Air locked tractor

Gator

Gator

Well-Known Member
Well I messed up big time yesterday and turned a simple maintenance of oil change and fuel filter into an all day adventure and I still have a tractor that won't start. I forgot to turn the fuel back on after I changed the fuel filter and ran it dry. I have tried opening the vent to let the air out unsuccessfully as well as cracking open the fuel lines at all four fuel injectors. I ran my battery dead three times trying to get the damn thing started. I've tried everything I can find online. A coworker just gave me one idea to try when I get home today and that's to try to slightly pressure the fuel tank with a compressor to force the fuel through the lines. Anybody have any other tips or tricks to try?

Oh tractor is a Kubota L3940 if it matters.
 
That sucks, A lot of the newer tractors are self bleeding. Seems like there a few videos on youtube if you havent viwed those yet.
 
Gator said:
Yeah, that was the first video I watched and tried yesterday. I'm wondering if my pump took a dump on me after it went dry...?
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That's what I was thinking from the start. I think there is a way to test the lift pump before you swap it out but I'm not familiar with your engine.
 
Just a real short burst into the air intake. My buddy (who can fix anything) always tells me not to use it, but he seems to use it every time we have a hard time starting something. Do it while you are cranking the engine.
 
cutman said:
Just a real short burst into the air intake. My buddy (who can fix anything) always tells me not to use it, but he seems to use it every time we have a hard time starting something. Do it while you are cranking the engine.
Click to expand...

Ive seen where you can spray diesel in the air intake as well, maybe get the engine to run long enough to get the air out of the lines. I think I'll try diesel first....
 
I have a lawn mower I have to start with ether every single time...I have used it with success on my dads old Massey Ferguson diesel tractor when he ran it low on fuel on a side hill...
 
Update. It would not start with diesel or ether in the air intake but one shot of ether made a awful bang internal to engine. No more of that.

I took the high pressure line off my lift pump and when I crank it barely trickles out. Lift pump bad? Seems so but why wouldn’t it start with diesel in the air intake? Seems like something (sensor??) is keeping it from even trying.

Ideas? New lift pump is 40 bucks online but the tractor only has 300 hours on it.


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Take your fuel supply line off coming from the fuel tank and to the lift pump and see how much fuel is coming out. You may have some trash keeping the fuel from flowing. Can use air pressure to blow trash out of the line. BTW you used to much ether but I think you already figured that.
 
deer patch said:
Take your fuel supply line off coming from the fuel tank and to the lift pump and see how much fuel is coming out. You may have some trash keeping the fuel from flowing. Can use air pressure to blow trash out of the line. BTW you used to much ether but I think you already figured that.
Click to expand...
I had a wouldn't start issue. My mechanic did as said-disconnected the fuel line before the pump--no fuel came out. He then blew hard into the fuel line blowing towards the tank. Fuel then came out. Told me there was dirt in the tank and not to let it get more than 1/2 empty. Did once and it happened again. Have not let it get low again in four years and no more clogged line events.
 
The manual should have the procedure. I had a Case I ran out of fuel a bunch of times and it was about 7 steps to the process but I never got past 3 or 4 and it started. I always filled the filter(s) up with fuel. I learned never to disconnect the lines just slightly crack them open one at a time until fuel came out. Tighten and move to next fitting. You'll get it started.
 
Gator said:
Plenty of fuel getting to the pump


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Click to expand...
That's good to know Gator. And of course you have no doubt checked that pesky seat button connection to make sure it is nice and tight and able to allow a full starting/running connection?

Another thing I have seen the mechanic do is run a wire from the battery post to the down stream side of the start switch. This worked and further study found a bad switch along the line. The tractor turned over fine but was not starting. I know you were messing with fuel when it happened but that could be just a coincidence.
 
I transfer my diesel fuel to my L345DT by 6 gallon jerry cans. That and the fact that mowing with the brush hog in the summer produces a great amount of chaff plugged up the bottom fuel line screen of my fuel tank. I blew the tank clean and then bought online a funnel with a built in filter to run my diesel fuel through from the jerry cans. It sounds like you might have multiple problems that need to be corrected.
I also recommend orangetractortalks as a source for all things Kubota.
 
Just installed the new lift pump and tractor fired up after maybe 30 seconds of starting.


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