NEW Kubota L3200 starter problems

Chain Bender · May 8, 2011

Tractor only has 27.6 hours on it. Have had starter problmes several times in the past 6 weeks. Turn the key, wait, turn to start position and hear a "click". But starter won't engage. Repaeast several times and it will start. This morning I hook up to a 6000# + blat and pull it out from under the barn and pull it up behind the back door. I'm in a straight line on a 15+ degree grade in the back yard with 6000#'s hooked to me. Park, engage the parking brake, lower the bucket and raise the lift as hig as it will go and shut her down. Wash the boat and get back on the tractor. NOTHING. Key functions like it should. Safety button on clutch is in good condition and wires are tight. All fuses I can locate are good. I can get a Click at the starter, but it won't engage.

I blocked the tires on the boat and lowered the tongue down on the tongue jack. Backed my truck up as close as I could and hooked a short chain to the tongue to get it away from the tractor. Got that done and the boat back under the barn.

Now, I've got a dead tractor sitting in the yard with the bucket on the ground.

I've got a trailer to haul it on, but have no way on getting it on the trailer. Should I call the dealer and insist they come pick it up?

Chain Bender

RoyJackson · May 8, 2011

Chain Bender said:
Should I call the dealer and insist they come pick it up?

Chain Bender

That's a good idea...

TroyR57 · May 8, 2011

New, under warrenty, yes have dealer look at it. But of course ,if your like me, I am having trouble with a safety switch on the range slector, and it will work perfect every time my friend the Kubota tech is over, but the minute he leaves, it wont start. This tractor has 630 hours, should not be happening on a new unit. We know what part it is, just have to get it ordered and put on, and will do that if I decide to ever sell the unit. Its just like you said, turn the key nothing. Sit there for a few minutes, play with the range slector, and it starts.

dex3361 · May 8, 2011

Sounds like one of the safety switches. If it is an HST rock the pedal back and forth just a little bit while you hold the key in the start position. Move the other levers a bit cause they tend to stick or be a bit out of adjustment.

Chain Bender · May 8, 2011

Think I might have located the problem.

After Mother's Day dinner I went out to try it again. Tried about 10 times and got the same results. Got off and looked at and around the starter. On the block dead above the starter there is what appears to be a heat sensor that has two wires coming off it and I wiggled (again) the two small wires that go into the starter. Stood on the ground and pushed the clutch in with my left hand and turned the key with my right and it fired right up! turned it off and repeated the starting several more times. While it was off I went back and wiggled the same wires again to see if I could get it to NOT start again. Nope, it starts every time now. I'm thinking it was propably the wires to the starter than the heat sensor. I wiggled the wires where there is a black clip.

Still going to talk to the dealer Tuesday about it though.

CB

RoyJackson · May 9, 2011

Chain Bender said:
Think I might have located the problem.

After Mother's Day dinner I went out to try it again. Tried about 10 times and got the same results. Got off and looked at and around the starter. On the block dead above the starter there is what appears to be a heat sensor that has two wires coming off it and I wiggled (again) the two small wires that go into the starter. Stood on the ground and pushed the clutch in with my left hand and turned the key with my right and it fired right up! turned it off and repeated the starting several more times. While it was off I went back and wiggled the same wires again to see if I could get it to NOT start again. Nope, it starts every time now. I'm thinking it was propably the wires to the starter than the heat sensor. I wiggled the wires where there is a black clip.

Still going to talk to the dealer Tuesday about it though.

CB

I wonder if that's the starter solenoid....

art · May 9, 2011

As much as I appreciate safety as a dealer all the added switches are a pain in the a@@!

RoyJackson · May 9, 2011

art said:
As much as I appreciate safety as a dealer all the added switches are a pain in the a@@!

Yes, they are...but they probably keep you out of the courtroom.

junebug68 · Jan 17, 2015

dex3361 said:
Sounds like one of the safety switches. If it is an HST rock the pedal back and forth just a little bit while you hold the key in the start position. Move the other levers a bit cause they tend to stick or be a bit out of adjustment.

Been working, off and on, for two days with schematic printout from local dealer and voltmeter. Read your post, tried it and it worked! Thanks.

Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.