Kubota L175 Won't Start

[Grey Tractor Dude]

I have a Kubota L175 that won't start. It was hard cold starting when I bought it a few months ago and now it won't start at all. Can anyone point me to where I can find a manual for this tractor and help point me toward a diagnosis. This is the first diesel tractor I've owned.

What I know:
1. It has fuel.
2. A light on the instrument panel lights when I turn on the key. I'm guessing this is my glow plug light.
3. When I rotate the start switch to the right to engage the starter (after 30 seconds of holding to the left to heat the plugs) the light immediately goes out.
4. When I let off of the key for a few seconds the light comes back on.
5. As the engine is cranking it emits gray smoke, but I don't hear it firing.

I have not done any testing yet. I'm hoping to get outside tonight to test the glow plugs to see if they heat up.
Thanks for reading and for any help you might offer. I'll take it!

 

[xmikew]

Do you pull the throttle about half way toward you before cranking? Does your glow plug indicator glow red after 30 seconds of glowing?

The lights on you panel are charge and oil. They come on when you turn switch to indicate you have connection.

The glow plug indicator is the coil of wire under metal cover with hole on right of panel. It should glow red after you hold start switch left for a bit but mine hardly works.

White or gray smoke usually indicates non fully combusted fuel which does happen when your cylinders are not warm enough.

Definitely check glow plugs.

 

[xmikew]

Also. Since you are grey tractor dude is this a l1500?

 

[xmikew]

http://www.kubotabooks.com/AutoInde...uals/&file=L175 L210 L225 L225DT L260 WSM.pdf

Kubotabooks manual

 

[xmikew]

Oh I just saw your new member post. A l175 is not a gray market tractor. It was made for the us market and has the full support of us kubota dealers. The gray market equivalent would be a l1500.

However some unscrupulous people will relabel gray markets with us equivalents. If it Japanese stickers or writing. It’s gray regardless of what the decals say. Check the serial plate and upload some pics for us to see your tractor

 

[Jstpssng]

Some of the older Kubotas started hard even when they were new. Try holding the glow plugs for longer than seems necessary; I used to count off 30 seconds with my L275 and in cold weather even that wasn't long enough.

 

[JNA]

Follow the linkage from the kill switch to make sure that it is not stuck on kill

 

[Grey Tractor Dude]

I'm stoked to have the manual. Thank you!
I do move the throttle about half way back before attempting to start. I definitely have a grey model and you are right it is an L1500. I got the numbers switched in my mind for which is which (US L175 and Japanese L1500). I was sad to discover the writing on the model plate was in Japanese. I'll upload some pics early tomorrow.
Thanks for decoding the lights for me. I was only guessing what the light on the left was. There is a metal ring on the right next to the tachometer. Is that where the glow plug light should be? There is an empty hole and no light has ever come on that I have noticed.

 

[Grey Tractor Dude]

I have held the switch over for about a minute before and it made not difference. Gray smoke out the stack and never makes a serious attempt to start.

 

[Grey Tractor Dude]

That is definitely worth a try. I'll let you know tomorrow what I found.