Help with Kubota L3608

Xoce

New member
Nov 12, 2024
1
0
1
Europe
My Kubota starts perfectly.
The engine runs smoothly when idling, exhaust fumes are OK.
The hydraulics work both at the front and the rear.

When I accelerate, it works fine for about 6-10 seconds, then you can hear the engine starting to slow down, it starts to misfire and the speed drops significantly.
At this point, it also starts to smoke and stutter.
It no longer responds to the accelerator - so pressing the throttle to full has no effect.
Reminds me a bit of a "banana in the exhaust", i.e. a blocked exhaust.
Let the engine idle, wait a moment and I can rev it up again to 2,000 rpm, for example, which it holds for 6-10 seconds.
Then the whole thing starts again.

What could it be?
What could I check?

Today I bled it several times - that improved the symptoms a little, so that it at least holds the 2,000 for the 6-10 seconds mentioned, but it didn't get rid of it.
The exhaust pipes are clear from the engine through the manifold to the end (I had initially suspected a bird's nest in the exhaust).
The air filter is clean and clear.
The tank is full.
The diesel filter is new.
The fuel tap (with filter) is new (water separator?)

History of the tractor:
I got it from a dealer who buys used tractors, dismantles them and rebuilds them.
Completely repainted and replaces consumables.
It is possible that it had been standing there for a long time.

I had the tractor delivered - the tank was of course pretty empty.
So I filled it up. Then I drove the tractor (about 3 kilometers) and used the mulcher to mulch an area of grass of about 1,000 square meters. That worked great.
Then the tractor stood still for 4 days.
Today the problems mentioned occurred, after about 200 meters of driving.
 

JimmyJazz

Well-known member

Equipment
B2601
Aug 8, 2020
1,219
739
113
Pittsburgh, Pa
Maybe the dealer will help you out given the circumstances. It sounds like there might be an obstruction in the fuel line. Try removing the line at the filter and make sure the fuel is flowing freely into a receptacle of your choosing. If its not attempt to clear the line by blowing compressed air into the line from that location. This happened to me and I blew into the line with my mouth. A leaf fragment had somehow found its way into the line. It appeared floating in the tank. Good luck.
 

North Idaho Wolfman

Moderator
Staff member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3450DT-GST, Woods FEL, B7100 HSD, FEL, 60" SB, 743 Bobcat with V2203, and more
Jun 9, 2013
30,249
6,404
113
Sandpoint, ID
My Kubota starts perfectly.
The engine runs smoothly when idling, exhaust fumes are OK.
The hydraulics work both at the front and the rear.

When I accelerate, it works fine for about 6-10 seconds, then you can hear the engine starting to slow down, it starts to misfire and the speed drops significantly.
At this point, it also starts to smoke and stutter.
It no longer responds to the accelerator - so pressing the throttle to full has no effect.
Reminds me a bit of a "banana in the exhaust", i.e. a blocked exhaust.
Let the engine idle, wait a moment and I can rev it up again to 2,000 rpm, for example, which it holds for 6-10 seconds.
Then the whole thing starts again.

What could it be?
What could I check?

Today I bled it several times - that improved the symptoms a little, so that it at least holds the 2,000 for the 6-10 seconds mentioned, but it didn't get rid of it.
The exhaust pipes are clear from the engine through the manifold to the end (I had initially suspected a bird's nest in the exhaust).
The air filter is clean and clear.
The tank is full.
The diesel filter is new.
The fuel tap (with filter) is new (water separator?)

History of the tractor:
I got it from a dealer who buys used tractors, dismantles them and rebuilds them.
Completely repainted and replaces consumables.
It is possible that it had been standing there for a long time.

I had the tractor delivered - the tank was of course pretty empty.
So I filled it up. Then I drove the tractor (about 3 kilometers) and used the mulcher to mulch an area of grass of about 1,000 square meters. That worked great.
Then the tractor stood still for 4 days.
Today the problems mentioned occurred, after about 200 meters of driving.
Algae / Bacterial in the fuel is the most likely.
Get fuel treatment first.