Hard starting kubota

I have a Kubota L285DT. I's a two cylinder diesel. If I let it sit for several weeks without running it it is hard to start. It turns over well and I use a block heater in cooler weather. It seems to be starved of fuel. Once it does start I need to pump the fuel pedal to keep it running. After several minutes it runs fine. In extreme cases I need to crack the fuel lines at the injectors and crank the engine to prime the lines. Could this be a faulty injector pump? It doesn't appear to be leaking visibly.

Could be poor fuel, Could be moisture and/or pluged fuel filters. We need more details as to how it has been run, and how often, and what you have done for maintainance.
I can think of no reason you need to pump the foot throttle. It doesn't have an acelerator pump like in an older carborated car engine.
Loren

My FIL's 2 cyl diesel Kubota was impossible to start after sitting for a while. Found that the fuel shut off cable was a "pull only"
arrangement and the lever at the pump was supposed to "return" to "on" by spring pressure alone. The lever shaft was a bit stiff and the
spring wasn't strong enough to return it to the full "on" position.

I have yet to find any of the older Kubota's that are easy to start, even after a complete rebuild. Have to use the glow plugs even on a 90+ degree day for the first start up, or after sitting a couple hours afterwards.

Pumping the pedal can pull on a sticky metering valve if the governor linkage hasn't been able put it to the right spot.

Sounds a lot more like you are loosing prime though. Friends new holland was bad for that anytime the tank wasn't full to the top.

Sounds like it loses prime. Is the fuel level in the tank above the injector pump?
My old JD 4020 runs very little. If it sits long with the fuel level low, which puts it below the injector pump, it doesn't want to start.

Hi,
Thanks for all the comments. First I incorrectly identified the model. It is a L185DT, not a 285. As for maintenance, I purchased the tractor used
and have not changed the fuel filter yet. I've put about 15 hours on it since I purchased it. The fuel feed is all gravity to the injector pump. Tank
is about 3/4 full and level is above the pump. As for pumping the fuel pedal, that helping may be in my head.

When I first try to start it if I hold the pedal to the floor the engine will run at a slow speed for a few seconds then start to stall all the while
keeping the pedal to the floor. It may stall out entirely or just sputter and then start to increase in speed. It will repeat this cycle over and over
eventually increasing in speed. After a minute of so it starts to run normally. After that it runs fine. It's strong and will run as long as I need it. I
use it mostly to plow my driveway (it has a front end loader). At most I use it for an hour at a time. Once running it idles fine at low speed and
has plenty of power.
I had it running yesterday, started hard but hadn't been run for a week. Tried to start it today (24 hours) after it last ran and it fired right up and
ran fine. In cool weather, 30's today, I engage the glow plugs for about a minute. If the weather is warm (summer) it doesn't need the glow plugs
at all. When I purchased it I did check the glow plugs for continuity. It did not remove them for inspection.
I do think it is losing its prime. Can the injector pump leak into the crankcase due to a bad seal or something? The block is clean and dry around
the injector pump.
Thank you again to everyone for the help.

Sounds like a filter change is in order. Post back after you have done that, and let us know the results. We can go from there.
Loren

I had a similar problem with my 4200 JD turned out the fuel lines had gotten hard and the spring clamps would let air into the rubber lines.

Almost bet two things going on. First you need to change the fuel filter and second check the glow plugs. That tractor is over 30 years old and going to take it all to start.

Is there a check valve in the fuel system-maybe where fuel returns to the tank from the injectors? Does it smoke while cranking?Maybe a restriction on the inlet to pump?Mark

I have L225DT plus 3 kubota garden tractors. All need glow plugs to start in summer
and winter. My 225 starts better in winter if I watch the glow plug indicator to
see it glow orange. Its located lower right side of dash. Chrome about size of a
quarter with pencil sized hole in middle to see the coiled wire inside that glows
brighter with the time the glow plugs are held on. I then pull the compression
release slightly when cranking engine. Set throttle about 1/3 rpm. Have had good
luck using this method.

I've had a Kubota around since the first boatload. Like some of the other posts mentioned.....they all had to have a strong glow plug, in any weather.

Agree with others about the fuel filter, change it. I have 2 compact Kubotas and they both need the glow plugs even if it is 100* or they start hard.

Thank you all for the comments. I'm going to start with the filter before I tear into anything else. It will take me a week or so to get the filter. By then it will have sat for some time. It's definitely something to do with time. I'll post my results then. Thanks.

[quIote="ptfarmer"](reply to post at 09:43:38 12/28/16) [/quote]
I have a 1996 M7030 Starts first time every time in -10 Celsius, not plugged in. Just saying.

Hello Rockwood welcome to YT! I do not know if there is a computer glitch or if you have actually been a member here since May 2016 and just decided to add a comment to the OLD post titled ..Hard Starting Kubota..? The poster that placed the topic here in December 2016 has only posted 7 times and they were all in this topic, so he has not posted here since so doubtful he is here to view it. Your comments about your machine that starts well are appreciated but they fell on deaf ears so to speak. Again welcome and we look forward to you joining in on other topics. I would suggest you avoid replying to older threads. There are 2 views on this forum you are in Modern, there is also a Classic View. When old topics are replied to the postings do not come into Classic in a smooth way, none of this is by any fault of yours for now it is just the way it is for now. Just try to take a look at the ..posted.. dates and try to stay in topics that are less than a month old. Thanks again!