Cub Cadet Diesel (Kubota D600B) problems

This is a CC 1512D, and besides this one little hiccup, is a nice little tractor.

The problem seems to stem from the the glow-plugs. When ever they're on they seem to draw quite a bit of juice which due to the fact that they're on when the key is in the start position drops the voltage to the point where my solenoid wont kick in.

When the plugs are not on (key in the off or run position) my muti-meter reads a healthy 12+ volts, when the plugs are on (key in the plug warm or start position) the voltage drops to 9 - 10 volts. I should also note that when my amp meter always pegs to the discharge side when I'm in the glow-plug warm or in the start position.

The other kickers is that it seems to be worse when the tractor is warm, let it cool down and usually it will start.

I know glow-plugs are going to draw a lot, but to the point where it drops the voltage by 3 volts?

Any ideas?

Thanks,

K

It sounds more like a battery problem to me.

Is the Battery rated for (CCA's) for your Cub Cadet? Poor connections. It sounds like the battery doesn't have much reserve for good diesel cranking. If your ground lead goes down to the radiator mounting frame you might get a longer cable and relocate it to one of the starter mounting bolts for an improved ground.

Kubota tractors had this issue with poor battery grounding. If your unsure about your battery age, get a replacement. Low voltage cranking is real hard on starters because it overheats them.

(quoted from post at 22:54:03 05/29/08) It sounds more like a battery problem to me.

Is the Battery rated for (CCA's) for your Cub Cadet? Poor connections. It sounds like the battery doesn't have much reserve for good diesel cranking. If your ground lead goes down to the radiator mounting frame you might get a longer cable and relocate it to one of the starter mounting bolts for an improved ground.

Kubota tractors had this issue with poor battery grounding. If your unsure about your battery age, get a replacement. Low voltage cranking is real hard on starters because it overheats them.

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It very well could be a battery problem. With out the plugs in the equation the battery spins the starter very well, but maybe I need more CCs just for the plugs.

K

There is a service sheet out for this problem, one is you need the largest CCA battery you can fit in the tractor, second is you must run a SECOND ground cable from the battery directly to somewhere on the engine block, can be the starter bolts or somewhere else convient. This is an ongoing issue on the Cub Cadets wtih the Kubota diesel, the Orignal higher CCA battery is nolonger made. There is a thread on the ihregistry.com website on a DieHard battery with insane amount of CCA that will just fit in the factory location, you can do a search and find it. Its not a cheap battery, around $97 bucks last I checked. Cheers Mike Kubota dealer Mechanic

(quoted from post at 19:13:17 05/31/08) There is a service sheet out for this problem, one is you need the largest CCA battery you can fit in the tractor, second is you must run a SECOND ground cable from the battery directly to somewhere on the engine block, can be the starter bolts or somewhere else convient. This is an ongoing issue on the Cub Cadets wtih the Kubota diesel, the Orignal higher CCA battery is nolonger made. There is a thread on the ihregistry.com website on a DieHard battery with insane amount of CCA that will just fit in the factory location, you can do a search and find it. Its not a cheap battery, around $97 bucks last I checked. Cheers Mike Kubota dealer Mechanic

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I have the second cable, I think it was late enough in the line that it either came that way from the factory or the dealer installed it before it was sold.

I'll check out the IHRegistry.

K