L245 Not running

[DennisStahley]

Hi All.
Well before you tell me how dumb i am my wife beat ya to it Ha Ha I bought a Kubota L245DT-56029 motor numbers are DH1101-A-15280 let me first say it looks pretty good, good tires,seat,sheat metal, but it don't run (are u laughing yet) I paid $2,300.00 for it. The guy I bought it from was selling it for a friend(yea right) and it has been setting for a year and a half he sprayed a little starter fluid in breather and it started for a few seconds. Then a while later we tryed to start it on it's own and it started right up ran for 15 sec. or so then died. Is there anyone out there that can give me some idea's? Should I drain the diesel out and change the filter which they by passed and have a plastic car filter in it's place. I understand it is between a 1977 and 1982 model. I also have to get a manual for it. But if anyone can give me any idea's that would be great. <font color="blue"> </font>

 

[5030tinkerer]

I'd start by pulling and examining the plugs, the air filter(s), distributor, points, and plug wires, replacing as needed. It certainly could hurt to start with fresh fuel, either. Good luck.

 

[honeycutt]

The 1st thing that I would do is purge the air from the fuel system. That is after replacing with fresh fuel.

 

[rbargeron]

Hi Dennis - There is a shop manual on eBay right now that covers the 245. Intertec manuals cover it pretty well. Don't take it apart yet - these rigs have full air-venting built in for restarting after running out of fuel.

If it has run 15 seconds on diesel fuel and then quit there's probably not much wrong with it. It sounds to me like there could be some water in the fuel or the fuel is not reaching the high-pressure diesel pump on the engine. There is a small transfer pump that brings fuel from the tank to the high-pressure pump. It's easy to find - the fuel line from the filter goes to it and and the output side is plumbed to the high-pressure pump.

Before you declare this the problem, you could test the theory by filling the fuel tank, jacking up the back of the tractor so the fuel tank is a little higher than the main pump, and trying to start it. If it runs then the transfer pump may be the culprit. It is a diaphragm type mechanical pump and can be disassembled and cleaned - or just replaced.

It is also possible on an old machine that the fuel tank has water in it or the line is obstructed somewhere - you could test this idea by holding a little bottle of clean fuel above pump level with a piece of tubing running down to the transfer pump (or to the main pump) and see if that works.

On these early Kubotas there is a vent valve (with a small thumbwheel). After a run-out-of-fuel situation this valve should be opened until the tractor starts to run and then closed to develop full fuel pressure for normal running.

On gas engines its about spark and fuel. On a diesel it's just fuel. Good luck - let us know how it goes. Dick B