? chipper struggles to start ..

[Tree monkey 1682]

8 hours ago, TheTreeWrangler said:

Hi all ..   

 

We have a forst chipper, been pretty good ,  till now .. what we are finding is that if the chipper hasn't been started for a couple of days, it is a real pain to start, and takes some going ...   once its started it starts fine first time, the problem is only if it goes a couple of days without running ..  

 

I have a few thoughts, but wanted to see what you all think the problem could be,  am prob going to put it in for a service some time soon ..   

 

but your thoughts would be welcomed ...   thanks. .

Got to be shit in pipes or fuel running back  , the kubotas are easy to work on and bullet prof .

Might be worth putting back pre filter before main filter to stop any shit even getting further up the system 

[woody paul]

If once started it then starts OK but left a couple of days will not start, you have a small air leak. 

Check all jubilee clips and give fuel fitter a tighten, or if do for a change, change it. 

Most of kubota engines in chippers self bleed if you leave ignition switch on for a will, so if above fails to work would fit new pump. 

[openspaceman]

56 minutes ago, woody paul said:

If once started it then starts OK but left a couple of days will not start, you have a small air leak. 

Check all jubilee clips and give fuel fitter a tighten, or if do for a change, change it. 

Most of kubota engines in chippers self bleed if you leave ignition switch on for a will, so if above fails to work would fit new pump. 

Yes, one of our GM1928s had the same. Because of some small air leak the fuel drained back into the tank, which effectively meant you had to bleed it each time it had been left for a while. It was under warranty and I think dealer fitted a check valve in the fuel line or pick up to keep the line full..

[Field Builds]

It could also be a dying glow plug if it's a diesel engine, or just a bad battery that struggles to turn the cold engine over fast enough.

[markieg31]

As mentioned before I reckon, as long as the electric fuel pump is working, that it will be an air leak. Check the fuel lines or replace, fairly cheap job and easy to do. 

[Pete Mctree]

Check that the fuel tank is not full of crap as the poor starting may be due to settlement- Dirty fuel filter may be an indicator 

[Mike Hill]

Put the battery on charge,see what the voltage is.

Remove the fuel filter and inspect.

Check all your connections on the fuel line,you might find it weaping somewhere.

If that all checks out,join a clear bit of hose from the supply side of your filter to the fuel line itself.Providing you have refilled the fuel filter housing the chipper should fire and pull diesel up past the clear bit of hose.It might need to be bled at an injector or it might not.

 

Now you know you have diesel from the tank to the filter and from the filter to the pump.leave it and see if air appears in the clear hose up at the filter housing. Providing the housing is at the highest part of the fuel line.Thats all if you just dont want to replace the fuel line which you might end up doing.There is a slight,slight chance there is something floating around in the tank that blocks the end of the fuel intake but thats an outside chance imho.

 

Kubotor engines did have pretty weak lift pumps,I have replaced a couple with electric lift pumps but the symptoms were the engine farted and hunted rather than were hard to start.