Go BottomHard Starting on L295DT
 | Richard Hollabaugh
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2000-09-27 20111
Am looking at a used L295DT. 1980 model year. Checks out to be in very good condition with a real looking 800 hours but is hard to start even after leaving glow plugs on for a couple of minutes. Starts great when warm. Is this normal for this engine? No other visible problems with engine. No obvious oil burning. No water in oil. No oil in water, etc. Any suggestions?
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| gene Purser
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2000-09-27 20122
If the engine is a direct injection engine, it is abnormal for it to be hard to start, even cold. I own a L2250 (about '87 model) that starts at the turn of the key. This engine starts instantly ("with authority" as I've heard it described)and settles to a smooth idle. I'm not diesel mechanic, but understand that if it starts with white smoke there can be injector or compression problems.
800 hours is low for this age, and if accurate there could be fuel contamination, clogged filter/lines, suction lines leaking air, etc. I don't know if you are looking at a dealer or individual, but I would be relatively sure of the repairs needed before I paid full value for it. ....
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| Jim
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2000-09-27 20123
Hi Rich,
the older L-series tractors were very dependent on glow plugs for cold start.
a good indication if the gp's are work is when you preheat the indicator coil in the dash will glow red. the longer you preheat, the hotter they get. w/ a good battery, it should glow red in less than 20 sec. if it takes longer, it could mean a bad glow plug or two. If the owner has been using ether (start fluid), By all means, STAY AWAY from this tractor. KUbota's & ether are not a good mix. Jim ....
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| Brady
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2000-09-29 20157
Jim said it right. There is absolutely no reason to ever use ether as a starting aid in a Kubota. We have had more than one customer, unfortunately, find out the hard way even though they've been warned. Ether aside, I would check the glow plugs. Chances are, she'll fire off like a cannon after you replace these. ....
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| TomG
Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 5406 Upper Ottawa Valley 
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2000-09-29 20166
I've got a mid-80's Ford 1710, and it needs a minute or so of pre-heating. It's not normal, and I'm going to check the glow plugs. Glow plug contacts and grounds on old tractors can become corroded which adds to the circuit resistance and reduces the heating. I plan to clean the plug contacts and threads. I'll check the plugs when they are out. The wire can be attached, and the plug held against the engine. The plug should glow red when somebody operates the pre-heating switch. A plug, itself, is either good or bad. If it glows, it's good. I don't believe there is such a thing as a weak plug. However, batteries do get weak with age, and a bad battery will slow down the plugs. The tractor cranks well, so the battery isn't too bad, but I'll clean the battery connections and check the acid specific gravity anyway.
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 | Art White
Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 6898 Waterville New York
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2000-09-29 20170
On the old Kubota's they had a decompression lever on them same as some other tractor makes. Check it out and see if that is working or not. On all the older tractors bar none cold weather starting was not one of there better points. A diesel needs to get turning fast to start. The lever that controls that comes out the front of the valve cover and has a cable that goes to the upper left of the dash. For cold starting you do need the glow plugs and you need to pull that lever so the engine can release the compression and turn over fast enough. ....
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