Injector trouble

DennisStahley · Feb 17, 2007

Injector pump trouble

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Hi All
Well its been a little over a year since I have posted a question on my tractor as I have been sick and unable to work on it but have tried the last couple days to do so but since I have become disabled some days arent good to me but trying to get back in the groove. Here is my problem, I bought a Kubota L245DT and wont run? I have cleaned fuel tank out ,new glow plugs, but still no go, but here is what I have found it seems like there is no fuel getting to the injectors as I took off the pipe to them and nothing comming out?(see why i think it is not getting fuel)haha so I took off the pipes that come off the injector pump the 3 pipes and nothing is comming from the pump? should there be fuel comming out of these pipes? the shop manual says it is under high pressure but there is none here. Also(dumb question) but where does the spark come from to fire the fuel? is it from the glow plugs? As you can see I don't know much about diesel engines and now while on social security disability there isnt a whole bunch of money to take to mechanic so hoping you guys can help me out. I know it's a old tractor and when I bought it for $2,300.00 I thought it was a good deal, it did not run but for a few seconds when I bought it, as it was setting up for 2 years and diesel was bad so I cleaned out tank then I got sick so it sat another year untill now and I am ready to get it going if I can. it only has 789 hours on it if that is right. I can get it to turn over fine but no starting. If anyone can give me any ideas that would be great you can E-mail me at BigD924@aol.com if that is possible and I will check here also to see if anyone can think of anything that might help me.I have asked thin in the kubota forum not much response there.

Thanks in advance
Dennis Stahley
Bradenton Fl.

john_bud · Feb 18, 2007

Dennis,

Sorry to hear about your health problems. Hope they don't keep you down.

On the tractor, Is the fuel valve to the "run" position? Check the silly stuff first.

Otherwise, it sounds like you need to bleed the fuel system.

For the correct details for that model, call up a kubota place and have a tech walk you thru it. But, in general here is what you need to do. First put on a NEW fuel filter then fill the tank all the way with new diesel. I would add a 3x dose of fuel conditioner (Main ingredient is Stoddard Solvent also known as mineral spirits 1 oz / gal of diesel). There is probably "stuff" in the pump. Then there is probably a flip valve on the filter housing. (see attachment) Put it in the bleed position. Then LET IT SIT for a couple hours or better yet over night. The slight fuel pressure will help get out any bubbles and the solvents will help dissolve any gum and varnish. Then crank for up to 30 seconds straight and see if it starts. Wait 2 minutes and repeat 1-2 times.

If you don't have the flip, some have a screw on the top of the filter housing that lets the air out. When no more bubbles are coming out tighten or replace the screw.

If it didn't start, you may need to bleed the system all the way to the injectors. Put a good battery charger on the battery - this can be draining. Loosen them and crank for 30 seconds. Wait 2 min to cool the starter. Repeat until you have good squirts from each line. Reconnect, tighten and it should start.

SPYDERLK · Feb 18, 2007

No spark. The heat of compression causes ignition. Diesels have very high compression and no throttle plate to restrict flow in the intake tract. This means they always get a full intake charge of air. A gas heats when compressed and in a diesel it gets so hot that when fuel is squirted in from the injectors it starts to burn. Glow plugs are needed for a little more heat in cold weather starting. Engine speed and power are controlled by the amount of fuel squirted in.
larry

RobJ · Feb 20, 2007

You make have to go a bit deeper. Following what John Bud said just make sure you are getting some fuel to the pump. If you are getting fuel then you should see some spitting from the top of the injection pump (where the metal lines connect). If you still have nothing then I think time might have worked against you. Sitting that long under not so good conditions the fuel pump rack could stick(basically the throttle control). If it was left in the fuel shut off position, then this would cause no fuel at all to come out. If it is sticking and it's in the off position then it's sort of a blessing. I've seen them stick in the full position, that will cause a runaway engine. A scary thing. The sure way to tell this after all the other advise is checked....is to remove the 4 nuts holdiing down the injection pump and pulling it straight up. The rack control will be on the side of the pump just under the flange. The rack control lever will ride in the governor control slot. Basically just an arm that connects to the governor weights in the front of the engine. Just make sure you get the 2 back together when dropping it back in. It's not a big deal to do. If the rack is sticking then sometimes you can work it free and reinstall. Otherwise it's a trip to the pump shop.

