Kubota L39 won't start, turns over, just some black smoke.

[burmjohn]

Hi All,

New here, found the site via a google search. We have a Kubota L39 we use for some small food plots and property maintenance on our place in Upstate NY.

The L39 has ran perfect until the other day. I drove it for about 2 min to a spot where I keep the backhoe, I took off the disc we had on there, then backed up to attach the backhoe. All of a sudden I could not get the L39 to start again, the engine turns over but its not starting. There is some blackish smoke that comes out when trying to start.

I checked the battery it was fine, charged it anyways. Tried to start it again, no luck. There was 3/4 tank of fuel in there, so that shouldnt be the issue.

When searching around this site there were a few mention of bad sensors in the seat or pto, but if it was a bad sensor it wouldnt turn over at all correct?


Any idea's? All help is appreciated.

Thank you
John

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Check the bottom of your fuel tank and fuel lines and see if something is blocking the flow of diesel to the engine.

 

[hodge]

If it was a safety switch, it wouldn't turn over at all.
When did you last service the fuel filter?
And welcome to OTT!

 

[burmjohn]

If it was a safety switch, it wouldn't turn over at all.
When did you last service the fuel filter?
And welcome to OTT!

The machine one has about 180 hours on it, it was changed when we purchased it with 80 hours from what I understand (it was a demo unit for a store going out of biz).


Thanks for the welcome!


Regarding checking the fuel lines / tank - how should I go about doing that?

Thanks all!

 

[Eric McCarthy]

Take an empty fuel can or a bucket and drain the diesel into the container. Sometimes small debris can get into the bottom of the tank and clog up the flow of fuel from the bottom of the tank into the lines. Also the fuel cap itself has a vent button on top, take a tooth pick and poke around in the cap and see if gunk falls out.

 

[burmjohn]

Take an empty fuel can or a bucket and drain the diesel into the container. Sometimes small debris can get into the bottom of the tank and clog up the flow of fuel from the bottom of the tank into the lines. Also the fuel cap itself has a vent button on top, take a tooth pick and poke around in the cap and see if gunk falls out.

I'll see if I can give that a try this weekend. Thanks again guys.

 

[murky]

Please do not be offended by my comment.

When I can't start the tractor its often because I haven't pushed back in the engine kill pull.

Usually it takes me a few seconds to figure out, but if I am particularly brain dead it can be much longer than that.

I'm sure this isn't your problem, but that's the first thing that came to mind.

 

[kuboman]

Hi All,

New here, found the site via a google search. We have a Kubota L39 we use for some small food plots and property maintenance on our place in Upstate NY.

The L39 has ran perfect until the other day. I drove it for about 2 min to a spot where I keep the backhoe, I took off the disc we had on there, then backed up to attach the backhoe. All of a sudden I could not get the L39 to start again, the engine turns over but its not starting. There is some blackish smoke that comes out when trying to start.

I checked the battery it was fine, charged it anyways. Tried to start it again, no luck. There was 3/4 tank of fuel in there, so that shouldnt be the issue.

When searching around this site there were a few mention of bad sensors in the seat or pto, but if it was a bad sensor it wouldnt turn over at all correct?


Any idea's? All help is appreciated.

Thank you
John

Did you shut it off and then it would not start or did it stop on its own.?

 

[burmjohn]

Quick update. I ran into my neighbor up at the cabin this weekend, he is a diesel mechanic (crazy lucky right?) We went through the whole fuel system. Good flow from the gravity feed to the fuel filter, good flow out of the fuel filter to the pump. Now this is where the problem lies, after it goes into the pump it doesnt seem like when you crank it that is shooting enough fuel out of the pump. Very little is coming out when you turn it over.

I was searching around, how can a mechanical fuel pump like that die with just about 200 hrs? I guess I'll just try to replace it and see how it goes? I was trying to find a diagram of the fuel pump, assuming there is a diaphragm in there? Any suggestions on where to get a pump from online?

Thanks
John

 

[kubotasam]

I have had very good luck ordering parts online from Messick's. However any Kubota dealer should be able to help you.

http://www.messicks.com/KubotaCatalog.aspx

 

[birddogger]

If there's blackish smoke then it must be getting fuel; something is turning to smoke. One thing that almost is never mentioned is diesels have to turn over to a minimum rpm to start. I'd run through the usual wire brushing the battery posts and cable-clamp ends to get as much spin on it I could. If this has a compression release try; heating the glow plugs, pulling the release, spin it up for 1/2 second, drop the compression release.

 

[burmjohn]

If there's blackish smoke then it must be getting fuel; something is turning to smoke. One thing that almost is never mentioned is diesels have to turn over to a minimum rpm to start. I'd run through the usual wire brushing the battery posts and cable-clamp ends to get as much spin on it I could. If this has a compression release try; heating the glow plugs, pulling the release, spin it up for 1/2 second, drop the compression release.

I failed to mention before, I did get it started however there is no power when you hit the peddle which is what caused us to start to trace back the fuel lines. There just isnt enough fuel coming out of that pump.

 

[heydannie]

Had the same problem with my 2010 L39. Operator error. I closed the 2 hydraulic levers before I connected the backhoe lines. Had to backup to connect lines engine would not start just black smoke pulled the levers out and it started.