Kubota L275 super hard to start

[moesfarm]

I have a little 3 cylinder Kubota that should not be this hard to start.I bought it not running and when I got it home and finally got it started.It was blowing oil out of the blowby tube bad.I had a inframe overhaul done on it and it runs pretty good now just really hard to start.
All of the 3 glow plugs are working.I glow it for about 20 seconds and then it turns over fast (new battery also) blows dark gray smoke and finally starts after about 10 seconds of cranking.
I did not have the injectors checked would they affect starting?Could the timing be off?

 

[coachgeo]

I...did not have the injectors checked would they affect starting?Could the timing be off?

hmmm would drinking Mad Dog wine all night tend to make it hard to get up and attem early in the mornings.

Both will affect starting a lot.

 

[olthumpa]

I have had a L275 for 32 years and it has always complained about starting. Try the compression release, black knob on the left side of the dash, after the glow plugs are hot pull it out before you start to crank the engine. When the engine is up to max cranking rpm release the compression release cable. This helps especialy in cold weather.

I use the glow plugs year round.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

20 sec is a little light on the glows, 30 to 60 is normal.

Yes bad injectors will make it hard to start.

Timing being off could do it, but it will effect the entire range, so if idle, mid, and high RPM's are all good the timing is good.

Mis-adjusted valves could also be the problem.

 

[olthumpa]

20 sec is a little light on the glows, 30 to 60 is normal.

Yes bad injectors will make it hard to start.

Timing being off could do it, but it will effect the entire range, so if idle, mid, and high RPM's are all good the timing is good.

Mis-adjusted valves could also be the problem.

I adjusted my valves about 3 mths ago, they were not out by much but it did decrease the glow plug time for summer usage from around 30 - 35 sec to 20. In cold weather it wants a full 60, will see what this winter brings for glow time.

 

[ShaunRH]

A little MAPP gas or Propane from an unlit torch into the intake can help start a diesel that has some minor injector issues (not enough atomization cold), but it has to be added AFTER the glow plugs are off, just before you cranks.

If you have a compression release, use it. You can also use a blow dryer on the intake to heat the head and upper cylinders a bit (which is what the glow plugs are supposed to do but they may be a little tired).

All of these techniques have helped start older diesels for me in the past. If that's a high compression motor, don't use starting fluid- ever.