L5740 Cold Start

[MyJoBota]

This video is of a L5740 140hrs. Cold start (20 degrees f.) This tractor never fails to start but I believe it should start and run smoother than it does cold. What do you think?

YouTube - Kubota L5740 Cold start

 

[Robb71]

Does not sound that much worse than my M5040 on a 30 degree morning, but it has a different engine than yours.

 

[Samandothers]

I did not see what the RPM's may have been set at when you start. Does not sound too much differnt from my L4240. I usually shut it down at about 8 or 900 RPM's and then start at that until warm.

 

[PHILIP8N]

I have L3940 (no turbo). I have started as low as 0F, just to see if it would, it did. Are you holding your clutch in after it starts? I hold mine in for at least 10 to 15 seconds to minimize load on cold engine. Fresh fuel? Winter fuel? I also run Power Service year round. Mine will knock and smoke for 30 seconds, but then it runs like normal. I hear a miss or lope in yours. Philip.

 

[leonz]

This video is of a L5740 140hrs. Cold start (20 degrees f.) This tractor never fails to start but I believe it should start and run smoother than it does cold. What do you think?

YouTube - Kubota L5740 Cold start

You have the identical problem that jeep freak had with his B3200.

The injection pump timing on his tractor was off by 8 degrees and not top dead center as it was advanced 8 degrees and he had his dealer reset the injection pump to zero degrees TDC for the engine type - happy camper, no smoke, no tough idling and low idle, easy starting.




Kubota USA has beeen changing the injection pump timing on the small engine fore tractors to produce less emmisions and particulates in order to make the EPA happy because of the new pollution regulations for small diesel engines.



I would have your dealer come out and reset the timing to zero TDC for the engine as it is still under warranty as it will not stop doing ths no matter the time of year.

 

[TripleR]

I start my L5030 at half throttle as per my manual and it sounds as though you are starting much lower; not familiar with the L5740 so it is kind of hard to tell, but mine seems smoother with less smoke.

leon and others know a lot more about this than I, so defer to them.

 

[RADIUM]

Looks about right for a diesel engine. Try hitting your glow plugs twice, is that model a turbo?turbocharged engines seem to start a little fussier, as others have suggested winterize fuel power service additive or whatever brand you like, check out my starting video -4 in the new video section 4 hits of the glow plugs fires right up the hydraulic pump just takes a while to stop complaining nature of the beast take care

 

[leonz]

His timing is way off, and the crank should have a balanced load even cold without the smoke (been there done that with Caterpillar forklifts)

Hopefully he will call his dealer today and they will relieve him of the tractor for an afternoon and reset the timing to Zero T.D.C., and solve the issue.


I would be willing to bet you a beer that your timing is off as well
if your engine behaves like this as you own a small diesel frame
that fits in the EPA guidelines for exhaust emmisions control.

 

[RADIUM]

I'm sure you're correct, mine doesn't smoke like that, but I have observed many diesel equipment including old and new that smoke for the first few minutes of operation in extreme cold conditions.

 

[Country1]

Timing is defiantly off. I had the same problem with my Bobcat 442. Dealer said the same thing that they ****** timing at the factory for Emissions requirements. Better emissions, but the engine is harder starting and runs hotter. I made them change it and now it's much better. Get them to fix it. Your engine will start much better and last longer. Some of this EPA crappppp is getting out of hand.....

 

[leonz]

I knew that was the problem when I could hear each cylinder pop off
like a John deere 2 lunger with a pony motor even when it was running up in RPM slightly.:thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

I usually set my RPMs to around 1400 to 1500. It idles rough for a few seconds but quickly smooths out and stops smoking. Maybe adjusting the timing would help but I'll probably leave it alone.

I remember reading somewhere how low RPMs are not good for an engine that's been sitting over night. How the heavier viscosity oils take longer to get pumped around the engine at idle.

