Kubota 902 engine, can’t start in cold (Edit: Probably not a "cold" problem)

[whatscooking]

Meant to come back here to update, got it solved yesterday. Turned out to be air in the fuel system. The dealer tech had me disconnect the fuel return, run the pump until fuel came out, and crank it. Took two tries and smoked like heck for a minute but it settled down and ran smoothly for a half hour.

Fired right back up happy as new just now so I think we can safely call this solved.

I want to understand this. So you disconnected the return line that comes off the top of the injectors and ran the engine untill fuel came out of that line clear?

 

[sansbury]

Correct. Took a few seconds with the key set to “on” with the lifter pump running.

 

[olenjohn]

Install an engine block heater. Run the heater for a couple hours before needing the tractor. Some are just a PITA and need a bit of babying to start.

 

[whatscooking]

Correct. Took a few seconds with the key set to “on” with the lifter pump running.

Curious why just running it normal didn't purge the air. So you have A electric pump that feeds the injector pump?

 

[sansbury]

Curious why just running it normal didn't purge the air. So you have A electric pump that feeds the injector pump?

If I knew the answer to that I probably wouldn’t have needed to start this thread