of something in violation of the printed directions (I just made that up!). I think that I am going to ask the moderators to make this a "sticky" until the cold weather that has gripped our nation has passed. You know it is very cold when people in Texas have frozen pipes.
 
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Henro

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May 24, 2019
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You list your tractor as a LA302. That sounds like a loader designation rather than a tractor. Is it a BX? I would guess so…

DustyRusty’s advice is a good starting point. I believe gelling goes away as temps rise.
 

DustyRusty

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2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,295
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North East CT
That is a B7500 Kubota Tractor that was introduced in 2000. There are some different subsets of the tractor, so when asking questions someone is bound to ask you for the VIN or data plate to give you the correct information that is specific to your tractor. I know nothing about them other than what I have read on these forums. Here is a link to your model's specifications. https://www.tractordata.com/farm-tractors/003/7/2/3724-kubota-b7500.html
 
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Erz16

New member

Equipment
Kubota B7500 tractor
Dec 23, 2022
16
1
3
Missouri
So the LA302 refers to the front loading bucket I have on the front? Thanks for extra info about the tractor.
 

DustyRusty

Well-known member

Equipment
2020 BX23S, BX2822 Snowblower, Curtis Deluxe Cab,
Nov 8, 2015
6,295
4,873
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North East CT
So the LA302 refers to the front loading bucket I have on the front? Thanks for extra info about the tractor.
It isn't just the bucket, it is the whole assembly, the arms, bucket, hoses, valve, etc.
 
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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
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Sandpoint, ID
The LA302 is what they call the FEL (aka Front End Loader).

Starts and immediately dies?
Or starts and then sputters to the stop?
 

Erz16

New member

Equipment
Kubota B7500 tractor
Dec 23, 2022
16
1
3
Missouri
After sitting it will start and run for about 30+ sec then cuts out. After that starts and stop after a couple sec. Before the cold ran perfect.
 

Grandad4

Active member

Equipment
1949 Farmall M, previously owned: L 4610, BX 2230
Apr 5, 2016
331
85
28
Greensboro, NC
Adding the white bottle Power Service to the fuel will keep the fuel tank from gelling. But if the lines and fuel injectors have also become blocked, you may stiil need to do something to warm things up so the treated juice can flow into the lines. One of those torpedo space heaters is perfect, along with heated spaces, hot water or even a sunny day. Once everything has the treated fuel in it, you should be good to go.
 

Erz16

New member

Equipment
Kubota B7500 tractor
Dec 23, 2022
16
1
3
Missouri
Added some 911 to the fuel and then regular PS and the tractor is back up and running. Thanks for the help!!!!
 
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D2Cat

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Mar 27, 2014
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40 miles south of Kansas City
Gelling is like having clogged arteries. It will get better when the temperatures rise. Have you ever made bacon and left the pan on the stove? As the bacon fat cools, it goes from a liquid to a solid. Apply some heat, and it goes back to being a liquid. Presently your lines are clogged with the paraffin wax that is inherent in all diesel fuels made from oil that comes out of the ground. The 911 will break down the wax in the oil and keep the wax molecules from joining together. Read the directions on the package. It is against the rules of OTT to advise to use of something in violation of the printed directions (I just made that up!). I think that I am going to ask the moderators to make this a "sticky" until the cold weather that has gripped our nation has passed. You know it is very cold when people in Texas have frozen pipes.
Hey Dr. Dusty I'm waiting for warm weather. I might be able to run faster and take less medicine! ;)