L3540 cold starting

[vrmnthntr]

I have noticed with my L3540 that when it is cold it has a hard time turning over. It stays in my garage where the temps have been around 40 degrees. It seems like the battery is weak.

The tractor is 15 months old.

Everything else I have started fine.

Should I put a slow charge on the battery, buy a slow trickle charger?

After the tractor has been running it starts fine.

 

[amigauser]

I have a L3240 and I have never had starting issues. I have a block heater though that I plug in once it gets down in the 30's or below. I keep my tractor in a unheated garage so it gets pretty cold. I also use a battery tender on mine so the battery is always topped off. A week battery will cause starting issues. I also use Mobile 1 5w40 diesel oil which is easier to spin over in cold temperatures.

 

[repete]

I keep mine plugged into a small (1 amp) battery conditioner. If you spin it fast, especially when cold, it will usually start. My L2550 has somewhere around 5000 hours and it never fails if plugged in. Mine stays in an unheated open tractor shed.

 

[Thomas]

How long do glows plugs work before cranking?

 

[vrmnthntr]

The glow plugs are on for 15 to 20 seconds. I have been preheating them twice. Don't know if that makes a difference.

I also use 5w40.

I may try a battery tender.

 

[Papasmirf]

On my NH TC30 they will stay on as long as you turn the key backwards. NH recommends 6 secs. or longer. Also, if you use your glow plugs year around the engine starts easier and a lot less smoking.

 

[BeezFun]

If it's 40F and you're having problems, that doesn't sound right. I'd put a voltmeter on the battery at rest and while you crank, see if it's maintaining proper voltage. You might have some slow drain on the battery, did you add any accessories like a stereo that draws a vampire load? Try topping battery off and see if that makes a difference. If you're going to buy a charger, I'd buy a microprocessor one that you can use for different kinds of batteries like AGM and will safely charge them.

 

[vrmnthntr]

I have a stock radio that was installed when I bought the tractor. The key is always out of the ignition.

I am going to put a slow 2 amp charge on the battery, unless the charger says its full and try that. If not then I will get the battery tested. I don't have a tester.

Last winter I did not have a problem. My garage does not get below 38 degrees even when temps get in the teens at night.

 

[vrmnthntr]

I just put the charger on the battery after I disconnected it from the tractor. Its showing around 13 to 14 volts, 99%. The hydrometer is showing green. I counted the seconds the glow plugs stay on and its 10 seconds. After running the tractor I and shutting it off it starts fine.

I don't know if I should just accept it as normal or contact the dealer.

 

[diesel lover]

Other things to concider are voltage drops due to corrosion and bad connections. Everything needs to be shinney clean! Every little bit helps. You may have a weah ground to the starter or a weak positive. I have seen it before even on year and a half old equopment . Your battery may need a load test preformed. Auto stores do it for free. If you need help cleaning connections I have used angle grinders, die grinders and course brushes on drills you can buy at Lowes.

Cycling the glow plugs twice is a good idea as every little bit helps! You can buy a timer (one for applances or Christmas lights is perfect for 10$) and plug in your tractors block heater. If you need the tractor at 9 am program the timer to turn on at 6 am or so. Good luck

 

[lawn_king]

My 3540 starts right up even in deep cold! Still on factory battery from april 2008!

 

[Chilly807]

There's no guarantee the battery has any "depth". By that I mean cranking capacity. The voltage is only the beginning, how much it drops under load is the question. I'd take it to be tested somewhere a load can be applied to it, it's really a better test of how it performs.

Are all the glow plugs working, getting voltage? At 40 degrees it should fire right up, spin pretty good if the plugs are working. This morning I started my L3400 at about 45 degrees (heated garage) and forgot to use the glow plugs. It started, but wasn't happy about it, slower cranking and more smoke on initial flash. With the plugs in use for about 5 seconds, it's running on the first or second piston up, no difference from 60 degree weather.

Sean

 

[MHarryE]

Your tractor doesn't sound far from my L5740. Before it started getting really cold (20 degrees or colder in the morning) it stayed out in the unheated machine shed. I have Super UDT2 (less hydro load at low temps than standard UDT) and 5W-40 synthetic engine oil. Engine fired okay but ran rough and smoked a lot for 20 - 30 seconds before smoothing out. Now for the winter it has moved inside our heated garage so starts at are around 50 - 55 degrees. Still a bit rough at start and somewhat smokey. It has a little over 500 hours on it in the 2 years since I got it - starting hasn't changed a bit. Also tried a few other 40 series on the dealer's lot at their customer appreciation day last March and they started similar to mine. Haven't tried a new Grand L 60 series but all of our direct injection tractors are better cold starters.

 

[wmonroe]

I still think it is a timing issue that causes the rough starts. If I remember right the sticker on my valve cover lists the timing at 8* btdc, I would like to see what a pre egr engine lists the timing at (a 5030 or whatever model is the same as the 5240 & 5740). I know that the 12 valve cummins trucks had their timing stock at 13-14* btdc and it was very common to bump them to 16-17* btdc. I do know with the cummins if you went to 18-20* they were harder to start in the cold but ran better with other fueling modifications. Bumping my timing up a little is on my to do list, just need to find the time.

 

[Chilly807]

My L3400 is about 17-18* btdc if I remember correctly, V1803 engine I believe. Non-egr, no dpf. Starts well in the cold, one brief puff of grey smoke and that's it, runs smoothly from the get-go.

Sean

 

[wmonroe]

My L3400 is about 17-18* btdc if I remember correctly, V1803 engine I believe. Non-egr, no dpf. Starts well in the cold, one brief puff of grey smoke and that's it, runs smoothly from the get-go. Sean

Thanks for the numbers. I need to get a service manual to see how the injection timing is adjusted on this engine.

 

[Chilly807]

Unless they've changed the way they build engines, the pump is shimmed where it meets the block. Remove shims to advance timing, add them to ******. There's a thread here somewhere about checking and adjusting timing on a Kubota. I'm used to working on much bigger stuff, but a workshop manual would definitely help. If I get a chance I'll check my manual, different engine, but the procedure is probably similar.

Sean

 

[vrmnthntr]

I started the tractor yesterday. It was 50 degrees in the garage. It turned over fine unlike when its 10 degrees cooler. I can hear the glow plug relay clicking. I'm going to have the battery load tested today to rule that out.

After the tractor is started it runs fine.

 

[buickanddeere]

Just plug in the block heater in cold weather.

 

[Chilly807]

For the curious among us.. maybe we should "start" a cold start video thread.. just a thought. I've heard the 5740's are notorious for smoke and rough running at first, as well as some of the smaller Kubotas, like BXs and Bs.

Sean