 

[bitseeker]

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I have a 5240 with ~ 100 hours, and at about the same temperature, yours and mine could be twins. Since the smoke and roughness clears up quickly, I accept it. I do increase the RPM to 1,500 after it starts, as the manual suggests.

 

[alaskakubota]

my new 5740 with 10 hours did the same thing yesterday in the 9 degree temp. Fired right up but same thing. It is outside again and I will start it in the morning. I have the service manual. Is it easy to adjust the timing? I have done a 1998 dodge 12v cummins before. I bought this from a dealer in WA state and the only dealer up here is brand new and I dont trust em to adjust the timing. I worked with the salesman and they were off by 9,000 dollars between the dealer up here and WA. 2k to ship. 7k cheaper to buy in lower 48. Not sure they would be happy to work on it.

 

[leonz]

my new 5740 with 10 hours did the same thing yesterday in the 9 degree temp. Fired right up but same thing. It is outside again and I will start it in the morning. I have the service manual. Is it easy to adjust the timing? I have done a 1998 dodge 12v cummins before. I bought this from a dealer in WA state and the only dealer up here is brand new and I dont trust em to adjust the timing. I worked with the salesman and they were off by 9,000 dollars between the dealer up here and WA. 2k to ship. 7k cheaper to buy in lower 48. Not sure they would be happy to work on it.

You could always ask and pay the labor charge establish a relationship with them and if they wont, do the following:


You need the shop manual and the few tools and spare gaskets for the injection nozzle ports and a few others, for the job you can get a shop manual from www.foleyengineservice.com they are near Boston and they are one of the nations largest diesel rebuilders and they sell a lot of new and rebuilt Kubota power.

 

[DDT]

My new one (L5740) and our tractor at work (L5740) does the same thing at start up. Wish I had details about the timming reajustment. I wonder if they will be easyer on fuel if there adjusted to?? Im willing to try it if I knew what I was doing.

 

[Jon Chanoski]

I know my L3400 is smaller but I must ask if that tractor has a block heater and if it was plugged in and for how long when you started it? My L3400 does almost the same thing if I forget to plug it in. When it is plugged in at those temps. it starts as smooth as summer time. If you don't have a block heater get one and see if it helps before messing with the timing.

 

[leonz]

The timing has to be done with the shop manual and the required tools.

As long as the glow plugs work and the injection pump/number one cylinder timing is zero T.D.C., he would not have these issues even at low temperatures.

The symptoms fit the disease unfortunately as a block heater is normally not required except in sub zero conditions.

An example; the usual treament for an air cooled Duetz tractor is to throw a big bucket of hot water against the engine block to warm it up prior to activating the glow plugs.

 

[leonz]

My new one (L5740) and our tractor at work (L5740) does the same thing at start up. Wish I had details about the timing reajustment. I wonder if they will be easier on fuel if there adjusted to?? Im willing to try it if I knew what I was doing.

Advancing the injection pump timing reduces the amount of fuel entering the the cylinder and as a result only reducing the diesel exhaust particulates and NOX emmisions. The vibration problem does not go away and is amplified by the slowed crank rotation at idle.

Any inline three cylinder or four cylinder diesel engine that has its fuel pump timing set to ZERO T.D.C. will purr at Low Idle speed even in very low operating temperatures as long as the fuel the proper grade.

We are not living in the Russian federations far east in the Siberian Taiga where they have to drain the radiators and the gear boxes of the vehicles they use to prevent the engine block and differentuals from rupturing from sub zero temperatures.


I would ask your dealer to reset the injection pump timing to Zero T.D.C., as that will solve it for you for the length of time you own the tractor and the indirect injection pump will work very well with less effort.


You spent good money on your tractor and you own it and they are obligated to service it for you; there is no logical reason that it can not be reset to Zero T.D.C. and you will have much less worry and wear on the fuel system.

 

[ecoslik]

My L5740 now has 540 hours. This year, we have started it on 20+ days at temps ranging from 20-25, and all has been smooth and clear. The most smoke we have is an initial puff lasting a fraction of a second. No unusual vibration.