L3240 Bleeding Fuel Injectors after fuel filter change-any tips?

[IdahoRenegade]

Tonight I fired up my tractor, drove it outside, and removed my fuel filter and cleaned the filter housing. I put the filter back in (was nice and clean), opened the fuel valve, and watched the filter bowl fill. The tractor fired right up and ran normally...for about 30 seconds and died. I figured I got some air in the line. I have tried opening the bleed valve and removing/reinstalling the filter. No luck. I have now tried cracking the nuts at the injectors to try to bleed....but it's currently on the charger due to running down the battery. (only ran for 10 seconds or so at a time). Anyway, any suggestions? I've changed fuel filters before and never had to bleed. I was low on fuel when I did this, have since added 5 gallons. Anything else I should try?

 

[Roadworthy]

I can't say much about your plight. I had a Mitsubishi tractor. It had no bleed valve. There was a sequence to bleeding the air. Sometimes air would be trapped and I'd have to bleed more than once. I don't think Kubota has that sequence. Reading my manual it appears you merely open a bleed valve for a period of time - I don't recall the specific period of time, though. Check your manual. You may simply not be getting all the air out. If you don't tighten the nuts on the injectors adequately that may be a way for air to get back into the system. Since you opened the fuel valve back up and watched the bowl fill at least you know you have fuel that far.

 

[4570Man]

I think there’s a bleed valve so you don’t have to loosen lines. Move it to full throttle. It’ll pump more fuel and get the job done faster. Also are you sure everything is sealed back correctly and not leaking? It should’ve filled the bowl back up and never got you in this mess to start with.

 

[IdahoRenegade]

I think there’s a bleed valve so you don’t have to loosen lines. Move it to full throttle. It’ll pump more fuel and get the job done faster. Also are you sure everything is sealed back correctly and not leaking? It should’ve filled the bowl back up and never got you in this mess to start with.

I have opened the bleed valve, didn't seem to do a thing. Tried at full throttle for the same reason you stated-thanks for verifying my thoughts there. Pretty sure everything is seated-I made sure that there was fuel flow, and the 2nd time left the filter loose to "overflow" some fuel and make sure the air "bled out". Now, the bleed valve bleeds air back from the injectors I believe, from what I've been able to trace (it's tight in there). Is there a bleed port between the filter TO the injection pump? I've been checking out youtube videos, older tractors have a bleed port on the filter housing (not mine that I see) and on the inlet to the pump to bleed the line between the filter and pump. Given all the crap in there I haven't even figured out which line is to the pump inlet. Will look it over more carefully in the daylight.

 

[IdahoRenegade]

OK, got it figured out, but Kubota didn't make it THAT simple. Had to trace the fuel line from the tank to what I guess is the lift pump, then from the lift to the HP pump. Pulled the line into the lift pump, burped the air, reconnected. Pulled a HP fuel line and cranked till I could see squirts from the pump, connected and it fired up fine. I would have expected a bleed screw at the lift pump, but didn't find one, hence pulling the line to purge.

 

[masscity]

Good you got it running. Last fall I changed the fuel filter on my L3540HSTC and it started right up and all is fine. A couple of days later I needed it and it wouldn't start. After I messed around for a bit I got my mechanic over and found out it was the fuel pump.