Kubota cold start B-series... general operation & educate a dummy

[cnice37]

Thanks for the help, you have me definitely suspecting the plugs. I have always use the 10 seconds from the manual as well in cold weather, this time around I increased to the 60 seconds I've read elsewhere. Looks like I'll be checking the plugs.

Thanks again, very helpful for a rookie.

 

[cnice37]

I have an older model B ... the B9200. It has no timer on the gloplugs. They are on until turn the key over to the start position. I find myself wanting to re glo a while right after a cold start, but you cant.

I tried to re-glow as well, and figured out the same! I have to bring some electricity over to the shed, as right now I am running a 100' extension cord, so the hairdryer would more than likely pop a breaker.

 

[skyhook]

An indication of a burnt glow plug could be,,
lots of white smoke after start-up, usually goes away after warmed up.
The white smoke is unburned fuel from that cylinder.

 

[tractchores]

I think they're relatively easy to replace and do have a service life so I'd start there. Not sure how you test them, but guessing it may be a resistance type electrical test. Its worth noting that our temps in MA though cold this year are not seriously cold when given the operating locations these tractors are used in. There should be no real issues even without a block heater starting and running these machines in our temps (consider how many folks in the Midwest and Canada use the same spec machines in extreme cold). They generally don't come with a block heater because they generally won't need one (not that it will hurt).

A cheaper alternative may be to use one of those magnetic block heaters for the few days of real cold we get...

 

[gmikem206]

I've been extending the glow plug cycle up to 20 seconds with a couple of repetitions. It has been around zero to single digits here in N NJ. Not sure if that reduces the life of the glow plugs? I put in the block heater and use a battery tender as my BX2660 is parked outside. It made a big difference and as I read on here, it makes the little tractor a lot happier starting (and will hopefully extend the engine life and prevent damage). I started treating my fuel (5 gal. cans) in the fall with an additive that was supposed to prevent gelling, but it didn't, either because the temps fell too far or I did not use enough for the lower temps. Yesterday I used some Power Service 911 and changed the two filters, and filled the tank with treated fuel. This morning it started up after being on the block heater for about 40 minutes, and short cycle on the glow plugs. I was also storing the fuel in a shed, so for this cold snap I've moved those two five gallon cans to the basement (which I don't like, & I'm sure my wife won't like when she goes down there!) But gotta keep that driveway clear so we do what we have to do.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I tried to re-glow as well, and figured out the same! I have to bring some electricity over to the shed, as right now I am running a 100' extension cord, so the hairdryer would more than likely pop a breaker.

As long as its a 15A or better breaker it wont pop. Socket ends of ext cords often arent too good tho and make poor connection. They then heat up and self destruct under a 10A sustained load typical of what a dryer draws. We only need short term heat tho ... less than 5 min during start and initial run. All you need is the hair dryer to try it. Voltage will be a bit low at 100' but youll get significant warmed air anyway.
larry

 

[diesel lover]

Running T5 which is 5W30. Thanks for confirming my operation is correct and I will look into what type of heater. Those reviews for the inline coolant one are pretty poor :thumbdown:

WHOA HOLD ON here. Kubotas require 1 full minute/ 30 seconds of glow plug time. Other engines do not...
Each here 3 minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHKrVEMP0qY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

 

[aczlan]

WHOA HOLD ON here. Kubotas require 1 full minute/ 30 seconds of glow plug time. Other engines do not...
Each here 3 minutes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHKrVEMP0qY&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Riiiiight. That's why the glowplugs on our BX2660 and L3830 automatically turn off after 10-15 seconds...
Apparently he hasn't heard of fast glow plugs or tractors (like the B7500) where the glow plug position is between "On" and "Start"

Aaron Z

 

[diesel lover]

Also watch this here at 2-00 minutes.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwblJEvmZeQ&feature=youtube_gdata_playe
You need one minute of preheating on a Kubota is a different machine than others.

This is a radiator hose heater. You can install one very easy if you are relying on your machine to plow snow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxkJOCivAtA&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Do not buy the Katz brand. Ever start are built much better. I'm a full time truck mechanic. Freeze plug type block heaters can be tough to install. The radiator hose option is great in the highest wattage. Ever start is a great brand but make sure you install vertical and get one that is exact to your hose size for a perfect fit. Orielly and Napa are the best place to get block heaters but others will have them as well.


If you go for a freeze plug type they work slightly better. A little harder to install but either one will help you. My 1/2 ton ford starts like its +50 ｰf outside when plugged in sometimes. It makes a large difference when its bellow 0ｰf

 

[diesel lover]

Riiiiight. That's why the glowplugs on our BX2660 and L3830 automatically turn off after 10-15 seconds...
Apparently he hasn't heard of fast glow plugs or tractors (like the B7500) where the glow plug position is between "On" and "Start"

Aaron Z

Older kubotas were not automaticly engauged. Simple way to get this straightened out. If your machines glow plugs are engauged automatically on a timer than YES by all means go with the timer.

If manually engaging them its depending on the temperature and how long the owner thinks. The first initial glow plug preheat should be longest, followed by a shorter time after cranking and the tractor does not start

 

[aczlan]

Also watch this here at 2-00 minutes.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwblJEvmZeQ&feature=youtube_gdata_playe
You need one minute of preheating on a Kubota is a different machine than others.

