kubota L210 starting problems

[SEggleston]

I have a kubota L210. I replaced the battery, cables,glow plugs, had the generator rebuilt and had the starter checked out. When I try to start it, it will barely turn over. IT seems as though it is not getting enough voltage. Last summer I had to jumps it to get it started. it was hard to start even jumping it. It will not even jump start now. The engine turns over, but very slow. Any suggestions would help. I have run out of ideas.

 

[Bird]

SEggleston, do you have a multi-meter so you can check the voltage at the starter, and do you have a clamp meter so you can check the amperage draw at the starter. Have you double checked all the connections to make sure they're tight and good contact? When you tried to jump start it, did you hook up the extra battery to the tractor battery or directly to the starter to see if that made a difference? That's about all I can think of at the moment.

Bird

 

[GlueGuy]

SEggleston,

Sounds like Bird is on the right track (as usual). The symptoms you describe sound as if not enough voltage is getting to the starter. Main culprits in this situation are usually loose or corroded connections and/or worn contacts on the starter relay. First line of action is to use a DVM or VOM and measure the voltage that is getting delivered to the starter when you try to crank it. Should be close to 12 volts.

Watch out for rotating parts when you do this check!!!!

The GlueGuy

 

[Rch]

I'm not familiar with a L210 but some times the starter motor is bolted into an aluminum housing that has oxided at the starter connection bolts or at its connection to the motor block and compromised the ground.Running a seperate ground from the starter motor back to the battery negative post would check for this. Military and some construction/ marine motors have a specific "grounding" strap from the starter to a fail safe ground.

RCH

 

[scruffy]

As an old gas mechanic, (NOT Diesel) I would take a look at your compression if all else checks out electronically. Valve lash? Bearing seazing up? What has changed? Did it occur slowly over a period of time, or a very sudden change? Clutch fully disengaging? There are many areas to be checked out, and the ol' 210 is not a new girl by anymeans.
Of course I expect the Diesel guys to be all over me like stink jumps on pooh, but hey, ya gotta consider!

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by scruffy on 03/30/01 08:16 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[cwilliams]

Sounds like everyone has covered most of the possibile problems. You might try to pull it with a truck and catch it in 6th or 7th gear. Preheat it real good and hold it on preheat while you catch it. I wouldn't recommend doing this very often to start your tractor, but you can get away with it a time or two. If you can get it started, that will rule out any major engine problems. I suspect you either have a bad ground or your starter/solenoid is shorting out. Assuming no major engine problems, a diesel will run if it has fuel, compression, and a little heat to get it going.

 

[kenRickard]

Just noticed the L210 message from Seggestion on his starter problem,Was he able to resolve it? My starter problem still keeps the tractor in the shed unused. Paid the rebuild shop 200.00 twice to "rebuild" the starter and each time they ground the armerator down installed new brushes now there is no copper to solder the wires to the lands to rotate the starter, and I'm unable to reach in my bill fold for the 600.00 for a new starter ,looking for a place that sells used parts any one know of a location? Thanks ken.

 

[kerr]

You must have the engine grounded well or all the volts in the world dont mean nothing.Put a new one in addition to any others.Often overlooked fix,hope it helps.

 

[CamshaftLF]

Not familar with L210, but here's one from left field. Cousin of my has a JD310 hoe, had the same problem's, did the same electrical stuff as you. Still started hard, one day he blowed a hydraulic hose, he didn't fix it till the next day and had to move the machine. Went to start it and it fired right up here the relief valve was not releasing. I no some old bota's have the hyd' pump mounted in front of the motor. It cost my cousin $24. for the valve. Start's great now!!
Just a thought from left field./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Camshaft in Pa.

 

[allmobile]

Make sure you have a good ground. I don't remember where the ground is in that model but if is like a L185 the ground cable attaches to the battery box. What usually happens is the connection between the battery box and the frame or the connection between the frame and the engine goes away. This is easiest to check with a load tester or like someone else suggested just run the ground directly to the starter or the engine block. Also just to make sure it is not an engine problem I would make sure the engine turns over by hand.

Brian