So i have a ZD 331 with about 450 hrs on it. Last summer we started to have some power issues with it. Engine was just spuittering when we'd mow and almost want to cut out. I changed the engine oil....hydraulic and fuel filters. I will be going along at full speed mowing and then all of a sudden the motor will sputter right down to a crawl. And the exhaust is spitting drak smoke out of the back end. Any ideas that you guys have on this ?????
ZD 331 power issues
- Thread starter Guido3131
- Start date
If you already changed filters I would lean toward water in the fuel tank.
I have taken my fuel line loose before after it sat over night and drained enough out so I could see if it had water or not. If it has any in it at all it will be in the bottom of the tank. I had already installed a fuel shut off on mine so it wasn't very messy to do this. You migh try getting a bottle of "heat" and putting a little in the fuel. If it has water in it this will get out.
I have taken my fuel line loose before after it sat over night and drained enough out so I could see if it had water or not. If it has any in it at all it will be in the bottom of the tank. I had already installed a fuel shut off on mine so it wasn't very messy to do this. You migh try getting a bottle of "heat" and putting a little in the fuel. If it has water in it this will get out.
Alot of times too this ethanol shit in gasoline is trearing up power equipment. If you fill your fuel tank and dont run threw a tank fast enough it turns to water. Or if you store fuel in gas cans and dont use up 5 gallons in 30 days or so it will turn to water. You may be lucky enough to clean the carb on it or worse comes to worse replace the entire carb.
Will In Tx
New member
Equipment
L3400 HST/FEL, Box Blade, RTV 900 Camo, ZD323 Zreo Turn Pro Mower + More
Will In Tx
New member
Equipment
L3400 HST/FEL, Box Blade, RTV 900 Camo, ZD323 Zreo Turn Pro Mower + More
I think I would enjoy having a Kubota zero but I have never bought one. I thought all the ones with "D" in the numbers were diesel powered.
It's hard to keep up with all that stuff.
It's hard to keep up with all that stuff.
Will In Tx
New member
Equipment
L3400 HST/FEL, Box Blade, RTV 900 Camo, ZD323 Zreo Turn Pro Mower + More
Same rule applys weather its gas or diesel. Diesel can gell and turn to water if its been stored for to long in a fuel tank.
Yes the motor still sputters with either tank. Hopefully i will have some time next week to drain them out. Thx for the input....hopefully thats the problem
When you replced the fuel filters did you remember to bleed the air out of the lines? That could be a problem as well. Air in the fuel lines.
I have never heard of diesel fuel gelling in the summer time? I have heard of it in the winter but not the summer. How does that work?
Well not so much gelling in the summer months but it can still get condensation in the storage tank or fuel tank and turn to water with all the heat of the summer months. Oh and it will grow a fungus in the bottom of storage tanks if not used up in a timely fashion.
ZD331 is the largest zero turn diesel powered model Kubota makes currently. I've seen low power issues when the fuel filter gets clogged up- even seen grass in the filter. The unit is made to run on one tank at a time then switch to the other when the light comes on. Does it have low power on both tanks or just one? Dark smoke usually means lack of air or too much fuel. What does the air filter look like? Check the intake hose and make sure it isnt sucked shut or clogged. They dont recommend changing fuel filters on these units near as often as they should.
I know what you meant with the gel comment. I just had to poke at you a little.
Water in fuel in a killer on a diesel. Most people have never been taught or even heard that they need to fill up their tank at the end of the day while it's still hot. The natural cooling down process will create a little moisture each time you use the machine. This gets accellerated even worse during the hot summer months when the afternoon showers run you out of the field. The cool rain on a half full hot fuel tank is awful. Every part of the tank above the fuel level will sweat and there you go, water in fuel. The only way to avoid this is by having a full tank when you park.
I use 3 bulk tanks for my fuel storage. 2 of them are used on a regular basis and the 3rd is sort of a backup just in case I can't get fuel deliverd for some reason. I always use Marvelle mystery oil in my 3rd tank to keep the algea from growing in the fuel. I only put about 1 qt. to every 250 gal. of fuel for this purpose. Marvelle does for diesel what Sta-bil does for gas. All my tanks have filters on them. Nothing goes in my tanks that doesn't get filtered.
I have had the same problem with my 331. There are 2 tanks on this unit. The left tank has a guage and the right tank has a indicator light. My son left the cap off the left tank a couple of months ago and then mowed a few hours.......I changed the fuel filters but did not help.....so I assumed it got a bunch of crap in the tank. So tonight I took the left tank off to clean out. (by the way you have to tear 1/2 the machine apart to get the tank off). But instead of finding grass and dirt it was full of rust. So, I took the guage float out and found it was completly rusted a corroded. The fuel tank selector was plugged full. If I get a chance I will post a picture of the float. You can't imagine how much rust is built up on it.
I figured more people had had this problem and Googled this problem and found this thread. Just thought I would pass this on.
This mower is 2 years old.
I figured more people had had this problem and Googled this problem and found this thread. Just thought I would pass this on.
This mower is 2 years old.