ZD331 starting issue

[Williet79]

Good morning All! i have a kubota ZD331 that i am having an issue getting started. It has a very slow/labored crank and while not start. i pulled the injectors for testing and they came back good from repair shop. While the injectors were out, i cranked engine over and it spun the engine very easily, like it should. With injectors installed, back to slow crank, no start. i pulled air intake to make sure no obstructions. i removed muffler to make sure that wasn't choking it. i adjust valves, some were out of adjustment. Last, siphoned fuel tank and put fresh fuel in. Still the same. i replaced fuel filters and fuel pump already as well.

What is my next move. just condemn the head gasket??? usually when a gasket goes i can see it pumping water vapor from exhaust system, it is not the case in this situation???

 

[Savoy John]

Good morning All! i have a kubota ZD331 that i am having an issue getting started. It has a very slow/labored crank and while not start. i pulled the injectors for testing and they came back good from repair shop. While the injectors were out, i cranked engine over and it spun the engine very easily, like it should. With injectors installed, back to slow crank, no start. i pulled air intake to make sure no obstructions. i removed muffler to make sure that wasn't choking it. i adjust valves, some were out of adjustment. Last, siphoned fuel tank and put fresh fuel in. Still the same. i replaced fuel filters and fuel pump already as well.

What is my next move. just condemn the head gasket??? usually when a gasket goes i can see it pumping water vapor from exhaust system, it is not the case in this situation???

"slow/labored crank" would lead me to the starting system. First thing I would do is get the battery load tested and proceed with diagnostics from there.

 

[Williet79]

i forgot to start with that. Also installed a new battery since the other was already 3yrs old and did a starter as a last ditch effort under the assumption that it was just weak. Battery and starter are both good...

 

[Russell King]

Did you inspect, clean the ends of both cables? You may not have the correct amperage getting to the starter. You may want to try a few things at the starter.

1). Make sure you have good amperage by adding heavy duty jumper cables between the battery and the starter. Clamp positive to the starterpost same as the existing cable. Clamp negative to the starter mounting bolt.

2). If that doesn’t work then get a second battery from a car or truck that starts reliably and move the jumper cables from the tractor battery to the second battery.

3). You may need to clean the starter mounting surface so the starter has a good ground path.

Good luck

 

[Williet79]

Did you inspect, clean the ends of both cables? You may not have the correct amperage getting to the starter. You may want to try a few things at the starter.

1). Make sure you have good amperage by adding heavy duty jumper cables between the battery and the starter. Clamp positive to the starterpost same as the existing cable. Clamp negative to the starter mounting bolt.

2). If that doesn’t work then get a second battery from a car or truck that starts reliably and move the jumper cables from the tractor battery to the second battery.

3). You may need to clean the starter mounting surface so the starter has a good ground path.

Good luck

I'll give all that a shot. i did already clean the mounting surface and replaced the negative cable to ground when it came in. might try a bigger battery from a car or truck to see if that can juice it and get it started. thanks for your reply

 

[Williet79]

Did you inspect, clean the ends of both cables? You may not have the correct amperage getting to the starter. You may want to try a few things at the starter.

1). Make sure you have good amperage by adding heavy duty jumper cables between the battery and the starter. Clamp positive to the starterpost same as the existing cable. Clamp negative to the starter mounting bolt.

2). If that doesn’t work then get a second battery from a car or truck that starts reliably and move the jumper cables from the tractor battery to the second battery.

3). You may need to clean the starter mounting surface so the starter has a good ground path.

Good luck

Reporting back. Russell King, you are a badass. i installed a new negative cable when i replaced the battery because the old one was corroded and janky as hades. i thought i used a big enough cable. Used a heavy duty cable from a medium duty truck, and it fired it right up. I appreciate you and i hope you have yourself a badass day.