My l4400 died on me the other day. After looking around at it I noticed the fuel filter was dirty so I changed it. After that for a week I had no problems then I got on it one day and it took hitting the glow plugs to get it to fire and mind you it's 90° out. But after a time or two it started right up. The next time is 3 or 4 tries the next time there's four or five tries and then I noticed when it was running and starting to die if I kick the key back to the glow plugs heater it kept running for another second or two and I turn it back to run and it kept running. Currently that's how it says it now takes 30 seconds or so maybe a minute for two stay running after doing the back and forth with the key but I like to figure out what the problem is any ideas.
Kubota l4400 start and die
- Thread starter rh72mo
- Start date
North Idaho Wolfman
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The glow plugs work when it's cranking, but it sounds like you are having to help it heat more, probably a failed glow plug or two or three.
When on fails the others get more juice and thus if they are week they fail fast.
Disconnect the bus bar and check the OHMS on each plug.
When on fails the others get more juice and thus if they are week they fail fast.
Disconnect the bus bar and check the OHMS on each plug.
at 90 deg air temp glow plugs should not be needed. Certainly not needed to keep the engine running UNLESS the engine has low compression, then the additional heat from the glow plugs can often band-aid the lack of heat in the cylinder due to low compression
going off of memory......there may be a problem with the shutoff solenoid circuit. OTOH, The solenoid has two coils. One coil pulls the plunger in, the other coil HOLDS the coil in. The hold circuit uses a lot less electric current and the solenoid doesn't overheat. If the solenoid or circuit is bad it may only pull but not hold, and pull is done in start and glow position of the key IIRC.
going off of memory......there may be a problem with the shutoff solenoid circuit. OTOH, The solenoid has two coils. One coil pulls the plunger in, the other coil HOLDS the coil in. The hold circuit uses a lot less electric current and the solenoid doesn't overheat. If the solenoid or circuit is bad it may only pull but not hold, and pull is done in start and glow position of the key IIRC.
85Hokie
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As NIW said - checking the resistance of each glow plug can easily be done - remove the leads as he mentioned, with a "good" digital meter - set to resistance and place ONE lead on the top of the glow and the other on any good ground spot ( neg battery is perfect) You should get a number really close to 1 ohm - maybe a bit more, but if you have no reading, or the meter is showing zero movement, then that plug is bad.