at my whits end!!

teachingscience · May 24, 2018

So I have a kubota L185. A little 2 cylinder diesel. I bought it not running and thought I would do a little work and have a good little
tractor. I have put in new rings, one piston, a new starter and two new injectors. It will blow a lot of black smoke and hit but will not
pick up and run. What am I missing?? I'm about ready to sell it as is and take a loss. Please give me some advice.

danofarming · May 24, 2018

injector Pump?

Andy Martin · May 24, 2018

Does it fire on starting fluid?

Ken Combs · May 24, 2018

black smoke, getting some fuel and burning it. Maybe not enough due to still has air in the fuel system somewhere?

teachingscience · May 24, 2018

It makes a lot of smoke so I'm assuming its plenty of fuel. I'm a little afraid to use starter fluid. I have put a gas soaked cloth over the intake. IT changes the color or smoke but still not significant difference. It will hit pretty well but as soon as I let off the starter its not enough to continue.

Stephen Newell · May 24, 2018

How long has it acted like that. Sometimes it takes a while to get the air out of the fuel lines.

dleefarms · May 24, 2018

You do have air in the lines. You will need to bleed the fuel lines 3 places. First at the fuel filter, then at the injector pump outlet (each fuel line) and then at the injectors. This should take care of your running issue.

Traditional Farmer · May 24, 2018

If its a straight drive you can tow start it

Jeff NWOH · May 24, 2018

I'd bet it's a timing issue. Probably too early. Black smoke is early, white is late.

I also bought a kubota project last year. It had chewed up most all of the timing gears. After replacing all that, it ran, but not good at all. I swore it was missing pretty consistently on one cylinder. Took the pump and injectors in and had them gone through. Same deal, same cylinder. Had pump shop recheck and even had the guy come out and hear it run. He agreed. After the third try on the pump, I started removing shims from under the pump(advancing the timing). The more I pulled, the better it ran. It's actually running with no shims now. It starts easy, doesn't smoke, and runs good.

I'm not sure if the whole timing gear deal may have slightly twisted something throwing the timing off or if it was that far out of whack prior. The pump had been messed with before as it had newer paint on it.

I'm thinking your issue is timing is too early. I'd guess you need to add some shims under your inj pump.

Jm is the resident kubota expert. He can probably say for sure. I know he pointed me in the right direction.

jm. · May 24, 2018

BLACK SMOKE, Unburned but atomized fuel, I am thinking Jeff is right a timing issue and he even may be right on adding but historically folks will remove the pump and for some reason the shims never compress hardly as much so you have two thick holding the pump up , Either way probably start off with no shims and work up or add some and work down. If you did not have the head checked could be a cracked head, that engine is prone to doing that.

teachingscience · May 29, 2018

Follow up: It turned out that the hydraulic line had a block in it for a loader or some type of accessory . When I bought it non-running, the block had plugs in it and blocked the flow of oil. It put too much drag on the motor for it to start. I made a new block tonight and it not starts easily and the 3 pt lift as it should. It was almost ten and too late to put a load on the lift to see if it could lift a load or not but I am very happy to have it running after a year and half of tinkering.

Thanks for all your advice.

at my whits end!!

teachingscience

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danofarming

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Andy Martin

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Ken Combs

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teachingscience

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Stephen Newell

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dleefarms

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Traditional Farmer

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Jeff NWOH

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jm.

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teachingscience

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