L245DT Dash/starter/glow plugs

[701h]

Hi all,

First post and first tractor.
I was given a 1979 (I think) L245DT when a neighbour sold his property. I dont know why, but the dash was completely replaced, has no dials or indicators of any kind. The glow plugs are not connected to anything. I live in the tropics, so its warm most of the time, and if its a hot day the tractor starts up fine, but on the cooler days its a real struggle. I'd like to hook up the glow plugs but have no idea how. I'm going to remove them and test to resistance to see if they are still any good. If not, I'll replace them. Can I just wire them directly to the battery with a little switch? The days here are rarely below 20C (68F) so they would probably only need to be on for 15 seconds or so.

Please enlighten me with your wisdom.
Thanks
Rich

 

[Russell King]

The wiring is a little odd but straightforward to do.

There is normally a key switch that just turns the tractor power on. Then a second knob switch (lower right on dash) that activates the glow plugs and the starter (glow left, start right). There is also a glow plug indicator that is a silver ring with a hole in it that should glow dimly if it is dark, so don’t expect to see it easily. That is also a resistor to drop the voltage down when pre-heating the glow plugs. So the glow plugs shouldn’t see a full 12 volts. When the starter is activated the glow plugs are also activated but the glow plug indicator is out of the circuit. So in this case the starter is dropping the voltage that reaches the glow plugs.

So yes you can wire them up to activate them but you should use the glow plug indicator and a switch that will release the circuit (push button) so they don’t stay on when the engine is running.

I will try to send you the operator manual for the L185 and a work shop manual that covers the L185 and your L245. There should be an envelope icon in the upper right corner of your screen that shows you have a private message with them attached.

I believe that the wiring diagram shows the glow plugs wired incorrectly like they are in series (last glow plug grounded) but they are in parallel (both go directly to ground through the glow plug case).

 

[Russell King]

So sorry but I am unable to attach the manuals in a PM. I guess I have to send them by email…

So instead you can get them from

Index of Kubotabooks/Tractor Owners Manuals/

Pick on the tractor picture for an index like this

If you can’t get them send me an email to RussellKing at Austin dot rr dot com

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

There are mutiple ways to do it:

This is how you do it, if it has a stock switch.
Pre heat: Switch to Inbound terminal of Indicator coil (yellow), through indicator coil, then on to glow plugs (blue)
Start: Switch to Outbounds terminal of indicator (green), NOT through indicator coil then on to glow plugs.

 

[701h]

Thank you so much everyone. I have already downloaded the manuals, but could not make head nor tail of the wiring diagram. Now it makes perfect sense with the blue/yellow/green lines. I didn't realize the indicator also dropped the voltage while pre-heating.