L235 Will not Start

MFrye

New member

Equipment
L235
Aug 6, 2012
3
0
0
Aberdeen, North carolina USA
I have a rebuilt fuel pump. I have bled the lines many times. It is puffing smoke. Turns over well. It will not crank. What am I missing. I had a Kubota dealer work on it. I use it about twice a month. Put it in the shed and now it only turns over and never even sounds like it wants to crank
 

motorhead

Active member

Equipment
2009 B3200, 2007 Dodge/Cummins powered Ram 2500 395hp
May 17, 2012
441
34
28
Atascadero
If you are turning the engine over and you are seeing WHITE smoke coming from the exhaust then you have fuel to the injectors. Have you checked your GLOW PLUG circuit?
With only using the tractor twice a month, Is the battery fully charged?
Sometimes jump starting the tractor from your car or truck will turn it over faster thus generating more heat in the combustion chamber. DON'T use starting ether!
What I do to see if at least the glow plug circuit is drawing current while in the glow position is to turn the key just to the run position then to the GLOW position. I watch to see if the dash lights DIM while in the glow position. Check ALL fuses and look for a 20-30 amp one for the glow plugs.
Let us know what you find.
 

gpreuss

New member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L3200DT w/FEL, K650 Backhoe, 5' Rotary, 40" Howard Rotavator, 6' Rhino blade
Oct 9, 2011
1,166
6
0
Spokane, WA
Does that model have a compression release? If the lever or button is part way out it could do something like that.
 

MFrye

New member

Equipment
L235
Aug 6, 2012
3
0
0
Aberdeen, North carolina USA
Thanks for the feedback guys. It does have a compression relief. I will look into that. As far as the battery goes, it looks as if it is turning over fine. I cant remember but it seems that it is puffing dark smoke. My light is coming on when I turn the switch on for the glow plugs. It is 95 degrees and above here in NC, does the glow plugs have that much effect when its this warm. I just found out about using the pressure relief switch to help prime the fuel from this site. I was really hoping that was the problem, but it was not. I am a gas engine man and do not understand the workings of the diesel engine. So I'm going to look into the glow plugs and make sure the pressure relief is not on. I will let you know what happens. Thanks
 

birddogger

New member
May 29, 2011
433
0
0
Pittsburgh
Try this:
Warm glow plugs.
Pull compression release.
Hold the starter for about 1/2 second then push in the compression release while cranking.
Let us know.
 

MFrye

New member

Equipment
L235
Aug 6, 2012
3
0
0
Aberdeen, North carolina USA
Sorry I have not been able to try this until last nite. Warmed glow plugs for 30-45 sec and left off the compression knob. Turned the motor over and pulled compression back on. Still will not start. I had the battery charger on it to ensure enough power. It is puffing light gray smoke. What else could be wrong? I am willing to check anything but I don't know enough about diesel engines to look on my own.
 

kuboman

Member
Dec 6, 2009
725
6
16
Canada
You say you have a rebuilt fuel pump. Are you talking the main injection pump? If so has it run since it was installed?
 

Kubota Newbie

Active member

Equipment
M4500, New Idea Cut-Ditioner, JD 14T Baler, IH "Plow Chief" plows, Oliver Rake
Dec 28, 2010
533
81
28
Mount Vernon, Ohio
Sounds like your fuel pump was not properly "in time" when re-installed. The fuel pump on a diesel must be timed correctly just like a distributor on a gas engine. Otherwise, it ain't gonna run. Was the pump the only thing serviced, and did you have a WSM or other service manual to explain the proper installation proceedure for the injector pump? Has it EVER run since the pump re-install?
 

Russell King

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
L185F, Modern Ag Competitor 4’ shredder, Rhino tiller, rear dirt scoop
Jun 17, 2012
5,409
1,442
113
Austin, Texas
Not sure what you meant on you compression release operation. I have a L185 which is smaller but similar to your L235.

On mine there is a cable like a choke on the dash. Pushed in there is compression (compression relief is off). Pulled out there is NOT compression (pressure relief is on).

I live in a warm climate and still have to use the glow plugs to get it to start in a reaonably short amount of cranking.

Just to cover the basics (which I imagine that you already know). The key should be turned one position to the right to have electrical power. The starter knob should be rotated and held in the CCW position for a few seconds (30?) to warm the glow plugs and then the starter knob rotated to the CW to engage the starter motor.

If the compression relief cable is out it will turn much faster (10 to 20% I would guess) than when the compression relief cable is pushed in.

I do not start mine using the compression relief although I have done it a few times. Pull out cable, crank for a few seconds (2-3?) to get speed and push cable back in.

Sorry if these seem obvious but I am just making sure you have the steps correctly outlined.

I am no expert on deisels but they operate fairly similar to gas - you have to have compression, fuel and air. The only thing is the fuel injection is timed to the engine as mentioned in another reply. If you can't get it to start then I would try to eliminate problems with the air intake since that is the easiest, then clean out the fuel system and replace the filter and bleed the lines out. Then insure your glow plugs are working properly and then go to the compression tests (last since I would not have the equipment to test it).

Have you checked the fuel filter, checked for water or algae in the tank or fuel lines. Used any additive in the fuel that could affect it? Have you checked the air filter - is it choked off and no air into engine possible?