Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Tractor Mechanic
Date:	11/2/2022 3:33:12 PM

Is there mechanic in the AC, Dville area that can work on a kubota 5100.  It quit in the middle of bush hogging again.  It did this same thing a couple of years ago and I changed the fuel filter and drained the tank and bled the fuel line and it ran fine, till it didin't.  Obviuosly what I did was a patch and not a fix.  It is starving for fuel, it is deisel BTW.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Tractor Mechanic
Date:	11/2/2022 4:04:45 PM

Actually, in my experience with a Kubota L2350 three cylinder diesel, what you did could be considered routine maintenance.  For some reason diesel fuel attracts water no matter where and how it is stored, and water being heavier that diesel fuel, makes its way via gravity to the fuel filter and creates all kinds of mayhem, to include rust and other solid matter.  

When you try to start it do you get puffs of white "smoke" out the exhaust?  If so, your glow plugs may not be operating.

I assume you purged the line all the way to the block that the individual injectors are connected to.  If not, purge it and you may be home free. 

I take my tractor to Fuller at the intersection of Cherokee and Highway 14 just west of Tallassee.  They are good people and can fix it, although it sounds like that is too much of a haul for you.  If you can't get it to Fuller, give them a call and they may have a preferred colleague in your area.

Good luck in any case.  It gets rough when you need your tractor and it isn't working!

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Tractor Mechanic
Date:	11/2/2022 7:31:57 PM

Good advice and I will use it as I try to figure it out.  first I have to drag it out of the field and up to the barn.  Somebody else said it could be injectors too.  It's been running fine and ran for about 40 minutes before acting up, but she is dead in the pasture right now.  Fortunately we have another to drag it out with, but what a pain in the azz.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Tractor Mechanic
Date:	11/2/2022 8:16:27 PM

If it was running and just quit, it has to be fuel starvation or maybe loss of compression.  Diesels are more simple than gas engines as once they start they need no spark and thus no electrical system beyond the starter motor and glow plugs.  But you already know that, lol.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/6/2022 5:00:53 PM

Me and the boss watched a few Youtube vids and did some Googling and learned the fuel system inside out. I got it running at one point but after a few minutes it choked out again.  The fuel was really nasty and all I did was run out the clean fuel I had put in the filter resevior and then it got fuel from the tank and quit. So I drained the tank as best we could but it still had fuel in it, but I was able to use duct tape to tape a short peice of hard plastic pipe small enough to fit in the tank and sucked it dry.  Then ran some clean fuel through and closed the sytem added a gallon or so of fuel back into it and sucked it dry again.  Connected the hose back up and she runs like a top now.  

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/6/2022 9:29:17 PM (updated 11/6/2022 9:36:26 PM)

Great!  Diesels really are less complicated than gas engines but they do need a reliable supply of clean fuel!  Now help me solve my starter problem.  Fully charged battery and when I turn the key to start it the solenoid make a loud click then gives me the single digit salute.  I tried to figure out where it is but the Japanese have obfuscated things again.  It may be integrated into the starter somehow ($$$$)

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/7/2022 7:52:47 PM

I watched a couple of videos on changinf Kubota starters.  It sounds like the Bedix gear is bad.  I assume the batttery is good and hot because that can make a difference. The solenoid and bedix are built into the starter motor.  There are several videos on rebuilding and replacing them.  The only trick is using a torque wrench to put it back on.  You can do it.  

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/8/2022 8:38:08 AM

If you are uncomforatable rebuilding the starter yourself I know here in Birningham there is a place that rebuilds starts for all sorts of stuff.  I have had tractor to large Diesel starters and alternators worked on there.  Check larger areas around you and you may find a shop that still actually repairs stuff vs just replaces.

Found this place in wetumpka

Thomas Starter & Alternator

or in auburn

Auburn generator and starter\

in alex city stark carburetor and electric - not sure if they do them or not but a phone call might not hurt.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/8/2022 9:23:57 AM

Thanks to both of you for the info.  Can do the acre and a half inside the fence at our country property with the ZTR, but stil have a lot to clear in the adjacent three acres that is a bit more than the mower can handle.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/8/2022 1:50:27 PM

Starters used to imtimidate me but COVID taught me I didn't have to be.  I had a ATV starter go out in the height of the panic and "supply chain issues" made it not available and damn near $200 if it was.  The guys at NAPA (Thomas Auto Parts) looked up the brushes that are used to "rebuild" it.  I told him I didn't know how and he showed me it was only 3 nuts to remove and that it would only go back together in the proper position.  I was riding in no time once I got back home.  Like I said, I watched a couple of quick videos and it is very straight forward.  If you can turn a wrench, you can do it.  Most important was to not over torque one bolt/nut becuase it misaligns the brusshes causing it to wear out much faster.  But once again, check the voltage on your battery and make sure it is good and hot.  You want 12+ volts, as much as 14v to really kick the bendix in.  If you battery is under 12v when you test it cold, that could be your problem too.

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/8/2022 2:02:08 PM (updated 11/8/2022 2:03:00 PM)

Agree its not hard - just offering alternatives to DIY.

Another thing to check is the cables themselves - have had two occasions where the starter was not working for crap - one the cable end at the starter had corrosion and not making good contact, the other someone had ground on the diesel too long/too often and heated the cable up to almost the point of smoke probably more than once, wire was not a really good conductor after that.  Also check that the grounds are good, tight and clean.

Good check is connect jumper cables directly to the starter from a truck/car - will let you know really quick if cables / corrosion could be part of the issue. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/8/2022 6:12:55 PM

More good points Phil.  A corroded cable/connecter can cause fits of frustration.  If it is an intermitent problem then the cables are really suspect.  

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	Duct tape saves the day
Date:	11/9/2022 3:12:36 PM

Most recent fits of mine was a intermittant alternator on the tractor - Over some days starter would work fine, others get the click click and jump it off, run a few minutes and it would work fine, battery guage shows charging like it should.

Checked running with meter and 13+ volts so was charging, but battery was often too low to start - often after running for an hour or so.

Alternator was having issues and occasionally when turned off would discharge the battery through the alternator for 2-3 amps as well as just some of the time would stop charging - did not pay much attention to the battery guage while bush hogging as it bounces all over the place over the ruff stuff anyway.

Had a problem with my ZTR mower 3 years ago, charged enough to keep battery full - as long as you did not engage the blades to mow - at which point it could not keep up and had to charge it after every mow - john deere said no issues, battery was older so replaced it.  problem kept happening.  I had my son sit on it while I watched the battery with a meter - up and running, no issues - engage the blade PTO and poof battery started to discharge.  I replaced the voltage regulator myself and have not had to charge it now for 2 seasons.