Starter cranks. Engine won’t start.

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

I may be confused about terms: When I turn the key, it makes a good loud noise like it’s going to start, but then does nothing. Is that “cranking” but not turning over?
I’ve temporarily wired across the two neutral safety switches. I bought a new seat safety switch, but it seems to act the same whether I’m in the seat or not. The fuel comes out in spurts just past the air bleed valve. The glow plugs have continuity with the negative battery terminal, but I didn’t disconnect them for the test. I have never needed to use the glue plugs at all previously (Texas you know)

I’ve cleaned the negative battery connection to chassis. I’m using jumper cables to my truck. It’s seems to be getting good power to starter.

What do I check next?
When it worked before, it would usually start right up. Sometimes after a while it would die and the. wouldn’t restart, but after waiting 5 or 10 minutes, it usually would

I took the safety switch off and it continued starting and running without it. even with the plug just hanging empty.

At some point it would start up and run if I held in both of the nuetral safety switches with my finger but would die if I let go. (This doesn’t make any sense to me. It should continue running out of neutral, right?) Why are there two switches/ four wires in the neutral safety switch? Connecting two of the wires allows it to crank. The other two do nothing? Should I gave them connected or apart?
Solenoid? what does it do? where is it? how do i test it?

Dumb question: does diesel have spark plugs? could they be bad?

PLEASE HELP!

 

[Henro]

I would say there is a chance you have a bad battery. If you turn the headlights on, and they actually work, what happens when you try to start the tractor with the headlights on?

If the headlights dim significantly or go out, you likely have a bad battery or a bad connection in the battery main cable connections.

Try to this and report back. Someone here will help you.

edit. No diesels don’t have spark plugs. But regardless, if the engine is not turning it doesn’t matter if it is gas or diesel.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

WOW, did you throw the kitchen sink at it for good measure?

I've sent your a link to get the WSM (aka service manual) you'll need it to properly diagnose what's happening and what's not happening.
Envelope top right.

NO there is no spark plugs.

Cranking / turning over is the motor spinning, Unclear is that happening or not?
Firing is the engine running.

The seat switch is dual purpose, one for sitting one for the seat flipped up to run when PTO is in use and no one is in the seat.

Bypassing all the safety switches is 100% a bad idea, and doesn't help you one bit.

If it cranks but won't run, then it's not getting fuel to the cylinders, that's the stop solenoid working or not working depending on the set up, Kubota uses both.
Read the WSM on how to check and tests it and the circuit.
Have you checked all the fuses!

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

WOW, did you throw the kitchen sink at it for good measure?

I've sent your a link to get the WSM (aka service manual) you'll need it to properly diagnose what's happening and what's not happening.
Envelope top right.

NO there is no spark plugs.

Cranking / turning over is the motor spinning, Unclear is that happening or not?
Firing is the engine running.

The seat switch is dual purpose, one for sitting one for the seat flipped up to run when PTO is in use and no one is in the seat.

Bypassing all the safety switches is 100% a bad idea, and doesn't help you one bit.

If it cranks but won't run, then it's not getting fuel to the cylinders, that's the stop solenoid working or not working depending on the set up, Kubota uses both.
Read the WSM on how to check and tests it and the circuit.
Have you checked all the fuses!

 

[Russell King]

Diesels do not have spark plugs

I am not sure what the problem is exactly but use these term to describe what it does or does not do
does not crank = motor is not spinning when key in start position

does not start when cranking = motor will not start and run but does spin with the starter when key is in start position.

makes a chattering noise = starter not spinning engine but makes a repetitive noise when key is held in start position

makes one clicking noise = starter makes one clicking sound and then nothing happens (no chatter or spinning)

The last description is what I think is happening.

I would remove the battery and replace it with a known good battery and clean all four ends of the battery cables when the battery is removed.

edit= typing while NIW answered also

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

I made a video of it cranking, but can’t seem to load anything other than a still photo. it makes a strong starter noise. The fan turns around. But no combustion.

Is the solenoid after the fuel pump and air bleeder? I’m getting fuel at least that far. Is the fuel supposed to spurt and stop or should it be continuous?

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

Diesels do not have spark plugs

I am not sure what the problem is exactly but use these term to describe what it does or does not do
does not crank = motor is not spinning when key in start position

does not start when cranking = motor will not start and run but does spin with the starter when key is in start position.

makes a chattering noise = starter not spinning engine but makes a repetitive noise when key is held in start position

makes one clicking noise = starter makes one clicking sound and then nothing happens (no chatter or spinning)

The last description is what I think is happening.

I would remove the battery and replace it with a known good battery and clean all four ends of the battery cables when the battery is removed.

edit= typing while NIW answered also

No. it is definitely cranking. Fan turns around. Starter makes the sound it makes right before engine starts, but no combustion. (not the clicking of a weak battery)

If fuel gets to fuel pump and to air bleeder valve, how do I check if it is getting to injectors?

Is solenoid involved?

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

No I h

no I have not. The three by the battery look good and test continuous. The fourth space has nothing connected to it. I’ll check the ones under the steering wheel.
Which am I looking for?

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

N

WOW, did you throw the kitchen sink at it for good measure?

I've sent your a link to get the WSM (aka service manual) you'll need it to properly diagnose what's happening and what's not happening.
Envelope top right.

NO there is no spark plugs.

Cranking / turning over is the motor spinning, Unclear is that happening or not?
Firing is the engine running.

The seat switch is dual purpose, one for sitting one for the seat flipped up to run when PTO is in use and no one is in the seat.

Bypassing all the safety switches is 100% a bad idea, and doesn't help you one bit.

If it cranks but won't run, then it's not getting fuel to the cylinders, that's the stop solenoid working or not working depending on the set up, Kubota uses both.
Read the WSM on how to check and tests it and the circuit.
Have you checked all the fuses!

Not to worry. I just wired across the safety switches to test them. If I get it running, I will buy a new one and install it.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I made a video of it cranking, but can’t seem to load anything other than a still photo. it makes a strong starter noise. The fan turns around. But no combustion.

Is the solenoid after the fuel pump and air bleeder? I’m getting fuel at least that far. Is the fuel supposed to spurt and stop or should it be continuous?

Upload the video to You tube and give us a link to see it or if you have a goole drive account load it on there and share it:

Yes the fuel stop solenoid moves the rack or linkage to the injection pump and stops fuel.
There is also a manual stop lever on the right side under the dash, make sure that's not pulled.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

When you hit reply, move your cursor under the quote box then type your message.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Not to worry. I just wired across the safety switches to test them. If I get it running, I will buy a new one and install it.

Some switches are required to be OPEN in order for them to work.
The WSM will point out each one.

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

Wolfman wins!! Found a 5 amp fuse (no idea which one that wasn’t continuous. Traded it out for another one and it started right up.
You my hero. and really this whole site is. Thanks to everyone for helping!!

Please look at the list of things I tried before really checking all the fuses!! Aargh!!

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

Some switches are required to be OPEN in order for them to work.
The WSM will point out each one.

 

[Sweet Alice Kubota]

Now I’m gonna check out that WSM and figure out which fuse does what.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

While you're at it , do some serious 'house keeping' on the tractor . That fuse panel shows a lot of neglect and 'electrical gremlins' LOVE to hide in 'grungy' spots like that.
A clean tractor will be a happy tractor.