Good Luck and keep us informed.

Rob

DennisStahley · Feb 21, 2007

Rob
Hi and thanks for the reply. I have bleed the fuel filter and the injector pump and still get no fuel to the injector pipes. Some one said maybe the screen in the injector pump is clogged but I don't know where that would be. I do know in the lever on top of the pump according to the book the throttel control, the gasket around that leaks when I turn over engine and the cover on side of pump leaks also so tomorrow(if feeling good) I am going to Kubota shop and get new gaskets they probably will have to order them. If then it still does not work I don't know what to do next? wish I could afford to take to shop and have them fix it but wife say's it gives me something to do and get P** off at ya got to love the little woman haha. I will keep ya posted as my progress and thanks again.
Dennis

DirtHauler · Feb 21, 2007

Not familiar with Kubota but have you checked the fuel solenoid? If it has one, is there power to it when the key is on? If no power, check fuse. If power to solenoid, it may be a bad.

RobJ · Feb 21, 2007

If you pull the pump this is what it probably looks like. The speed lever and shut off connect to the fuel rack on the pump via some levers. so I don't think that gasket leak is causing any problems other than an oil leak. I think I look at buying an L245 or L285 once. Can't recall.. The lever below the nice copper paint is the lever that can stick. On the very bottom of the pump is the rollers that ride on the pumps camshart. This is a good shot of what most of us have. The governor control and weights are in the front cover of the engine, not built into the pump itself like on larger pumps.

Also note what dirthauler said and just make sure the shut off lever is on and not sticking. My BIL would say to "tap" it a few times to see if its loose.

Good Luck,
Rob

DennisStahley · Feb 21, 2007

Hi Rob.

Well went to the Kubota dealer today ordered the gaskets, and was talking to the guy and he showed me a pump from another Kubota and showed me where the springs were and to see if the things were moving inside of pump on side plate, when I moce control lever well it was not really so cleaned it and oiled it took off the control lever and pushed spring back all the way and as the engine turns over now I get all 3 outlets on the pump diesel fuel spurtting out in sequences as it should i think, but it is not spurtting out but maybe 1 inch? I thought this was to have 2000 psi comming out but it dosen't here so I dont know if it would even push it up the pipes to the injectors, I don't know if this is how it should be when I get the new gaskets I will put it back on. But do you think I should only have this small ammount of 1 inch comming out of the top of the injector pump to the 3 lines that go to the injectors?I haven't put the pipes back on the injector pump to the injectors as of yet. I was assumeing that there can be no air in the injector pump I don't know if the missing gasket would do anything here or not? It is not the gasket on the pump it self it is the gasket on the control lever when I took off the lever and cover to replace gasket I can see the gears of the pump I thinl that is what they are? And there is no oil on them that I can see should there be oil on these gears? I guess I should check the oil level in crankcase first, haven't done that.Well if you can think of anything let me know, And I don't guess you will be in Bradenton Fl. anytime soon to help me (haha)
Dennis

DennisStahley · Feb 21, 2007

DirtHauler said:
Not familiar with Kubota but have you checked the fuel solenoid? If it has one, is there power to it when the key is on? If no power, check fuse. If power to solenoid, it may be a bad.

Hi Dirthauler.

No this one dosen't have a solenoid on it I am having a time with it that is for sure, hope I can get it running trying to eliminate one thing at a time and when I don't know what I am doing it is all in vain I think, but I cant afford to take it to get it fixed so trial and error I guess. Thanks for the reply i appreciate all the help I can get.

Dennis

BTDT · Feb 22, 2007

DennisStahley said:
Hi Dirthauler.

No this one dosen't have a solenoid on it I am having a time with it that is for sure, hope I can get it running trying to eliminate one thing at a time and when I don't know what I am doing it is all in vain I think, but I cant afford to take it to get it fixed so trial and error I guess. Thanks for the reply i appreciate all the help I can get.

Dennis

But just think how much your learning, and $aving. You can do it.