Clicking noise when in neutral, then starter started smoking (L3901).

[Ryan_Waxhaw]

Hello Orange Tractor Pros,

Today I was doing normal tractor-stuff when i noticed that when the toggle-pedal was in neutral (not being pushed), there was a strange rapid clicking or sputtering sound on the left-hand side of the tractor (L3901). When i pushed the pedal into forward, or reverse, the noise stopped. I jumped off to investigate and that's when i saw the smoke pouring out from around the starter (or at least i'm assuming that's the starter).

I then turned the tractor off and waited for it to cool down and then tried to start it again, and nothing. No clicking, no churning. The electrical stuff all turns on, but it doesn't even try and start.
I attached a picture of the smoke (below)

Normally, i would take this off to the dealer, but its stuck, down by the pond and there is no way i can get it out without starting it up.

My guess is replace the starter, but why would the starter make all that noise and smoke when the tractor was already started? PS > If that's a dumb question, i apologize, i'm fairly good with a set of tools, but this is my first tractor...

Thanks for any help/guidance/insights you can provide!
Ryan

 

[Jim L.]

First, sorry for your woes.

Normally, i would take this off to the dealer,

You need a friend with a tractor, backhoe, 4-wheel drive, etc. and a chain to pull you out. Or rent a machine for a day. Or a backhoe service. Something.

This may be more than a starter and you will need access under the back hood (bonnet). The other consideration is that this model has an ECU (engine control unit) that you do not want to fry. I see damage to the cable next to the starter that will need repair. The starter can be bench tested off the tractor. Other testing along the starter circuit such as relays. This will take a bit of time so it needs to go under cover and out of the weather if possible.

While the starter may have gotten toasted, I don't think that the starter is the root cause. I would not put a new starter on until I find that the old one is toast, and find out how it came to be toasted.

 

[tinkerwitheverything]

Sometimes the starter drive will get stuck in the out position and stay hung up in the ring gear on the flywheel. So what happens is with the motor running the starter keeps getting turned. Your description that smoke was coming from the starter sounds like you've cooked the starter. One other thing is to make sure that your key switch isn't screwed up as well . If the switch wasn't releasing from the start position it would have kept the starter motor engaged ,. Just a couple possibilities.

 

[random]

The "not even trying to start" could be as simple as a safety switch issue. Check those, including wiggling the pedal as you crank it. (I'm assuming HST)
About the only thing that might gain you is the ability to drive the tractor out of where it is, though, assuming it even works. It's a long shot, and you definitely have bigger problems.

My concern about trying that would be that it might end up causing more damage. Anyone have thoughts on that? (I would wait for that input before trying).

 

[Dave_eng]

Your tractor is controlled by computers......... not simple like older machines.

Are any codes appearing on the Intellipanel?

To avoid causing more damage, my suggestion is to remove the battery ground cable so everything is dead. Then try and get a Kubota tech to make a a service call. Most dealers provide this service as Kubota has up-sized their product line so their techs must go to the machine not vice versa.

I have attached the page from the WSM showing the starting system.

Dave

 

[Ryan_Waxhaw]

Thank you all for your insights. I was able to drag it up the hill and the Kubota Dealer came and got it. Long story short, it was just the starter. It burned out when it didn't get properly released. Its running fine and all is back to normal.

 

[sheepfarmer]

Thank you all for your insights. I was able to drag it up the hill and the Kubota Dealer came and got it. Long story short, it was just the starter. It burned out when it didn't get properly released. Its running fine and all is back to normal.

Thanks for letting us know!