Those are all older (80s?) Kubotas which probbaly had "Slow Glow" plugs vs modern "Fast Glow" plugs. Here is a BX2660 and L3830 starting in 17F:

Note that the glowplugs on the L3830 automatically turned off after ~7 seconds.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

Older kubotas were not automaticly engauged. Simple way to get this straightened out. If your machines glow plugs are engauged automatically on a timer than YES by all means go with the timer.
If manually engaging them its depending on the temperature and how long the owner thinks. The first initial glow plug preheat should be longest, followed by a shorter time after cranking and the tractor does not start

The B2100 was made in the mid to late 1990s and is very similar to the B7500 (which we have). It probbaly has fast glow plugs (as would most anything made after the mid 1980s). As such, 30-60 second glow plug times are just going to burn out the glow plugs faster. Here is a B2100 cold(ish) start:

Note the 8 second glow plug time from then the plugs go on until the engine starts cranking.

Aaron Z

 

[diesel lover]

The B2100 was made in the mid to late 1990s and is very similar to the B7500 (which we have). It probbaly has fast glow plugs (as would most anything made after the mid 1980s). As such, 30-60 second glow plug times are just going to burn out the glow plugs faster. Here is a B2100 cold(ish) start:

Note the 8 second glow plug time from then the plugs go on until the engine starts cranking.

Aaron Z

I appreciate you sharing. So why did the older kubotas with manual engaugment glow plugs have a sticker with such high times? Is it possible that the older machines with stickers had slow glow plugs?

Just as well what year is the posters machine do we know? Thanks again.

 

[aczlan]

I appreciate you sharing. So why did the older kubotas with manual engaugment glow plugs have a sticker with such high times? Is it possible that the older machines with stickers had slow glow plugs?

Yes and it was correct for those machines as well as other machines from that era (like my parents G1900), but not for more modern machines such as the B2100 with fast glow plugs.

Just as well what year is the posters machine do we know? Thanks again.

The B2100 was made between 1995 and 1999 per TractorData.com Kubota B2100 tractor information, well after the introduction of fast glow plugs.

Aaron Z

 

[SPYDERLK]

The B2100 was made in the mid to late 1990s and is very similar to the B7500 (which we have). It probbaly has fast glow plugs (as would most anything made after the mid 1980s). .

Aaron Z

J have a 1989 B9200. It has the slo glo plugs -- turn the key left to energize. ... 30 or 40 sec is about right for 15 F.

My 2003 BX1500 has the fast ones -- turn 2/3 right to energize. They dont turn off as long as you hold key position. Instead, they cycle ON/OFF at about a 5 sec rate. You can hear soft clicks as they cycle. Hittling start immediately after the 3rd or 4th click works well in cold weather. Hitting it in the 5 sec interval between clicks works poorly.
larry

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think my B26 Kubota AND my RTV 900 both stay on as long as you hold the key. Both are 2009 models. I have never held it more than 30 seconds though just to see if it would kick off and it didn't. About 10 seconds on the glow is long enough for them to start in 15F weather which is about the coldest it has been here. I have found that on my brother in law NH 2310 that the GP's go off after about 5-10 seconds and it will crank but it barely runs and wont rev up past about 1100 RPM. Turning the key to energize the GPs again helps it to quit smoking and rev up to 1500 RPM which is what I want it to be running at.

 

[buickanddeere]

A proper coolant heater and synthetic oil.

Don't listen to the jackleg mechanics with tarps, torpedo theaters,hair driers and ether.
As previously stated. Push the clutch down before starting.
If the three point hitch has settled while the tractor sits. Lower the control lever enough so the three point isn't raising while the engine cranks.
Glow plugs that are energized too long will burn out. Once they are red hot, they are hot enough to ignite the fuel. Is holding the glow plug on longer going to make them extra red hot? There comes a point where the electrical heating element melts, fails and the glowplug quits working.

 

[cnice37]

An update... I checked and the voltage is present at the glow plugs when key turned to that position.

I pulled the 3 plugs to bench test. Bench test setup was a battery charger set to the "start" mode which can supposedly provide 55A in short burst. I didn't know if the 10A setting was enough as my quick math suggested 12V across 3 1ohm resistors in parallel should require more than that.

Each plug glowed within 5 seconds, full glow by 10 seconds.

After the test, I noticed prominent swelling in the 3rd glowplug. I am thinking my bench test caused this. Are these not typically self regulating plugs? In any case, I am in the market for 3 new plugs I'd say. However, this swelling wasn't evident when I first pulled the plugs, so pretty sure my cold start problem will persist and I just bought myself a learning experience.

Thanks for the help.

Plug #1 followed by plug #3

 

[CobyRupert]

An update... I checked and the voltage is present at the glow plugs when key turned to that position.

I pulled the 3 plugs to bench test. Bench test setup was a battery charger set to the "start" mode which can supposedly provide 55A in short burst. I didn't know if the 10A setting was enough as my quick math suggested 12V across 3 1ohm resistors in parallel should require more than that.

I think (3)-1 Ohm resistors in parallel would have an equivalent resistance of 1/3 ohms, so 12 volts across them would be 36amps draw.

 

[Jstock]

I have a B2100, can anyone explain the location on block where the block heater is installed? Can you provide a link to illustration or a pic pleas? Thanks