Kubota diesel continued

OK guys, thanks for all the responses. I unbolted the hood (engine cover) and there are glow plugs right on top of the head, hidden from view (except from the top) by the injector assemblies. Those who said there were are right. There is no provision I can find for turning on glow plugs. Not the key switch, no extra button. No indicator light. If I turn the key to the ON position there is a faint clicking, which I think is the hour meter. There is a solonoid on the throttle control at the injector pump, that I am not sure of function. It is triggered only when key is in the START position. Have to figure out just what it's function is. Doesn't seem likely it would run the glow plugs while cranking. Will have to get the DVM out and see what does trigger the glow plugs (if anything). If I can't find anything, I'm in favor of a push button, and indicator light. (Like I did with my 6.2 diesel truck when the controller crapped the second time (at $180 a copy)).

Also found some tiny freeze plugs about 3/4 inch in diameter. Local NAPA dealer found a block heater (30mm) that according to heater mfr will fit. Have one on order thru NAPA. Warning - they Ain't cheap! Not looking forward to pulling the freeze plug out - that could be a job. Have had fights with them before, and they were a lot bigger. (One of my cars went to the great smelter in the sky with a freeze plug lodged somewhere in the cooling jacket.)

Woods 6215, if you followed the link is a 4 wheel stand alone machine. Mower deck is a separate front mounted assembly with it's own wheels. They
make a snow blower, front blade, and I think, a rotary brush for it. I have snow blower, as well as a cab, so it might be a viable backup snow machine. Thinking I may need chains, but we'll see.

I'm shooting blind here. Didn't even see your other post. I'm not familiar with kubotas, but some other foreign tractors had you turn the key switch backwards and hold it for a few seconds for the glow plugs. Im sure you probably tried that, but it's just a thought I had.

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Already tried about every combination of key switch settings - no way. OFF-ON-START, only positions on switch.

Some Bobcat Skid Steers are this way also, turn the key backwards and hold for 5-10 seconds to cycle the glow plugs then start the machine.

The Kubota's I have worked on all had a switch key type that you turned it away from the start position to turn on the glow plugs.

O.K. Here is my best shot. Been with Kubota 28 years so got a little experience. IF there is no separate device/button to turn on the glow plugs here is what you can do. Take a 12 volt test light and clamp the end on a good ground then put the point there at the top of any glow plug, right where that flat strip goes. When you turn the key do not try to start but only turn to on position. I am betting the light will light for a few seconds then go out. The latest thing is to use a sensor that senses engine coolant temp. From there the power is fed to a glow plug controller that powers the plugs for a determined time. Now if you want real simple and will not hurt one thing. Take you jumper cable place on end on the positive battery terminal then touch the end to the top of one of the glow plugs. Hold it there for no more than 12 seconds. See if the unit fires.. Doubt that you NAPA heater is going to work. On that engine we use one that has a bent element and goes in tight. Lot easier to get the little short unit in the lower radiator hose, but if you will get a hot battery and solve the glow plug issue you may not need anything else. Also some power serve in the fuel will help starting. E=mail is open if you need more information

I vote with Case Nutty 1660 from a previous post.

I think your key switch has been replaced with an incorrect switch.

I bet if you pop that switch out you're going to find some extra wires hanging arround that used to connect to the glow plug terninal on the original switch.

I'm with Jim in that I don't think the block heater is the way to go. I have two of these 3 cylinder diesels, one in a side by side and one in a zero turn mower. Both use a glow plug heat position with the key held between RUN and START. It is a spring loaded key position so if you release the key it goes back to run. They start almost instantly everytime with proper use of the glow plugs. Below freezing I hold them on for 10 to 15 seconds. Above freezing 5 to 10 works. Neither have block or hose heaters. A hot battery is a definite plus.

JM, I have independently confirmed tfrom the manufacturer's catalog, KAT's 10469/11469 is the proper block heater for that engine. (The one NAPA ordered for me.)

I will run the tests on the glow plugs you describe. See if it functions as you indicate. May be a couple days before I can get at it. There could be a automatic controller in there I don't know about. Wiring on the unit is a bit crazy and haphazard. Otherwise, seems to be a well built machine. If it is an automatic controller, I'll probably add a indicator light on the console.
Thanks

That is good because there is only ONE that works and little tricky to get it in there. I am interested to see what you find when you put the test light on the glow strip. Small black box with three wires will be the glow controller.

You have inherited a very good machine, that anyone would love to have. Quit cobbling it. Get the manuals, read them, trouble shoot, fix it right. You do not need a cobbled on starting aid that did not come on the machine. I have seen machines really ruined because the "new owner" just cant wait to start fiddling with it, cannot even wait for real manuals for it. Tom

We used to have a Kubota tractor a work, a 3010 I think it was. When you turned the key to the run position a glow plug light in the dash would light ( looked like a coil of wire lit up)

Just got a manual from STAN... Says there is a counter-clockwise setting on ignition switch for preheat/glowplugs. My machine does not have that. I suspect the dealer replaced the switch with switch for gasoline model. Will be checking that soon's I get some time to work on it.

Thanks STAN!

Ya on the ones I have worked on you held it in the glow plug position for a count of say 30 then tried to start and they started right up for me. Bet it you look you will find a wire hanging in the ignition switch area that is not hooked up

Ray,
You stated below that you have only a 3 position key switch. If you have a large flat key, you have a heat position that you are missing, between ON and Start. You need to hold the key in this mid position for about 15 secs. and then turn to start. My B2150 has set out all week, and today I followed this proceedure and it fired rite off. My tractor has an indicator light on the dash that glowes in the "heat" position. You will not feel the switch move into a detent, it just goes to heat half way between on and start in the spring loaded movement.
Loren, the Acg.

Don't know if your engine is the same as I have in my RTV 900, but that heat plug is down on the end and about center. Hard to see two bolts, and Kubota has heaters, I have replaced mine three times because the hired help didn't unplug it before driving off. Tied the last one hard and fast.

The older Kubota's I've been on have a key switch with a reverse position for the glow plugs. Those switches are pretty cheap. 30.89 from Messicks. Part # is 66021-55140. It needs a hole around 28MM. Actual size of key switch is 27.77MM.

30mm heater is not going to fit in a 3/4"(19mm) hole.

There is a 30 mm plug in the rear of the engine - facing to the rear. Was not aware of it until I unbolted the cowling (hood).

My 4625 Gehl skidloader had the 46 hp Kubota engine. Glow plugs like others described with the squiggly line indicator when turning on the key. Plus, block heater on the engine, opposite end of the radiator. Accessed (visible) when the op cage was tipped up. Replaced it only once in 10 plus years I owned it.

glad to help hope you get it figured out
cnt

forget the block heaters and fix the glow plug problem. I have had 2 Kubota"s and both needed to have the pre-heat with the plugs even in the summer, but they always started...

Don't know how old your Kubota is, but it's always possible the glow plugs are bad. On my older M4000 Kubota I had to replace the glow plugs, solving the problem. I'm also in a warmer climate, SC, but even in hot weather a cold engine needed heating.

KEH