Could use some help, starting issue

Wendy lou

New member

Equipment
L3000F
Aug 1, 2018
10
0
0
Louisiana
I have a L3000F diesel I use around my property and at Hunting lease
I have not run it in a few months
Starter would not turn over, just click
I took starter off, tore down
Brushes were bad so I changed them
Starter worked good

Went to start, would not crank
Used a little ether and it fired up for a second
Pulled fuel line at tank and diesel ran out

So I have a fuel issue
Ran great last time I used it
So where do I start now???
 

Tx Jim

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
M7040 HDC-1,JD 4255,Ford 6700
Apr 30, 2013
1,202
128
63
Coyote Flats,Texas
Welcome to OTT
One needs to use extreme caution when utilizing starter fluid on engine with glow plugs such as your L3000F because you could have an explosion damaging engine IE I recommend not to utilize starting fluid on your tractor.

Did you open bleed screw on fuel filter base to see if any air came out? There's a ""jet start valve on injection pump"" that one can open to help get engine started. After engine starts running close valve. Inj pump is located on RH side of engine close to the front of engine

If it's been very long since fuel filter was changed I'd suggest to change fuel filter.
 

Mudball

Active member

Equipment
L2501 HST 4WD
Aug 3, 2015
526
25
28
TN
Welcome aboard and it sounds like you are going in the right direction.
Also depending on the length of time and temps you might want to consider draining the fuel and adding fresh.
Good luck.
 

Wendy lou

New member

Equipment
L3000F
Aug 1, 2018
10
0
0
Louisiana
Welcome aboard and it sounds like you are going in the right direction.
Also depending on the length of time and temps you might want to consider draining the fuel and adding fresh.
Good luck.
It’s been about 4 months since I ran the tractor so fuel should be good I would think
 

Wendy lou

New member

Equipment
L3000F
Aug 1, 2018
10
0
0
Louisiana
Welcome to OTT
One needs to use extreme caution when utilizing starter fluid on engine with glow plugs such as your L3000F because you could have an explosion damaging engine IE I recommend not to utilize starting fluid on your tractor.

Did you open bleed screw on fuel filter base to see if any air came out? There's a ""jet start valve on injection pump"" that one can open to help get engine started. After engine starts running close valve. Inj pump is located on RH side of engine close to the front of engine

If it's been very long since fuel filter was changed I'd suggest to change fuel filter.
I will check the fuel filter drain then try to locate the injector pump bleed and try that
 

JerryMT

Active member

Equipment
Kubota M4500, NH TD95D,Ford 4610
Jun 17, 2017
528
156
43
The Palouse - North Idaho
I have a L3000F diesel I use around my property and at Hunting lease
I have not run it in a few months
Starter would not turn over, just click
I took starter off, tore down
Brushes were bad so I changed them
Starter worked good

Went to start, would not crank
Used a little ether and it fired up for a second
Pulled fuel line at tank and diesel ran out

So I have a fuel issue
Ran great last time I used it
So where do I start now???
I don't know why you'd suspect the starter before you checked the battery and the interlocks and then conclude you had a fuel problem when the starter wouldn't turn the engine over.

Starting a diesel requires a good battery/starter combination (as well as all the safety interlocks in the correct position to close the starter circuit) and adequate fuel. Don't use starting fluid because your can break rings and the lands on the piston as well as what the previous poster said about the glow plugs. If your starter did not crank make sure the battery is fully charged and interlocks are all closed so you have a closed circuit to the starter solenoid. If they are good, check the battery terminals and the chasis ground. A bad ground and/or corroded terminals can stop a good battery/starter combination in its tracks. If the starter won't crank and you used starting fluid, the glow plugs must have started combustion and cranked it enough to start.

Since you use the tractor occasionally, you need to charge the battery before you try to start it after a long period of non use. You also need to manage condensation in the fuel tank leading to bacterial sludge that can restrict fuel flow. Try to keep your fuel tank full between use periods to minimize condensation.
 

Russell King

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
5,426
1,447
113
Austin, Texas
Wendy Lou Hoo??

You may want to restrict your use of “didn’t crank”

Do you mean engine wouldn’t turn
Or
Do you mean engine spins but never fires off

I think some answers are provided for both problems since it is up to interpretation which you mean

Also are you using glow plugs and sure they are heating up?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Wendy lou

New member

Equipment
L3000F
Aug 1, 2018
10
0
0
Louisiana
Ok

Battery was kept on trickle charger, it was hot
Solenoid engaged but starter would not spin

That is why I took starter off and checked intetnals
Found brushes were bad, replaced brushes and starter worked fine

Turn d on ignition to glow plugs, tractor would not crank (run)

I assumed it was fuel issue
I took hose of tank and collected a sample of diesel
Had good flow, no evidence of water or slime

Thinking back, my light did not blink on glow plug setting of ignition
Going to check fuel lines etc, put new fuel filter
Clean fuel rail if need be

If not, I am thinking now my glow plugs are not working
 

Wendy lou

New member

Equipment
L3000F
Aug 1, 2018
10
0
0
Louisiana
Took fuel hose off at injector pump
Caught fuel in jar, had some water in it
Took fuel filter off
Removed hose at tank again
Shook tractor and let drain
Drained the whole tank
Refilled with new fuel filter
Let it purge to injector pump hose

Reconnected
Used WD 40 to start engine
Hit and ran for a second

I probably need to clear pump and injector rails

How do I do that?
Break loose at injectors and turn engine over?
 

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
30,601
6,629
113
Sandpoint, ID
Used WD 40 to start engine
Hit and ran for a second

I probably need to clear pump and injector rails

How do I do that?
Break loose at injectors and turn engine over?
Please stop doing any add on starting things like Wd40 or Ether or anything! You can do major damage to these engines!

Connect all the fuel lines, set the throttle to high, crack high pressure fuel lines at each injector (do not remove them) but not at the injection pump, crank it in small intervals to let starter cool, when you get clean bubble free fuel out of the Injector lines tighten them and it should fire right up. ;)
 

Wendy lou

New member

Equipment
L3000F
Aug 1, 2018
10
0
0
Louisiana
Please stop doing any add on starting things like Wd40 or Ether or anything! You can do major damage to these engines!

Connect all the fuel lines, set the throttle to high, crack high pressure fuel lines at each injector (do not remove them) but not at the injection pump, crank it in small intervals to let starter cool, when you get clean bubble free fuel out of the Injector lines tighten them and it should fire right up. ;)
Thank you
Going to do it now
 

Wendy lou

New member

Equipment
L3000F
Aug 1, 2018
10
0
0
Louisiana
I would like to thank everyone who gave me such good advise!

I drained tank, flushed hoses, new filter, fresh fuel.

Broke injectors loose, turn d engine over, let starter cool, do it again.

Tightened injector lines

Congrats anked up, runs fine.

Going to put a cut off valve in hose by tank

During the winter I will clean s the valve, spring I can d win tank and refill with fresh fuel

Thank you all !!!!!!